Course description for 2026/27
Peoples and Cultures of the Arctic
NOM1002
Course description for 2026/27

Peoples and Cultures of the Arctic

NOM1002
This course explores Arctic cultures and peoples from both Indigenous and Western viewpoints. It provides a multidisciplinary look at how Arctic societies have adapted to and shaped social, economic, political, and environmental change. Students will examine Indigenous traditions, the impact of colonization, and Western involvement in the region, as well as how language, media, arts, and education contribute to identity and self-determination.
The course will introduce the students to the traditional cultures and contemporary peoples of the Arctic through indigenous and Western perspectives. The course will provide an integrated, multidisciplinary understanding of Arctic 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 Arctic. The social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of colonization across the Arctic will be presented and discussed. In addition, the course will discuss the importance of language, media, the arts, and education for the formation and management of identities and for the expression of self-determination by Arctic peoples.
Admission occurs based on general study competence (university entrance) according to current Norwegian regulations.
None

Knowledge

The student

  • has knowledge of important thematic challenges, processes, and issues within cultures of the Arctic region
  • has knowledge of research work on people and cultures of the Arctic region, including theories and research on colonisation, politics, economics, and social and cultural change.
  • has contemporary knowledge of peoples and cultures in the Arctic region, the Arctic region’s history, traditions, and uniqueness, as well as social and cultural change.

Skills

The student

  • can apply knowledge and relevant results from research work to practical and theoretical issues
  • can reflect on their own academic practice and adjust this under guidance
  • can find, evaluate, and refer to scholarly material and present it in a way that illuminates key issues related to the peoples and cultures of the Arctic region
  • master relevant academic forms of expression within studies of peoples and cultures in the Arctic region

General competence

The student

  • has insights into relevant and emerging topics within the study of peoples and cultures of the Arctic region
  • can plan and carry out varied assignments with academically relevant content.
  • can present key academic material such as theories and research results related to studies of people and cultures of the Arctic region, both in writing and orally
  • can exchange opinions about topics covered by studies of people and cultures of the Arctic and participate in discussions concerning the development of good practice.
In addition to the semester fee and required course literature, students are expected to have access to a laptop computer.
Compulsory for a one-year program in the Arctic and Nordic Studies. An elective course for other students at Nord University.

On campus students: In-person lectures, student-centered class discussions, seminar-based sessions, and screenings of documentary films.

Online students: Synchronous online lectures and student-centered class discussions.

Annual evaluations are included in the university´s quality assurance system.
None

Compound assessment (SV), grading A - F:

Course work (AK):

Written assignments (answers to 4 module questions).

Grading: approved/not approved.

Oral Exam (MU):

The exam consists of an oral examination.

Grading: A-F.

The oral exam accounts for 100/100 of the final exam grade.

Course work an exam will be conducted in English, and must be answered in English.

Passing both AK and MU is required to complete the course successfully.

All means allowed at the course work, including course literature, internet, library, etc., but no artificial intelligence. All means including course literature, internet, library, etc. but no artificial intelligence.Generating responses using artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT or similar, and submitting them entirely or partially as one's own work is considered cheating.

No means allowed at the oral exam.

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:

BCS125X - Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar North - 10 credits