Subject description for 2024/25
Historical Theory and Methodology
HI122S
Subject description for 2024/25
Historical Theory and Methodology
HI122S
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The course provides an elementary introduction into historical theory, method and historiography. The aim of the course is to train the students to take a critical attitude to the subject of history, and to give them insight into the fundamental problems the historian faces when he / she researches and disseminates history. The dissemination section aims to create reflection on the use of history. This includes a compulsory assignment that is linked to history use, museum / web dissemination, memory history or a theory / archive / source study.
None
On successful completion of the course:
Knowledge
- The student should have acquired knowledge and understanding of the basic theoretical and methodological premises for professional history.
- The student should have general knowledge about central concepts in modern historiography.
- The student should know about source criticism.
Abilities
- The student should be able to discuss theoretical and methodological questions through colloquiums/seminars and in written assignments.
- The student should be able to do historical source criticism as well as to reflect upon historical explanations.
- The student should be able to participate in a historical scientific community where reflections about the science of history takes place, through colloquiums/seminars.
- The student should be able to write short texts about the theories of history and take supervision, in order to be trained in an academic culture.
General competence
- The student should be able to access a theoretically oriented academic literature, and to explain theoretical and methodological principles in their own written work.
- The student should be able to understand what an academic debate is and how it can develop.
- The student should be able to address main outlines within modern historiography.
No costs except semester registration fee and course literature.
Compulsory for the one-year programme and the bachelor in history. Elective for other students
Lectures, colloquia, oral presentations, writing with student peer review, assignments, organised for both net- and campus students.
The programme of study and relevant courses are evaluated by students twice every year as part of the university´s quality assurance system.
- Compulsory participation in 75% of colloquia or seminars, comprises 0/100 of the grade. Graded approved/not approved.
- Two assignments, 3 pages each, comprises 0/100 of the grade. Graded approved/not approved.
- Oral exam. Graded A-F.
The exam can be answered in Norwegian, other Scandinavian languages, or English.
Adequate knowledge of the English language to read and analyse texts in English.