Course content

The course contains a regional study of two regions (the Middle East and UK/Ireland) and a section that compares social studies as a school subject in Norway and UK /Ireland. The Middle-East part of the study contains topics such as the regional development of independent states in the modern era, democracy, central conflicts (included resource conflicts), and how external political actors have influenced developments in the Middle East. The UK/Ireland part is concentrated on political systems and structures, compared with Norway. It also focuses on regional variations, conflicts in and between different parts of the region and discusses a range of relevant political issues in the region. A comparative study of social studies school subjects that corresponds to Norwegian social studies 5-10 with Norwegian social studies in one area of the region is also part of the course. This section thematizes differences in curricula and other management tools, in textbooks and other learning resources, as well as development lines, ongoing development work and social science didactic orientations and thinking. The course also includes a field course to the UK and /or Ireland (voluntary participation) with a program adapted to the relevant course content.

Learning outcome

KNOWLEDGE

The student has

• in-depth knowledge of state development, democracy, external interference from great powers and conflicts in the Middle East in recent times.
• advanced knowledge of and can compare political systems, party systems, electoral systems and selected political conflict lines in the UK / Ireland with corresponding in Norway.
• in-depth knowledge of ethnic, socio-demographic and economic inequality / variation in the two regions.
• in-depth knowledge of regional comparison and theories of regional development and regional differences.
• in-depth empirical knowledge of ethnic conflicts and advanced knowledge of theories of ethnic dominance and conflict.
• in-depth knowledge of some of the school subjects in the UK / Ireland that correspond to or are part of Norwegian social science 5-10, and about development lines and ongoing development work in these.

SKILLS

The student

• can compare socio-demographic, economic and political conditions and development lines in the regions.
• can find, evaluate, select and adapt relevant academic sources for use in the school.
• can plan, conduct and evaluate comparative teaching.
• can perform comparative school subject analyzes.
• can assess what considerations social studies teaching about conflict areas in classes with students from areas of acute conflict can or should be taken.
• can evaluate the differences between objectivity, neutrality, balance and critical openness considering teaching about political conditions and conflicts
• can analyze and relate critically to different views of conflict and different conceptions of justice and equality.

GENERAL COMPETENCE

The student

• can plan excursions outside the school's immediate area
• can use insights from the master's subjects to contribute in development work with other professional teachers.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, seminar with student presentations, excercises/student assignments. Individual work and work in groups. It might be arranged a non-mandatory field course in the United Kingdom and/or Ireland, with content relevant for the course.

Compulsory assignments

• Compulsory assignments according to course description

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Passed Social studies 2 (30 credits) or equivalent.

Required previous knowledge

The student must have passed Social Studies 1 (30 credits) and completed Social Studies 2 (30 credits) in order to start courses in cycle 2. Passing is understood to mean that the student has completed and passed the examination in the course. By completed is understood that all compulsory work requirements in the course are approved, in other words that the student is ready for the exam.

Course materials

Final reading list is posted on Blackboard before start of study.