Target Group and Admission Requirements

Nordic history is a supplementary study programme which builds on knowledge of history, or related humanistic and / or social sciences. Knowledge of Norwegian history roughly equivalent to the one-year study programme in History will provide the necessary foundation for the programme. The whole or parts of this study programme may be combined with other study programmes from university colleges and/ or universities to lead to a Bachelor’s degree. In combination with a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education, or as part of the 4-year General Teacher Education degree programme, students will have acquired the necessary competence for teaching history in schools. History as a subject is well-suited to a media education, for example in combination with journalism or specialisation in another media. Together with other social sciences, cultural subjects or economics, the study of history may provide employment within public or private administration. If students continue to study history at Master’s level, they will have an independent education in history at a high level which may qualify them for teaching positions, work in museums, archives or the like, or in similar fields. Qualification as a historical-researcher builds upon a Master’s degree.

Aim of the Programme

Historical research in the Nordic countries has traditionally been mainly concerned with the individual national states. This six-month study programme takes as its starting point the idea that the Nordic region may be viewed as a whole, with common cultural, social and political characteristics. The study programme emphasises the Nordic perspective, and provides insight into how the Nordic region has had a historical impact, and how we can understand the important differences and similarities between the Nordic countries. Students will also gain an understanding of historiographical methodology and basis for historical knowledge.

Further Education opportunities

The one-year study programme in History with a minimum of 20 ECTS credits from Nordic History covers the requirement for subject specialisation in a Bachelor’s degree programme. This combination also satisfies the specific history requirement in a Bachelor’s-degree programme for those who seek admission to a Master’s-degree programme in history at university.

Students may also use a Bachelor’s degree with subject specialisation in history as a basis for a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies at Telemark University College.

Curriculum and structure

Each of the 4 courses comprises 10 ECTS credits. A minimum of 2 courses can constitute specialisation in history in a Bachelor’s degree; one of these must be the course, Nordic History – an Overview. The study programme may also be used as an independent ½-year study programme with a minimum of 3 courses.
The courses on offer will vary from one year to the next.
For information about the courses see below.

Students who wish to choose an individual curriculum, or replace parts of the regular curriculum with other material, may obtain approval from the subject teacher.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The teaching and learning methods will alternate between lectures and seminars. As a rule, the instruction is not mandatory, and students may register for the examination without having followed the teaching. However, it is recommended that students attend the teaching. If parts of the teaching are compulsory, this will be specified in the semester plan.

Students who do not follow the teaching (completely or in part) may be required to submit one or several assignments as mandatory programme requirements, and as a condition for taking the examination (see below). The subject teacher is responsible for specifying such mandatory requirements. The normal deadline for submission of assignments will be about two weeks.
Towards the end of the academic year, students will benefit greatly from participating in study groups in order to discuss the curriculum and aspects of the study programme.

Mandatory coursework requirements may be specified, including submission of assignments in the various courses, which are applicable to all students. Information concerning this will be included in the semester plan. Fulfilment of mandatory requirements is a condition for being permitted to take the examination in the course.

Obligatory programme requirements are not assessed in the context of the examination, but are an addition to the mandatory home assignments that are part of the examination / assessment.
The teaching staff may call the student in for a consultation before the final approval of the submitted assignments.
In addition to the teaching at the university college the study programme includes a 4-7 day study trip, which is usually carried out in October. The study trip is obligatory for students taking 20 ECTS credits; students who are not able to participate must apply for exemption early in the semester.
Students must make themselves familiar with, and comply with, the information that is provided in the study guide / semester plan regarding course registration, registration for the examination, reading requirements, submission of assignments etc.

Assessment Methods

A home assignment will be given in one of the courses at the end of the semester (2-week home-assignment and oral examination). The home assignment will be set by the subject teacher (s) and will be closely related to the teaching. In addition to the course syllabus other relevant literature (e.g. an article) and / or source material may be used. In such a case, the students will be given a copy. The home assignment may be related to only one of the courses, which will be determined by lot. The oral examination complements the written examination. Only students who have passed the written examination will be summoned to the oral examination. A 4-hour school examination will be held in the course that is not drawn for the home assignment.

Re-sit examination

The re-sit examination will only be held for students who have valid reasons for absence from the regular examination or who failed the examination in the previous semester.

Students must have completed the obligatory programme requirements before they may take the re-sit examination, and they must also have submitted the home assignment (unless they have valid reasons for absence).

The re-sit examination will be held as a 6-hour school examination (without oral examination).

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean