course-details-portlet

SANT3020

Theoretical Perspectives

Credits 15
Level Second degree level
Course start Autumn 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English and norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Assignment

About

About the course

Course content

This course provides you with a broad understanding of recent theoretical approaches in Social Anthropology. It gives insight into how theoretical concepts and perspectives are produced and operate in the discipline, and how these develop in relation to broader social and intellectual contexts. In this regard, the course considers central concepts and debates in both classical and contemporary anthropological theory. The course moreover challenges you to think through the connections between basic anthropological theory and your own project, and it is expected that you begin the work of selecting literature that regards the empirical phenomenon you plan to study and that employs different disciplinary perspectives, theories, and concepts.

Learning outcome

When you have completed this course, you will have the following learning outcomes defined as knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

• You have further developed your knowledge of recent and ongoing theoretical debates within the subject.

• You have further developed knowledge of concepts, models and methods of analysis within the subject, and of how your own master's project may relate to these.

• You have in-depth knowledge of social and cultural variation and complexity

Skills:

• You can critically assess and choose between theoretical perspectives, analytical models and concepts in studies of specific empirical phenomena.

• You are able to use different perspectives, models and concepts with regard to the development of your own research project.

General Skills:

• You are able to develop academic arguments and texts, and to present these orally.

• You can handle different theoretical perspectives in connection with varied empirical material.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and seminars. Lectures will normally be given in Norwegian and English.

Compulsory assignments

  • Participation in monograph session

Further on evaluation

The exam is a written term paper 3000 word +/- 10%.

The compulsory activity in this course is participation in monographic session. The compulsory activity must be approved in order to be able to take the exam in the subject.

More information will be given in Blackboard in the beginning of the semester. The exam can be written in Norwegian, English or another Scandinavian language.

Resit examination

The compulsory assignments must be completed and approved in order to be eligible to take the exam. The compulsory assignments can only be done in the semester when the course is taught. Same form of examination is given when re-sitting for the exam or improving the grade. The exam is offered both in the autumn and spring semester.

Specific conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required:
Social Anthropology (MSANT)

Required previous knowledge

Bachelor's degree in social anthropology or the equivalent

Course materials

The reading list will be available at the beginning of the semester.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
SANT3000 15 sp Autumn 2018
This course has academic overlap with the course 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

  • Social Sciences
  • Social Anthropology

Contact information

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Assignment
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

Assignment
Weighting 100/100 Date Release 2025-11-03
Submission 2025-11-17
Time Release 09:00
Submission 12:00
Exam system Inspera Assessment

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

Assignment
Weighting 100/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment