course-details-portlet

HFO1004 - The Human Era? Topics in Environmental Humanities

About

Examination arrangement

Examination arrangement: Assignment
Grade: Passed / Not Passed

Evaluation Weighting Duration Grade deviation Examination aids
Assignment 100/100

Course content

Our present is marked by an increasing awareness of serious and rapid environmental changes that challenge living conditions on Earth. Given the large-scale environmental challenges we face today, we in the humanities must also ask how we can make sense of our place in the world today. What is nature? What is a human? How should we think about the human in relation to the world? Do humans have obligations to nature and the planet? Questions like these form the backdrop of this course that addresses humanities perspectives on topics related to climate, environment, and nature. These topics provide further basis for discussing how perspectives from the interdisciplinary environmental humanities contributes to new questions, brings forth new issues, and new ways of exploring the world in the humanities. This is done through a combination of lectures and thematically-organized project work.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

Students who complete this course will have knowledge of:

  • contemporary debates about environmental, social, aesthetic, and ethical topics and controversies
  • the environmental humanities and important debates within this interdisciplinary field
  • how the environmental humanities have been the starting point for new directions in humanities research, with particular focus on popular culture, natural philosophy, technology studies, studies of politics and democracy, posthumanism, and animal studies
  • the relevance of humanities perspectives outside the university, in daily life and in society as a whole

Skills

Students who complete this course will have the skills to:

  • interpret historical, political, social and cultural aspects of nature and environmental issues
  • trace perspectives on climate, environment and nature through various disciplines and areas of study within the humanities
  • formulate an argument on a given topic and answer it through project work

General competence

Students who complete this subject have general competence in

  • cooperative learning
  • project work

Learning methods and activities

The first half of the semester is based on lectures followed by a period of seminar training, where the students work on a project in groups. The project is presented in the end of the semester.

The first half of the semester is based on lectures followed by a period of seminar training, where the students work on a project in interdisciplinary groups. The project is presented in the end of the semester.

Compulsory activities:

  • Project outline / project plan (group submission)
  • Weekly logs during the project period (group submission)
  • Presentation of the project (in groups)
  • Seminar work is organized and distributed within individual groups. The equivalent of 80 % participation in group work is required.

Compulsory activities during the seminar training are conducted in groups. In order to take the exam, approval of compulsory activities and the equivalent of 80 % participation in project group work. is required. Compulsory activity is valid only in the semester the subject is taken and the following semester.

The course is taught in Norwegian or English.

Compulsory assignments

  • Compulsory tasks

Further on evaluation

Individual semester assignment (term paper) submitted digitally in Inspera, at the end of the semester. Course instructor will present the question text for the semester assignment in the first half of the semester (before the project period).

Re-sit examination is arranged as a one-week home exam in the following semester.

More on the course

No

Facts

Version: 1
Credits:  7.5 SP
Study level: Foundation courses, level I

Coursework

Term no.: 1
Teaching semester:  AUTUMN 2024

Language of instruction: Norwegian

Location: Trondheim

Subject area(s)
  • The Humanities
Contact information
Course coordinator:

Department with academic responsibility
Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture

Examination

Examination arrangement: Assignment

Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
Autumn ORD Assignment 100/100 INSPERA
Room Building Number of candidates
Spring UTS Assignment 100/100 INSPERA
Room Building Number of candidates
  • * The location (room) for a written examination is published 3 days before examination date. If more than one room is listed, you will find your room at Studentweb.
Examination

For more information regarding registration for examination and examination procedures, see "Innsida - Exams"

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