Required prerequisite knowledge

Students must have followed IKF301 and IKF302 to continue on IKF304

Relevance within study programme

Optional subject in the ICSM-program

Learning outcomes descriptors

Knowledge

The candidate has

• thorough knowledge on the history, culture, major worldviews and religion of the selected region or ethnic groups, with particular emphasis on ethnic, religious and socio-cultural relations specific to the field.
• thorough knowledge on historical key events and on culture and society, including system of government, religion and worldviews specific to region/the immigrants´ region of origin.
• thorough knowledge on the human rights challenges in the region/the immigrants´ region of origin.
• thorough knowledge of relevant white papers / policy papers on the region.

Skills

The candidate

• can analyse academic problems on the basis of the history, traditions, distinctive socio-cultural character and place in the regions relevant for the Master thesis– theme.
• can analyse relations between culture, worldviews, religion and ethics in the relevant regions.
• can identify human right violations and ethical challenges.
• can search for and find relevant and valid information on specific cultural contexts.

General competence

• The student has knowledge and understanding of the selected cultural context with particular emphasis on the culture, religion, ethnicity and human rights, and is able to apply general intercultural theory to a particular context and find relevant and valid information.

Content

Students may compose their own course of geographical and sociocultural specialisation based on their own research interests and career plans. The aim of the course is to prepare the student for field work in a particular cultural and geographical context. The choice of syllabus should be discussed with and acknowledged by an appointed course supervisor. For the time being we can offer specialisation on Africa, Europe, Latin-America, China and Japan. The self-composed syllabus must be submitted in itslearning within given deadlines

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching methods include workshops/seminars on academic writing and literature review, and self-tuition. The reading-list has to be handed in and approved by the supervisor at the beginning of the semester.

Scope

450 hours. This includes self-study.

Coursework requirements

• Develop a research question on the sociocultural background with relevance to the master thesis. At the beginning of the semester, select 1200 pages self-composed curriculum with relevance to the master thesis. The student must hand in the self-composed curriculum developed in dialog with a supervisor.

Grading, coursework requirements

Approved / Not approved

Final assessment

• Write an individual literature review of approx. 4000–6000 words. The literature review has to be handed in within a given date.

Permitted aids under examination

All aids permitted.

Grading, examination

The literature review will be graded according to the normal ECTS grading scale from A to F, in which E or better is necessary in order to pass the examination.

Assessment language

Scandinavian languages or English.

Practice

None.

Incompatible courses

IKF 305

Course evaluation

Annually course evaluation in accordance with the quality assurance system for NLA University College. Students may also give their feedback on the course in the student group/ in class.

Available for Course Students

No.

Reading list and academic resources

Graff, Gerald & Cathy Birkenstein (2016)  "They Say / I Say": The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, with 2016 MLA Update and Readings. New York: W. W. Norton Company (292)

Approx. 1200 pages self-composed curriculum