Læringsutbytte

Learning outcome

Knowledge

Upon completion of the course, the students will have acquired knowledge and understanding of central concepts, theories, and ethical concerns pertaining to science and research (with an emphasis on the humanities and social sciences) and to creative aesthetic practices.

Qualifications

The course will help the students develop the ability to critically apply their knowledge and understanding of relevant theoretical and ethical issues to their formulation and design of scholarly, scientific and creative projects.

General competence

Having completed the course, the students should possess the theoretical tools that will enable them to judge the scientific or creative merit of their own and others’ work and projects, and to communicate such judgment to colleagues and to the community at large. They will possess an attitude of openness and a capacity for critical thinking and reflection, essential to the scientific enterprise and aesthetic practices.

Innhold

Course content

The course has three parts: (1) theory of science, with an emphasis on theories of the social sciences and the humanities; (2) theories of creative aesthetic practices; (3) ethical theories and concerns applied to science and creative aesthetic practices. In addition to discussing traditional problems within theories and ethics of science and research, the course deals with theoretical and ethical questions that arise with knowledge generated through experience, action and creative practices.

The overall goal of the course is that the students gain an understanding of theories concerning conditions of scientific knowledge, conditions of the generation, organization and institutionalization of science, and conditions of creative aesthetic practices. The course promotes critical reflection on established traditions of science, research and creative practice, including the tradition within which they do their own work, together with critical awareness of ethical concerns pertaining to scientific and creative practices. The PhD program of Cultural Studies at Telemark University College is interdisciplinary. Accordingly, one aim of the course is to help the students develop the ability and tools to engage in scientific communication across the traditional boundaries between scientific disciplines and areas of research and creative practices.

Arbeids- og læringsformer

Teaching and learning methods

• Lectures: appr. 30 hours.
• Essay seminar: duration depends on the number of students – each student will give a presentation (20 minutes) of his/her course essay or essay proposal (see below) as a work in progress.

Vurderingsformer

• Home exam (essay 3000 words), fail/pass
• Work requirements (A brief description, (max. 2 pages) of own PhD project (or of current scientific or aesthetic work in the case of those who are not enrolled in a PhD program), to be submitted prior to the course)

Det tas forbehold om mindre justeringer i planen.