Global Studies: Theories and Perspectives

The course is a stand-alone core course at advanced level.

The course is included in the following programs: 1) Master's Program in Global Studies (S2GST)

A Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 30 credits within the Social Sciences or Humanities.

Applicants must prove their knowledge of English: English 6 from Swedish upper secondary school, or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL or IELTS.

This course offers an introductory overview and academic grounding to the field of Global Studies. While the origins of this field are closely connected to debates on globalization, increased inter-connectivity and the co-construction of local and global dynamics, it has evolved beyond these debates. This course exposes students to Global Studies as a field of distinct yet interconnected academic disciplines and subjects, which engage with a wide range of global connectivity, global circulation and global challenges – and their multi-level manifestations. Students will explore several disciplinary lenses and the differences and complementarities between them, with emphasis on Environmental Social Sciences, International Relations, and Social Anthropology. The core of the course comprises a sequence of three thematic clusters: Economy and Ecology; Society; and World Order. Students will be required to reflect on global phenomena and on the implications of studying them from diverse disciplinary angles. In addition, the course entails a deliberative engagement with theory and the analytical work we expect it to do, as well as with foundational academic skill-sets including academic writing. As such, the course will equip students with the skills and tools to juxtapose empirical insights, theoretical perspectives and reflections on policy-practice in relation to some of the world’s most pressing concerns.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• discuss the differences and complementarities between the analytical lenses offered by different disciplines and subjects within Global Studies;
• review key thematic debates within the field of Global Studies;

Competence and skills

• find, review and reference academic literature in an advanced manner;
• construct a succinct and well-substantiated line of argument in a written essay;

Judgement and approach

• scrutinize the conceptual and empirical quality of academic literature;
• critically interrogate claims and positions in academic, policy and public debate.

The main forms of teaching on the course will include lectures and mandatory seminars, group work exercises, tutorials, group-based supervision. Certain activities may be conducted digitally.

Teaching language: English 

Examination consists of three parts:

• Active participation in mandatory seminars (oral). Absence will be compensated by an additional written or oral assignment.
• One (1) literature review (3 credits)
• Individual written take-home exam at the end of the course (7 credits)

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

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

To be awarded a Pass grade for the course requires active participation in all mandatory seminars, as well as a pass for the literature review and the take home exam.

To be awarded Pass with Distinction for the course requires active participation in all mandatory seminars, a pass for the literature review, and a pass with distinction for the 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 of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.