EPN-V2

SFV4300 The Intersection of Social Categories in Social Work Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Sosiale kategoriers samspill i sosialt arbeid
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2019/2020
Course history
Curriculum
FALL 2019
Schedule
Programme description

  • Introduction

    In the social sciences, social categories, such as gender, social class, ethnicity, 'race', sexuality, and age, have traditionally formed separate research fields, often attached to different theories. A result of this division has been that such categories are often portrayed as isolated variables in people's lives. Criticism levelled at such interpretations makes the point that they do not sufficiently address the dynamism that emerges when several categories intersect. Is importance attached to the category "man" or to the category "ethnic minority"? Does the category "woman" offer the same room of opportunity for all those who are categorised or identify as women? Do the categories "young", "boy", "immigrant", have another meaning attached to them than "young", "boy", "Norwegian"?

    The course looks at theories that address how such categories have different meanings depending on the combination with other categories. The course offers theoretical, methodological and practical opportunities to explore the dynamism that emerges in the interaction between key social categories. During the course, we will work at making these types of analyses relevant for social work in general.

  • Required preliminary courses

    None.

  • Learning outcomes

    After completing the course, the candidate is expected to have achieved the following knowledge, skills and competence:

    Knowledge

    The student has

    • knowledge of power and categorisation processes that contribute to forming the relevant categories in our age
    • insight into the intersection between the categories¿ design and importance in different socio-cultural contexts
    • knowledge of classical and new theoretical contributions that attempt to understand prominent social categories, such as gender, ethnicity, ¿race¿, social class, sexual orientation and age
    • an understanding of how social categories and intersections between them has importance for professionals as well as the different user groups' conditions and social sphere of action

    Skills

    The student is capable of

    • mastering analytical aspects and approaches that are appropriate for analysing implicit and explicit understandings and theoretical contributions, as well as empirical phenomena in the various fields of social work from a perspective of intersectionality
    • applying knowledge about the relevant social categories and their interaction in research and development work relating to the social work field and/or different user groups, and to social work's conditions and functions in society

  • Teaching and learning methods

    Teaching will take the form of lectures and class discussions.

  • Course requirements

    None.

  • Assessment

    Individuell hjemmeeksamen over 7 dager på 10 sider (+ / - 10%) med oppgitt tema.

  • Permitted exam materials and equipment

    Alle hjelpemidler er tillatt så lenge regler for kildehenvisning følges.

  • Grading scale

    A grade scale with grades from A to E for pass and F for fail is used.

  • Examiners

    The exam papers are graded by one internal and one external examiner. The external examiner will grade 25 % of the exam papers. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by an external examiner form the basis for determining the level for awarding the different grades. The internal examiner shall take the external examiner's assessment into consideration in the grading of all the exams.

  • Course contact person

    Ariana Fernandes