Borders and Identities, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master´s Programme in Ethnic and Migration Studies

Entry requirements

A bachelor’s degree in the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, behavioural sciences, health sciences or natural sciences or equivalent qualifications are required.
Documented knowledge of English equivalent to Engelska 6.

Intended learning outcomes

After completion of the course, the student on advanced level should be able to:
describe the ways in which the borders and boundaries have created meaning and been given different meanings in various historical, political and cultural contexts;
- critically analyse and discuss historical processes of transformation and resistance in regard to borders and boundaries of race, ethnicity, culture, and nationality;
- comparatively analyse historiographical and sociological methods for the analysis of race, ethnicity and cultural identity.

Course content

This course provides in-depth knowledge of historical and sociological perspectives on borders and boundaries and their relation to notions of race, ethnicity, cultural identity and nationality, as well as to social, economic and political processes. Through current research examples, knowledge is concerning the ways in which the state, civil society and the market, as well as demographic changes, have influenced borders and boundaries in regional, national and global settings. Factors such as gender, class and age categorization, etc. are discussed in relation to boundaries of racial, ethnic and cultural categorizations. The course is also devoted to the understanding of the ways in which borders and boundaries have served to both integrate and segregate human communities. 

Teaching and working methods

Teaching is provided in the form of small seminars, with a substantial portion of independent studies and seminars. Language of instruction is English. 

Examination

The course is examined through active seminar participation and written assignments. Detailed information about the examination can be found in the course’s study guide.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department