Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar North

The course will introduce the students to the traditional cultures and contemporary peoples of the circumpolar North through indigenous and Western perspectives. The course will provide an integrated and multidisciplinary understanding of the circumpolar peoples and their adaptations and contributions to social, economic, political and environmental change. This includes an introduction to indigenous cultures, an examination of contemporary northern peoples and a discussion of Western presence in the Circumpolar North. The social, cultural, economic and political aspects of the colonizing of the different regions of the Circumpolar North will be presented and discussed. The course will also discuss the importance of language, media, arts and education for formation and management of identity and for expressions of self-determination by circumpolar people.

Admission occurs based on general study competence (university entrance) or work competence (prior learning) according to current Norwegian regulations.

Knowledge
The student should:

have knowledge about central issues, theories, research questions and methods in studies on people and cultures in the circumpolar north.
know about research work on people and cultures in the circumpolar north, including theories and research on colonization, politics, economic, social and cultural change.
Acquire new knowledge about people and cultures in the circumpolar north.
Have knowledge about the history, cultures, traditions and distinctiveness of the societies in the circumpolar north, in addition to social and cultural change.

Skills
The student should:

Be able to use academic knowledge and relevant results from research on practical and theoretical issues, and explain how choices are made.
Be able to reflect upon own academic practice and convey this in a way that is relevant for the subject matters.
Be able to find, assess and refer to academic knowledge and convey this in a way that is relevant for a problem.
Be able to use relevant academic expressions in studies of people and cultures in the circumpolar north.

General competence
The student should:

Have knowledge about relevant academic research questions relevant for studies of cultures in the circumpolar north.
Be able to plan and write student papers with relevant academic subject matters.
Be able to convey central academic issues like theories and research results on people and cultures in the circumpolar north in written form.
Be able to exchange views and experiences regarding people and cultures in the circumpolar north.
Know about new knowledge and innovation.

No costs except semester registration fee and in some cases, syllabus literature. Students registered on the Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies are excepted from the semester registration fee.

Compulsory for the Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies. Elective course for other students at Nord University.

On-line lectures and written assignments (answers to module questions). The written assignments are preliminary examinations and have to be successfully completed in order for the student to be able to receive the formal grade and credits.

Assessment methods and criteria:

The written assignments (answers to module questions) are preliminary examinations (portfolio) and 4 have to be successfully completed in order for the student to be able to receive the formal grade and credits.

Successfully completed preliminary examinations are valid the two subsequent terms after first attempt.

The exam consists of an individual take-home examinationThere will be one final grade using the regular Norwegian grading system (A-F).

Annual evaluations which are included in the university´s quality assurance system.

Written assignments and individual home exam:

The written assignments (answers to 4 module questions) are preliminary examinations have to be successfully completed, together with the home exam, in order for the student to be able to receive the formal grade and credits.

Successfully completed preliminary examinations are valid the two subsequent terms after first attempt.

The exam consists of an individual take-home examination There will be one final grade using the regular Norwegian grading system (A-F).

The exam must be answered in English.

None

Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:

BCS121X - Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World I - 7.5 credits

BCS122X - Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World II - 7.5 credits

BCS321 - Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World I - 6 credits

BCS322 - Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World II - 6 credits

NOM1002 - Peoples and Cultures of the Arctic - 10 credits