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SUM4012 - Cross-Cultural Perspectives on the Environment

Course content

This module will explore the ways in which cultural values influence attitudes to nature and impinge on the processes of communication between cultures. Accordingly, this module will focus on the study of religious beliefs, communal ethos, national literature, iconography, constructions of place, models of cultural heroes, ideological allegiances, accepted norms of behaviour, modes of rhetorics, the aesthetics of the environment, etc. and the way they modify or change perceptions of the environment in different cultural contexts. The module will highlight a historical and comparative approach to cultures, focusing both on concrete case studies and on broader issues related to the challenges of globalisation, relation between tradition and innovation, and the interaction between local knowledge (with its norms and values) and the imperatives of and tensions within the cosmopolitan world order.

Learning outcomes

• To provide students with a thorough theoretical understanding of the challenge of sustainability, with an emphasis on cultural perspectives and environmental values
• To introduce students to the complexities of interdisciplinary research
• To develop students’ skills in, and knowledge of, philosophical argumentation, historical processes and cultural understanding of environmental problems
• To use the ongoing case studies provided by SUM researchers to provide practical training to those who may go on to careers in research and policy areas

Admission

Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.

International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

Prerequisites

Formal prerequisites

The Masters study is directed at students with a background in humanities, social sciences or the natural sciences. The minimum requirement for admission is that the students must have a bachelor’s degree (equivalent at least to a good second class honours degree from a reputable university). Students with a natural science background should have at least half a year's studies within the humantities or social sciences to prepare them for the interdisciplinary challenges this programme offers. Students must also have a good working knowledge of English, and should be able to read and follow lectures in this language as well as writing a term paper in English.

Teaching

Lectures and seminars.

Exam information

8 days take home exam, 6-8 pages.

Language of examination

English

Assessment and grading

Course grades are awarded on a descending scale using alphabetic grades from A to E for passes and F for fail. Read more about the grading system .

An external auditor regularly evaluates the academic quality of the course, including the form of exam used on the course.

Explanations and appeals

Students can request an explanation of their grades, and can also appeal against their grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals

Possibility of make-up exams and re-takes

You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam .

Withdrawing from exams and limits on re-takes

A student can sit for this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do this in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit for the exam.

Exam options for students with special needs

Students may apply for access to alternative exam resources or exam forms on the basis of chronic illness and/or special needs that create a marked disadvantage to other students in the exam situation. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.

Evaluation of this course

Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. As a student at the University of Oslo you will therefore be asked to participate in various types of evaluation of our courses, facilities and services. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, in-depth evaluation of this course, a so called "periodic evaluation".

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