Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits. Participation in courses Introduction to Sustainable Development, 5 credits, and Sustainable Development: Worldviews and Visions, 5 credits, of which 3 credits must be completed. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• explain the concept of discourse and different understandings of it;
• explain and critically discuss how discourse analysis can be used to examine and evaluate various normative worldviews underpinning sustainable development;
• apply discourse analysis techniques to examine scale and volume dimensions of current and future sustainability challenges.

Content

The course presents the concept of discourse and its practical applications to analyse and critically examine normative worldviews that shape the evolving concept of sustainable development. Students are introduced to discourse analysis techniques and apply these to analyse significant discourses surrounding issues of scale and volume within sustainable development. Topics covered in the course include the interplay between local and global perspectives and ideas of resource scarcity and abundance. Concepts covered include, but are not limited to, the ideas of glocalization, limits to growth and planetary boundaries. By engaging with these topics, students gain a deeper understanding of how discourse shapes perceptions and actions related to sustainable development in the world.

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and workshops. The lectures are given by guest lecturers from various academic disciplines and relevant areas of society. Ample opportunities are provided for active student participation and critical reflection.

Assessment

The student is examined through written preparation and active participation in seminars and workshops (3 credits), and a written assignment (2 credits).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other regulations

Active participation is reassessed through a re-seminar. If a student after having been offered a re-seminar still does not meet the requirements to pass the active participation elements the examiner can choose reassessment by another method.