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2014/2015  BA-BIVAO2633U  Society, Culture and Identities

English Title
Society, Culture and Identities

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 10 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Course period Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BA in International Business Communication
Course coordinator
  • Course coordinator for American studies
    Kevin McGovern - MSC
Main academic disciplines
  • Language and Intercultural Studies
Last updated on 15-08-2014
Learning objectives
In the written paper students should be able to:

• Formulate a relevant issue of investigation within the framework of the course
• Provide a theoretical and/or methodological basis for the analysis
• Relate the issue of investigation to a wider field of a socio-cultural nature (for example national, racial or ethnic identity/culture)
• Suggest hypotheses for the results of the analysis
• Indicate how the issue in question can be mobilized in relation to a business context (for example a company, organization or NGO)


In the oral exam students should be able to:

• Participate in a discussion about the chosen issue of investigation
• Present an analysis of the issue based of the selected theoretical an/or methodological approach
• Discuss the theoretical/​methodological approach in relation to one or more alternative approaches
• Present the most important empirical aspects of the issue, and relate these to more general issues in the field (for example national, ethnic or other identity and/or cultural issues)
• Place the issue of investigation in a broader context, for example relating to similar problems in another geographical area in the western hemisphere
• Discuss the business dimension – illustrating the relevance of the issue to a company, public organization, NGO
Examination
Society, Culture and Identities:
Exam ECTS 10
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance.
Individual or group exam Individual
Oral exam on the basis of a written paper, taking its point of departure in a topic from the course. Taking his or her starting point in the paper, the student opens the examination with an oral presentation followed by a discussion with the examiner and the external examiner. Other parts of the course syllabus can be included in the examination.
Size of written product Max. 3 pages
Three copies of the paper are to be submitted at the BA secretariat office.
Assignment type Synopsis
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
20 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period May/June
Aids allowed to bring to the exam Limited aids, see the list below:
Aids for the oral exam is the written paper and maximum 1 page of notes/key words for the oral presentation.
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Make-up exam
As the regular exam. The original paper is used as the basis for the exam. The paper must be handed in again. If the paper was not submitted for the regular exam, it must be handed in in connection with the make-up exam.

Re-exam
As the regular exam.The original paper is used as the basis for exam. The student may also choose to hand in a new paper. In either case, the paper must be handed in in connection with the re-exam.

The holding of the exam
The make-up/re-exam is held immediately after the ordinary exam period. After that, the exam cannot be taken until the next ordinary exam of this course.
Course content and structure

The course includes an introduction to theoretical and methodological tools for the observation and analysis of cultural issues. Where possible and relevant, the theoretical dimension of the course will be related to and build upon the knowledge the students gained in the 2nd year general subject 'Science Theory' (Videnskabsteori). Among the concepts considered in the Societies, Cultures and Identities course are: culture and cultures, cultural and other forms of identity, identity and otherness, the boundary as an empirical and theoretical concept, difference, nation, region, ethnicity, race, gender, and religion.The theoretical approaches taken can include: social constructivism, discourse and discourse theory, semiotics and hermeneutics.
 

The theoretical dimension may be included in the form of special introductions, but will also be related directly to the specific cultural issues that are considered during the course, such as national and ethnic identity, race, religion, migration, multiculturalism, gender identities, etc. The course will focus on the western hemisphere as a whole and on individual nations and regions, with special focus on specific issues in English- and Spanish-speaking America.

The aim of this course is to give the students an applied introduction to theory and methods in cultural studies and to a number of the most important national, ethnic and socio-cultural issues on the American continents. Against this background, the aim is for the students to become capable of formulating and analyzing cultural issues on both an abstract and a concrete level. They will be able to mobilize this cultural and intercultural consciousness in relation to political and economic and commercial/trade tasks in companies, public organizations, NGOs etc.
Teaching methods
The working methods will include class teaching and student presentations based on individual or group work.
Student workload
Total student working hours: 280 hours
Expected literature

Thomas Hylland Eriksen, Ethnicity and Nationalism. (London. Pluto Press, 2002 (2nd. ed.))

A compendium with other texts will be electronically available from the beginning of the semester.
Last updated on 15-08-2014