Specialization in Modern History

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The course aims at providing students with a specialization in relevant historical themes in the period after c. 1750. The Department usually provides teaching in one or several such themes, depending on available resources. Students choose one theme (per course). The themes may vary according to available teaching resources and research interests. The Department announces the themes that are offered before the start of the semester.

The course may be included in a specialization in history

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:

After successful completion of the course, the student has good knowledge of and is familiar with central theories and debates within the chosen theme. The student is also familiar with central historical methods and methodical aspects of historical research.

Skills:

The student is able to discuss central historical questions related to the chosen theme, and to evaluate critically historical presentations in scholarly works and student texts. The student will, through several written texts, demonstrate his/her ability to analyze historical data provided through sources and literature, and is able to draw his/her own conclusions on this basis.

General competences:

The students will demonstrate their ability to academic argumentation and documentation through written texts. Their ability to academic communication will be demonstrated through the exchange of written responses with fellow students.

ECTS Credits

15

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Autumn.

The course takes place in the second half of the autumn semester (teaching block autumn 2).

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
None
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Good command of English
Access to the Course
The course is open to students enrolled at the University of Bergen
Teaching and learning methods

Approximately 20 - 25 hours in total.

If five or fewer students register for a topic on the course, the department can introduce adapted teaching in the topic in question or cancel the topic. On topics where this may be relevant, students will receive information about it at the start of the semester, and before the deadline for semester registration on 1 February/1. September.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

In order to take the exam, students are required to complete and to pass two compulsory written assignments of up to 1,500 words. The assignments must have references in the text to sources and literature and a list at the end of the literature that has been used.

The subject supervisor can allow students (individually or in groups) to answer one of the compulsory assignments in the form of oral presentations with a length of 10-15 minutes. The presentation must contain a list of sources and literature that have been used. In the case of group work, a written declaration of how the participants have contributed to the group work must also be submitted.

Scope, deadlines and guidelines for the compulsory assignments will be announced at the start of the course. Compulsory assignments are valid for one semester after the teaching semester in which they were approved.

Forms of Assessment

7 days take home exam, a paper of up to 3,000 words.

Compulsory activities must be valid in order to take the exam.

The language of instruction can vary depending on the different themes in the course. The exam assignment will follow the language of instruction in the specific theme. The exam can be submitted in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading Scale
Grades will be set using a scale of A to F. Grade A is the highest passing grade. Grade F is a fail.
Assessment Semester
Autumn. An exam will be offered early in the Spring semester for students who passed the obligatory requirements.
Reading List
The Department prepares a required reading list consisting of approx. 1200 pages.
Course Evaluation
The course will be evaluated regularly.
Examination Support Material
Not relevant.