Societal Transformations towards Sustainability, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master's Programme in Science for Sustainable Development

Entry requirements

• Bachelor's degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen in one of the following areas: 
  - natural sciences, 
  - social sciences, 
  - humanities or
  - engineering
• 15 ECTS credits passed in Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Development or equivalent
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6)
  Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

After completion of the course, the student should on an advanced level be able to:

• account for processes of social, cultural, political, economic, and technical change and their interaction in relation societal transformations towards sustainable development
• critically analyze driving forces of sustainability transformations, institutions, actors and ideas
• evaluate democratic and socio-economic conditions for justice and inclusive sustainability transformations
• apply different transformation theories and concepts in practice
• communicate relevant knowledge within in societal change for sustainable development orally and in text.

Course content

The course deals with the transformative ambition that is built into the UN's Agenda 2030
and the global sustainable development goals. The course also brings up practical, political, and personal dimensions of sustainability transformations. The course addresses questions such as: to what and for whom societal transformations take place; who has/is given responsibilities in transformation processes; how emerging and controlled transformations interact; which driving forces and interventions are important for societal transformations; what ideas, values, and narratives are mobilized to justify transformative processes; which economic and political interests are at stake; and where the opportunities and the barriers are found.

Teaching and working methods

Teaching and working methods include lectures, seminars, and written assignments. In addition, students undertake self-studies.

Teaching and examination language: English

Examination

The course is examined through:

• active participation in seminars. Grading scale: EC/PF
• individual written reflections. Grading scale: EC/PF
• individual written project. Grading scale: EC

For a final passing grade (E) on the course, a Pass grade is required for active participation in seminars and for individual written reflections as well as at least E for the individual written project. Higher grade will be based on the individual written project.

Detailed information can be found in the course handbook.
 

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

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 conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

Department