Global Studies: Key Concepts

The course Global Studies: Key Concepts, 7,5 higher education credits, is taught as a core course.

This course introduces students to key concepts, central theoretical discussions and research problems in the field of Global Studies from an interdisciplinary perspective including human ecology, peace and development, and social anthropology. Organized around a set of themes, it presents different approaches to the study of transplanetary phenomena and familiarizes students with academic debates on and approaches to current topics of global concern. The course will encourage students to reflect critically on the local and global dimensions of these phenomena and how they affect social relations, including those related to gender, livelihoods, environments and conflict patterns in different parts of the world.

After completion of the course students shall be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Explain central concepts used to analyse contemporary transplanetary phenomena;
• Summarize important theoretical contributions and debates that have formed around these concepts;

Competence and skills

• Discuss the global and local dimensions of transplanetary phenomena;
• Analyze different global phenomena by drawing on relevant theoretical concepts;

Judgement and approach

• Determine the usefulness of different theoretical perspectives and concepts for the analysis of concrete problems in the field of globalization.

Examination takes the form of four mandatory seminars, including four preparatory assignments, and a mandatory final take-home exam. Students can make up for missing mandatory seminars by completing alternative assignments.

If a student who has twice received a failing grade for the same examination component wishes to change examiner ahead of the next examination session, such a request should be made to the department in writing and should be approved by the department unless there are special reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

If a student has received a recommendation from the University of Gothenburg for study support for students with disabilities, the examiner may, where it is compatible with the learning outcomes of the course and provided that no unreasonable resources are required, decide to allow the student to sit an adjusted exam or alternative form of assessment.

In the event that a course has ceased or undergone major changes, students are to be guaranteed at least three examination sessions (including the ordinary examination session) over a period of at least one year, but no more than two years after the course has ceased/been changed. The same applies to internships and professional placements (VFU), although this is restricted to just one additional examination session.

If a student has been informed that he/she fulfils the requirements for being a student at the Swedish Sports University (RIU student), the examiner has the right to decide on adjustments during the examination, if this is done in accordance with the Local Rules for RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

The mandatory seminar assignments are graded pass-fail (U-G). The final take-home exam is graded pass, fail or pass with distinction (U-G-VG).

In order to obtain the grade Pass (G) for the whole course, students need to receive Pass (G) on all of the required assignments. In order to obtain the grade Pass with Distinction (VG) for the whole course, the student needs to receive the grade Pass (G) for all the seminar assignments and Pass with Distinction (VG) for the individual take-home exam.

The course coordinator is responsible for systematically and regularly collecting the students' views of the course, and for making sure that the results of the evaluations in different forms are taken into consideration when developing the course. The results and possible changes to the course will be shared with the students who participated in the evaluation and the next class to take the course