Introduction to the Environmental Humanities

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

This module aims to introduce students to the key themes, theories, methods (including fieldwork), and discussions in the Environmental Humanities. Through multi- and interdisciplinary approaches, the course provides a foundation in understanding the emergence, development and goals of the Environmental Humanities. It will set out how multiple perspectives and approaches to the environment can help investigate and articulate the complex ecological relationships between humans, nonhumans, politics, histories, creativity, technologies and the environment, so as to better address environmental issues relating to crises, justice, representation, and meaning.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, the student will achieve the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

  • Possess a good knowledge of the foundations, development and goals of the Environmental Humanities.
  • Possess good knowledge of, and argue for, the role of humanities and social sciences in understanding and addressing environmental themes and problems.
  • Understand, articulate and assess various perspectives on and approaches to the environment so as to discuss and address a variety of environmental issues.

Skills:

  • Ability to draw on own knowledge and specialisation as well as other perspectives to contribute to discussions pertaining to the environment.
  • Effectively conduct multidisciplinary research in relation to a variety of environmental themes and issues.
  • Good ability to conduct basic fieldwork, take thorough notes in the field and in class to compose critical, creative and reflexive pieces of writing.

General competence:

  • Develop and strengthen critical thinking skills.
  • Ability to have effective discussions and formulate own perspective.

ECTS Credits

15 ECTS

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
A minimum of 60 ECTS.
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Students must have a good comprehension of English.
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
None
Access to the Course

The course has an individual admission and 20 places.

To apply, complete the form on AHKR's website here: skjemaker.app.uib.no/view.php?id=18224380

The application must include a letter of motivation (max. 400 words) which together with grades and progression of studies will be assessed in the admission process.

Applicaion Deadline

10. January

Teaching and learning methods
Teaching is delivered as lectures, seminars and excursions/fieldwork. Teaching is delivered in English.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Seminars, excursions/fieldwork and submission of practice fieldwork exercise are obligatory.

The practice fieldwork exercise (up to 500 words) is a collection of notes and a short write-up of a brief fieldwork task. It is evaluated as pass/fail, with feedback given to the students to help them complete their Portfolio. This will then be written up and expanded to be one entry of their Portfolio.

Forms of Assessment

Portfolio (up to 3000 words).

The portfolio will comprise reflexive write-ups of the seminars and fieldwork for the course, as well as a full write-up of the practice task. Students will also write up a summary entry of the portfolio to connect all the entries. There will therefore be a total of 7 entries.

The assessment can be delivered in Norwegian or English.

Guidance on completing the portfolio will be provided.

Grading Scale
Letter grades are used on a scale from A to F, where F is fail.
Assessment Semester
Spring
Reading List

1200 pages.

The reading list will be available by 01.12 of the spring semester

Course Evaluation
The course will be evaluated in line with UiB's quality assurance system.
Examination Support Material
Not applicable.
Programme Committee
The Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion is responsible for the academic content and structure of the course and for the quality of the study program.
Course Coordinator
Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion
Course Administrator
Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion