course-details-portlet

LSAM001

Comparative perspectives on Education, Citizenship and Democracy in Norway

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

Credits 7.5
Level Foundation courses, level I
Course start Autumn 2025 / Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Assignment and Oral examination

About

About the course

Course content

The course gives an introduction to the Norwegian educational system with a special emphasis on primary and secondary schooling. Central components are the Norwegian welfare state and Norwegian education policy, as well as Norwegian educational history. There is also an emphasis on education for democracy and citizenship, which is an area where Norwegian pupils score high on international measures. The course approaches these topics in a comparative perspective, and comparison with other countries helps students understand how school structures and school policies are associated with a social, cultural, historical and political context. The comparative perspective also gives students a better understanding of their home countries' educational structure and policies.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidate

  • Should have knowledge about Norwegian values and culture, and how these are integrated into our welfare state and particularly in our educational system
  • Should have knowledge about Norwegian educational history and policy in a comparative perspective, with a focus on the Norwegian unitary school tradition
  • Should have knowledge of the key perspectives of democratic education, and the Norwegian experience with teaching democracy
  • Should have knowledge of social science research methods and academic writing

Skills

The candidate

  • Should be able to do comparative analyses based on empirical data and literature.
  • Should be able to exercise critical judgement on the reliability and validity of relevant sources
  • Should be able to work independently with academic and didactic issues
  • Should be able to work independently with research and academic writing

General competence

The candidate

  • Should be able to engage in and stimulate critical reflection among pupils
  • Should be able to update themselves and reflect on their own teaching practice
  • Should be able to work independently and with others to identify, analyze and solve problems related to teaching

Learning methods and activities

Teaching is organized in weekly teaching sessions composed of lectures, in-class discussion, student presentations, tutoring, and small writing assignments. Students are expected to complete 2-3 small comparative writing assignments as class preparation. In addition, students are expected to write an individual 15-page research paper where they are exploring some aspect of education in Norway or their home country in a comparative perspective. The paper should have a specific research question, be written in academic style, and follow the standards for academic writing at NTNU.

Compulsory assignments

  • Compulsory assignments in accordance with the course description

Further on evaluation

Compulsory assignments:

  • Individual paper outline (for tutoring)
  • Individual paper first draft (for tutoring)

All obligatory course work will be evaluated Approved/Not Approved.

Exam and grading:

The final grade is calculated as a weighted average of the two following component parts - A paper (51%) - An individual oral exam (49%) The paper is written under academic supervision of a member of the department staff. Each component of the final grade can be improved individually.

Required previous knowledge

The course is open to all foreign students studying at Norwegian University of Science and Technology for shorter or longer periods.

Course materials

Final curriculum list will be posted on Blackboard before the start of the semester.

Subject areas

  • Teacher Education

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Teacher Education

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Assignment and Oral examination
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

An individual research paper
Weighting 51/100 Examination aids ALLE Date Release 2025-11-03
Submission 2025-11-06
Time Release 09:00
Submission 09:00
Duration 1 semesters Exam system Inspera Assessment
Individual oral exam (1)
Weighting 49/100 Date From 2025-11-12 Duration 30 minutes
  • Other comments
  • 1) Individual time for the oral exam will be published later in Blackboard.

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

An individual research paper
Weighting 51/100 Examination aids ALLE Duration 1 semesters Exam system Inspera Assessment
Individual oral exam
Weighting 49/100 Duration 30 minutes