TIK4011 – Science and technology in politics and society
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
What role does knowledge play in scientific and political controversies over the environment, economy and our increasingly digitalized society? How do we decide upon the worth of nature, the value of life and the costs of climate change? These are core questions of this course, which is organized into three modules:
1. The Climate Society: Knowledge, Politics and Practices of Transformation
2. The Good Economy: Practices of valuation, care and economization in politics of nature, health and the life sciences
3. Social Media, Digital STS, Market Research and The Public
This course builds on teaching from the introductory course TIK4001, and is a specialization course in science and technology studies (STS).
Learning outcome
Learning outcome
- Advanced insight into key political and scientific topics within the fields of climate change, bioeconomy, life science, and the digital society.
- Advanced insight into valuation studies, STS-literature on economization and financialization, and the scholarly literature on bioeconomies.
- Analyse issues in particular locations institutionally, historically, and politically.
Skills
- Ability to analyse complex cases and ongoing issues and controversies.
- Ability to critically engage with key literature in encounters with empirical cases and materials.
- Ability to employ conceptual tools and methods in STS in analyzing science and politics.
Competences
- Ability to read advanced literature and cases and develop their own analysis in written and oral form.
- Be prepared to have the relevant competence to write a master thesis in STS and related Fields.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
The course is applicable for master programme students from humanities/social sciences if they meet the prerequisites. Students from TIK Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture have a priority, other students are admitted if there is capacity.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
- A bachelor degree in Social Sciences, Humanities or equal.
- TIK4001 - Teknologi, innovasjon og kunnskap, or equivalent.
Teaching
Lectures will take place between February and April. You need to participate in at least three obligatory activities. This is a prerequisite for sitting the exam.
Obligatory coursework:
- Each module will have an obligatory activity at the end
- The activity will be either a presentation, participation in discussion or a short written assignment
Examination
One week individual home-exam. Length: 6000 Words (+/-20%).
Language of examination
The exam assignment will be given in English. ESST students must write their exam paper in English, while TIK students may choose between English and Norwegian.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
If you are sick or have another valid reason for not attending the regular exam, we offer a postponed exam later in the same semester.
See also our information about resitting an exam.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.