Investigating Global Challenges

Masteremne

Emnebeskrivelse

Mål og innhold

This course builds on GOV351 Understanding Global Challenges and focuses on the study of global challenges from a social science perspective. Students will engage with foundational concepts such as inequality, identity, and institutions, and examine global challenges including gender inequality, conflict, migration, injustice, autocracies. Through a combination of theoretical frameworks and empirical research, the course explores how historical legacies, institutional dynamics, and societal divisions shape global developments. Emphasis is placed on critical analysis, research design, and the application of social science methods, preparing students for independent research projects and their master’s thesis. Interactive sessions, group exercises, and research workshops foster active learning and provide opportunities for peer feedback and collaboration.

Læringsutbytte

Knowledge

The student knows

  • how to organize and conduct research in groups
  • how to develop and present lectures
  • how to reason with interdisciplinary perspectives

Skills

The student can

  • apply analytical/theoretical frameworks/approaches to specific global challenges in independent research
  • can discuss and assess the relevance of academic and professional contributions to the field concerning different policy problems
  • can communicate and discuss advanced and professional arguments with different audiences
  • can provide practical applications of theory through written and oral presentations and in discussions with relevant actors in public policy and administration

Studiepoeng, omfang

10 ECTS

Studienivå (studiesyklus)

Master

Undervisningssemester

Spring
Krav til forkunnskaper
None
Anbefalte forkunnskaper
Studiepoengsreduksjon
None
Krav til studierett

The course is open for students who have been accepted to the Master's program in Politics and Governance of Global Challenges.

Exchange students at master level may be accepted upon application. Applications may be rejected due to capacity.

Arbeids- og undervisningsformer
Lectures, student-led seminars; final conference
Obligatorisk undervisningsaktivitet

Preparation and planning, implementation, and reporting of an in-class activity

Two written assignments

Full attendance, students can miss max. 1 class. The attendance requirement applies regardless of whether you submit a doctors note or not.

The compulsory assignments must be approved in order to take the exam.

Approved compulsory assignments are valid in the current and following two semesters.

Vurderingsformer

Written essay with a length of 5000 words (+-10%) excluding the title page, table of contents, references, tables, and all attachments.

The exam will be given in the language in which the course is taught.

The exam answer can be submitted in English.

Karakterskala
Graded A-F
Vurderingssemester

Assessment in teaching semester.

Students with valid absence as defined in the UiB regulations § 5-5 can apply for an extended submission deadline to studieveileder.gov@uib.no. The application must be submitted before the deadline for submission has expired.

A maximum of 3 days extension can be granted.

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Litteraturliste
The reading list will be ready before 1 July for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.
Emneevaluering
All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education.
Programansvarlig
The Programme Committee is responsible for the content, structure and quality of the study programme and courses.
Administrativt ansvarlig
The Department of Government at the Faculty of Social Sciences has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.