HIS-2002 The Sami Nation. Indigenous people, ethnic minorities and the multi-cultural society - 10 stp

Type of course

Chosen topic in the Bachelor's program in History. Offered primarily to foreign students with an interest in Sami peoples, Northern area studies and ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples in relation to the growth of the 19th and 20th Century Nation state. 

Course contents

The course is an introduction to the history of the Sami peoples and it will start with theoretical aspects of the discipline of history of ethnic groups in general as well as indigenous peoples specifically. It continues with theoretical and empirical focus of ethnic processes in northern Fennoscandia during the prehistoric times and Middle Ages, including the history of Sami reindeer management. It then goes on to the states` minority policies in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, including the development of land rights and resource management systems. The course ends by focusing on the development of indigenous and other ethnic groups` revival movements in northern Fennoscandia and Russia.

Application deadline

Applicants form Nordic countries: 1st June for the autumn semester and 1st December for the spring semester. Exchange students and Fulbright students: 1st October for the spring semester and 15th April for the autumn semester.

Admission requirements

9199-singular course at undergraduate level.

Objective of the course

The students will obtain the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student will obtain knowledge on:

• central categories and definitions within the area of ethnicity, and aspects in connection with the relation between majority/minority and nation
• the history of the Sami peoples of Fennoscandia and Russia from ancient times until today
• of the themes treated at the course

Skills

The student will be able to:

• have a critical view of the human past through discussion at the course
•  communicate historical research problems, analyses and conclusions about history of the Sami both with specialists and the general public
• structure and formulate complex academic discussions

Competence

• have the ability to work independently with research problems and debated historical problems
• have the ability to discuss and problematize the categories minority, indigenous people and ethnicity in different historical contexts

Language of instruction

English

Teaching methods

To achieve the central learning targets, the course will have multiple teaching approaches; lectures, discussions, video shows and collective and individual guidance.

All courses will be evaluated once during the period of the study program. The board of the program decides which courses will be evaluated by students and teacher each year. 

Assessment

The following coursework requirements must be completed and approved in order to take the final exam:

The exam will consist of:

Students write two essays during the course, each of about 5 pages (c.2250 words). Essays are to be delivered within a limit of seven days. These two essays are evaluated together at the end of the course, together with an oral examination.

The exam will be assessed on an A-F grades scale. Grades are A-E for passed and F for failed.  

Retake is offered in in the beginning of the following semester in cases of grade F or Fail. Deferred examination is offered in the beginning of the following semester if the student is unable to take the final exam due to illness or other exceptional circumstances. Registration deadline for retake is January 15th for autumn semester exams and August 15th for spring semester exams.