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KULT2209

STS: Energy, Environment and Society

Choose study year

Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 15
Level Intermediate course, level II
Course start Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Assignment , Aggregate score

About

About the course

Course content

The course offers an introduction to social scientific perspectives on energy and environment, theories and methods for analyzing the social, political and cultural aspects my production and consumption of energy. There is a specific focus on the Norwegian energy system and the development of energy technologies, energy supply and energy justice. Both innovation processes and strategies for renewable energy and environment are important subjects, as is commercialization, technological change and different user perspectives. The course is open to all students, and is part of the STS (studies in knowledge, technology and society) one-year study program, which can be subject 2 / broad-based year in most bachelor's degrees and qualifies for admission to PPU (social studies)

Learning outcome

Students of this course have knowledge of:

  • social scientific understandings of energy, with focus on environmental, social, political and cultural aspects of production and consumption of energy
  • central issues within social scientific studies of renewable energy technologies, with emphasis on innovation, controversies and domestication
  • socio-technical perspectives on technology- and societal change connected to energy and environment

Students of this course are skilled at:

  • working interdependently with solving issues using knowledge from the course
  • utilizing knowledge gained from the course when analyzing and gaining a deeper understanding of their academic practices
  • utilizing knowledge gained from the course to solve practical and theoretical problems, including the ability to reach independent conclusions
  • gaining knowledge of specific issues and communicate insights in different formats

Learning methods and activities

The course is taught as a combination of lectures, seminars and project work.

One mandatory task. The exam is in assignment form: It consists of one shorter exam assignment (constituting 20% of the total grade) and one longer exam assignment due towards the end of the semester (constituting 80% of the total grade). To qualify to sit the final exam, the mandatory course assignment must be approved.

Compulsory assignments

  • Oblig
  • One mandatory task

Further on evaluation

The course has two exams: one written assignment that counts for 20% of the final grade and a home exam that counts for 80% of the grade. To pass the course, both exams must be passed.

In case of illness or a grade of F on the shorter assignment, a resit exam will be organized before the final exam.

The student cannot appeal the grade before the total grade for both exams is announced.

Students who have completed the mandatory activity will have the opportunity to repeat or resit the exam whether or not the course is taught that semester. In a semester when the course is taught, both exams must be passed. In a semester when the course is not taught, there will only be one exam which will count for 100% of the grade.

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

Will be given at the start of the course.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
HFEL0006 7.5 sp Autumn 2010
KULT2211 7.5 sp Autumn 2013
This course has academic overlap with the courses in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Science and Technology Studies
  • Social Sciences

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture

Examination

Examination

Grade: Letter grades

Examination arrangement: Assignment

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

Assignment
Weighting 100/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment

Examination arrangement: Aggregate score

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

Home examination
Weighting 80/100 Duration 1 weeks Exam system Inspera Assessment
Assignment
Weighting 20/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment