JB2900 Semester Paper Course description

The following course work requirements must be met before the examinations may be sat:

• Introductory assignment. Each student writes a paper of approx. 1800 words (+/- 10 %) / approx. 4-5 pages, where he/she must demonstrate good understanding of the key concepts introduced in the introductory part. At this stage, all communication between student and teachers is based on e-mail. The paper Is to be submitted through e-mail before going to Costa Rica. It will be assessed within the following week and evaluated as Accepted/Not accepted. The students will get brief individual feedback from the seminar leader on their paper during the second week of the course in Costa Rica.

• Participation. Participation in all academic activities is mandatory, at least 80 % participation in all lectures, seminars and field trips constitutes a required minimum. This is due to the central role this course gives to learning by taking part in critical examinations and discussions of the topics at all course activities. A medical certificate is required by absence from course activities exceeding 20 %. As compensation fora higher absence than 20 %, the seminar leader will issue an extra assignment and set the deadline for a paper of 1800 words +/- 10 %. It will be assessed and evaluated by the seminar leader as Accepted/Not accepted.

• A Group Paper. In the beginning of the work with the group exam papers (see Group examination below), each group of students is required to submit a paper of at least 1200 words with deadline set by the seminar leader. This paper must contain the following elements: Apresentation of the proposed topic and design of the group exam paper; a draft abstract; and a presentation of how three course readings and four course concepts may be applied in the final work The paper will be assessed within the following week and evaluated as Accepted/Not accepted.

• Oral Presentation. The students are required to take part in the oral presentation (about I 0-20 minutes) of the above-mentioned group paper at a seminar. A lack of participation will be counted together with other eventual absence from course activities, according to the point above (Participation).

Students, who, due to illness or other valid and documented reasons, do not meet the course work requirements within the fixed deadlines, may be given a new deadline. A new deadline for meeting the requirements is in each individual case given by the seminar leader.

Course work requirements are evaluated Accepted/Not accepted. Students who meet the work requirements within the fixed deadline, but get the evaluation Not accepted, are entitled to maximum two new attempts to fulfil the course requirements. A new deadline for meeting the course work requirements is in each individual case given by the seminar leader. If the course work requirement of either the Introductory Assignment or the Group Paper is evaluated as Not accepted, the new assignment will be to submit an improved version. An Oral Presentation that is Not accepted has to be given again.

Group examination and individual home examination

The students' academic performance is assessed on the basis of a group examination and an individual home examination.

• Group examination

As part of the project module, each group cooperatively write a group assignment of approx. 6000 words (+/- 10 %) / approx. 15 pages. This is a paper on a topic of each group's own choosing. The topic shall, however, be approved by the seminar leader. Here, they shall combine perspectives from the literature and lectures, preferably link up with empirical cases from the region, while drawing on literature that the group finds relevant. The paper shall be submitted electronically within the given deadline. More Information may be obtained from OsloMet's web pages. The group is given a mark (A-F) counting 40 % of the final mark for the assessment.

• Individual home examination

This is a paper of approx. 4400 words (+/- 10%) / approx. 10pages where students shall prove their analytical skills and understanding in the discussion of a given topic. The students will be given 2-3 topics, among which they choose one. In this individual essay, the students must draw on the three modules of the program, combining perspectives from the literature and lectures. The essay Is to be submitted electronically. More information may be obtained from OsloMet's web pages. The students get fifteen working days (three weeks) to write their individual home examination. The assignment is given a mark (A­F) counting 60 % of the final mark.

The student will be awarded a composite grade where the group examination counts 40 % and the individual home examination counts 60 % of the final mark. Both exams must be passed to be awarded a final grade. If a student does not pass one of the exams, only the failed exam shall be re-taken.

New or postponed examination

New or postponed examinations are offered within a reasonable time span following the regular examination. Students, who fail the individual home examination, must write a paper on a new topic. This also applies for students with valid absence and for students who pass, but wish to improve their grade.

In the event of re-sit exams regarding group examination, the candidates will be required to sit an individual examination. This is a paper of 4 000 words (+/- I O %) / approx. I O pages. The topic of the paper is given by the program coordinator.

Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulationsrelatingtostudies andexaminationsat OsloMet. Students must register for a new or postponed examination. More detailed information about registration for new or postponed examinations is available on the website www.oslomet.no

Grading scale will be according to the ECTS-grading scale, with A-E as pass grades and F as fail grade.

Criteria for the different grades

A, Outstanding

An outstanding performance. The assignment paper/performance documents outstanding subject knowledge and an outstanding degree of independence and ability in relating subject knowledge to the educational goals of the course.

B, Very good

A very good performance, well above the average. The assignment paper/performance documents very good subject knowledge and a high degree of independence and ability in relating subject knowledge to the educational goals of the course.

C, Good

An average performance. The assignment paper/performance documents a fair level of subject knowledge and same degree independence and ability in relating subject knowledge to the educational goals of the course.

D, Fairly good

A performance below average. The assignment paper/performance documents a level of subject knowledge with some deficiency and shows a lesser degree of independence and ability in relating subject knowledge to the educational goals of the course.

E, Adequate

A performance satisfying the minimum requirements. The assignment paper/performance documents low degree of subject knowledge and shows a low level of independence and ability in relating subject knowledge to the educational goals of the course.

F, Not approved

The assignment paper/performance does not satisfy minimum requirements.

An internal and an external examiner, both appointed by OsloMet, evaluate both the group examination and the individual home examination.

Target Groups

The program in Global Environmental Studies directs itself to:

• Students who wish to include environmental studies as part of a bachelor's degree
• Professionals - who seek further education in environmental issues

Admission Requirements

Applicants must qualify for university admission In Norway.

Course Structure

The course has a modular structure and is divided into three parts of equal status.

Module I: Environment and development: an introduction

The module will introduce students to the intersecting study areas of environment and development. By the end of the module students should be able to grasp concepts such as sustainable development, ecosystem services and the green economy, as well as some of the challenges of climate change (including climate change governance) faced by countries in Latin America

Module 2: Political ecology

This module presents the students to Political Ecology - a critical approach to the analysis of power in relation to human-environmental dynamics. Political ecology originated in the 1970s and is centred on the idea of a "politicised environment". Lectures and discussions in this module will trace the theoretical roots of political ecology and present some concepts of key importance to this approach. All of this will be exemplified through case studies which are predominantly from Latin-America and compared to cases in other parts of the world. Political ecology lenses will be introduced and employed, and questions will be discussed, for instance, about who the winners and losers are, respecting different economic and environmental interventions and governance.

Module 3: Environmental challenges in Costa Rica

This module engages with current environmental challenges and debates in Costa Rica; their historical background, local and global implications, main stakeholders, and possible future developments. The module also explores what kind of perspectives and analyses of these issues a political ecology approach can contribute with.

Oppgaven bedømmes etter en gradert skala med fem trinn fra A til E for bestått og F for ikke bestått.

Fordypningsoppgaven vurderes av en kommisjon som består av intern og ekstern sensor