BNS120 Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World - 15 stp

The primary aim of this course is to introduce the peoples and cultures of

the North Circumpolar Region through interdisciplinary study in the fields of

anthropology, sociology, history, media and cultural studies,

communications and literature. Students will be introduced to traditional

cultures and contemporary peoples through indigenous and Western

perspectives. The course aim to promote an integrated and multidisciplinary

understanding of the circumpolar peoples and their adaptations and

contributions to social, economic, political and environmental changes. This

includes an introduction to Aboriginal cultures, a discussion of the Western

presence in the Circumpolar North, and an examination of contemporary

northern peoples.

The course is divided into twelve modules and examines primary societies

(traditional Indigenous societies up to Western contact) and secondary

societies (non-Indigenous enclaves in the North). The course gives an initial

overview of primary/secondary societies, the emergence of tertiary societies

and a description of self-determination, followed by sections on identity &

language, media, arts & literature, and education, recreation & family,

respective to the three primary Circumpolar regions: North America &

Greenland, Siberia & Northern Asia, and Northern Scandinavia & North-west

Russia.

The course is identical with BCS 321 and BCS 322 except of some extra modules and syllbus (12 ECTS).

 

Applicants from Nordic countries: 1 June for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.

Exchange students and Fulbright students: 1 October for the spring semester and 15 April for the autumn semester. 

Admission requirements:
Nordic applicants: Generell studiekompetanse

International applicants: Higher Education Entrance Qualification and certified language requirements in English.
 

A list of the requirements for the Higher Education Entrance Qualification in Norway can be found on the web site from the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT). For language requirements we refer to NOKUT's GSU-list.

Admission code: 9199 (Nordic applicants).

Objectives: Building competence on the peoples and cultures of the circumpolar world with a special focus on indigenous peoples and the Barents region.

Knowledge

• On indigenous peoples in the Circumpolar North
• On history, identity and culture
• On mass culture and the role of media in forming identities

Skills

• The ability to approach culture and cultural differences
• To analyse the interplay between community changes and culture
• To understand indigenous perspectives compared to western ones

General competence

• In a multidisciplinary approach to peoples and cultures
• In cross-cultural adaptations in the Circumpolar North
• In peoples and cultures of the Barents region

The course is designed in separate modules for online self-studying/ distant

teaching with a manual for self-studying situations. Students are supposed

to answer questions module by module. Some tutoring and responses from

the responsible teacher will be given. 

Work requirements:

Answers to given module questions. The answers have to be approved byresponsible teacher before the students are allowed to do the final exam.

Examination: 

A final written home based exam:
- Available time: 3 days
- Extent. 5 to 6 pages
- Font: Times New Roman, 12 pkt., line spacing 1,5. Margins; right,top and bottom 2 cm, left 4 cm.
- Grading: scale A - F, with F for failed.

 Possibility of re-sit exam in case of F