Norway

This is a practical course in Norwegian pronunciation. It focuses on improving pronunciation both on the segmental level (vowels and consonants) and on the prosodic level (quantity, stress, accent, and tone), as well as some other phonetic areas. The course also distinguishes between phonetic differences that are relevant to Norwegian phonology, thereby improving comprehension of spoken Norwegian. To some degree, Norwegian is compared to other languages that the students speak.

The course offers an introduction to English language history, paying attention to language changes, language contact, and the development into a modern national language in particular. An introduction is also given to the main characteristics of Old English and Middle English. The course discusses topics including the main lines of development of written English from approximately 700 AD to modern times; the most important changes in the fields of phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics; and the basic structure of Old English, Middle English, and Early Modern English grammar. The course requires students have completed courses in English grammar and phonetics and intonation or similar courses as a prerequisite.

This course provides a geographical and critical perspective to global development, with a focus on energy transition processes in and in relation to the global South. It provides a fundamental understanding of the challenges related to sustainable development from the perspective of the global South by focusing on energy transitions. The course looks at historical transitions to fossil energies as well as the discussions on transitions away from fossil energies. It discusses how the systems and conditions for energy transitions are shaped by historical and uneven relations between the Global South and North. Core issues of energy and development and energy transitions are addressed from the perspective of the global South and placed in the context of global sustainability. The awareness of a spatial perspective to development problems and processes enable students to identify and understand the impact of regional and global processes on people’s lives in specific places.

The course provides an introduction to developmental psychology. It focuses on conveying an understanding of key developmental phenomena and theories of typical development in children and adolescents. Perceptual, cognitive, linguistic, emotional, personality and social development are discussed, in light of developmental models and developmental studies. The phenomena and theories within the various development areas are considered in the light of modern empirical research.

This course addresses how the film medium can provide alternative historical, aesthetic, analytical, and theoretical expressions. The course focuses on various alternatives to the culturally and financially dominant model of Hollywood cinema, and to the characteristics of this model in terms of film style and narrative. The course  invites analysis and theoretical discussions on larger aesthetic movements and trends, as well as focused studies on specific films and audiovisual images. The course illustrates the historical conditions that form the basis of various cinematic orientations, and explores how film has always in various ways tested the limits and characteristics of the medium. The course offers knowledge to students who want to work with film in academic and/or other professional contexts, such as in film production, cultural work, or in various journalistic contexts. Prior basic knowledge of film history, film/media theory, and academic writing is recommended.