UTVB2100 Development and Migration - Intermediate Level Course description

The course description is approved 07.04.11 by the Academic Affairs Committee, Faculty of Education and International Studies. Revisions approved 23.05.13 and 02.05.14. Minor changes approved 24.10.16. Latest revision approved by the Academic Affairs Committee 11.05.17.

The Faculty of Education and International Studies at Oslo and Akershus University College (HiOA) offers interdisciplinary courses in Development Studies and North-South relations, leading to a Bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS credits in Development Studies. This module 'Development and Migration' is a course at the intermediate level. Fulfilled requirements and a passable grade entitle the student to 10 ECTS credits.

This interdisciplinary course will seek to combine perspectives from social science and humanities on development and migration. Drawing on contributions from history, anthropology, sociology, political economy and geography the course is concerned with the historical processes of migration, the individuals who migrate and the consequences of the migration processes.

The course will be taught in English or Norwegian, depending on needs according to the participants' language abilities. Students may submit assignments in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.

See programme description.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student should master the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student

• knows the main analytical approaches and key themes and terms in the study of migration, development and globalisation
• knows consequences of migration in both sending and receiving communities

Skills

The student

• can reflect critically on migration as historical processes involving social networks and individual needs
• can differentiate theoretically and methodologically between macro , meso and micro levels of historical and social analysis

General competence

The student

• knows how to link development and migration to cross-cultural issues
• is able to apply this knowledge in new academic contexts

The course will explore the migration process by giving an insight into historical causes of migration as well as various theories of migration. Further, the migrants will be seen as participants in social organisation and social networks that may have an impact on their ability to handle the migration process. The course will also discuss consequences at different levels for the sending and receiving communities as well as consequences for the individual migrant.

The course is organised around two principal themes:

1. Historical processes of migration

• Dynamics between globalisation, development and migration
• Theories of migration

2. Migration and the migrants

• Social organisation and social networks:

Households, age groups, gender, ethnicity, clan, class, religion

Diaspora, transnationality, nationalism and identity

Individuals

The course will be running full time for six weeks. Some seminar activities can be included in the course programme, where students are expected to participate actively.

To qualify to sit for the final exam, the student is required to write an academic paper of 2000 words (+/- 10%) on a given topic. This will enable the student to engage with the course literature and critically reflect on a particular topic. The assignment must be submitted digitally through HiOA's Learning Management System and within the stipulated deadline. No individual supervision will be provided for this paper.

The paper will be assessed as either 'approved' or 'not approved'. Students who do not get the required pass may rewrite and resubmit their paper once within a given deadline. Students who due to illness or other documented reasons for legal absence fail to submit this coursework requirement within the set deadline, can be given a new deadline. In this case, the student shall present the documents confirming his/her illness/reason.

The final assessment of this module consists of a four hours written exam.

New/postponed exam

In case of failed exam or legal absence, the student can apply for a new or postponed exam. New or postponed exam is offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam. Submission and assessment of this will be in accordance with the conditions originally applicable.

The student is responsible for applying to sit for a new or postponed exam within the deadlines stipulated by HiOA and the Faculty of Education and International Studies. The regulations governing examinations are set out in the document -Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at Oslo and Akershus University College.

Examination support material not permitted.

The following grading scale is used: A to E for pass and F for no pass.

The exam will be jointly marked by an internal and an external examiner.

The course is open to students who have completed at least a one-year introductory course in Development Studies at HiOA or equivalent courses at other institutions of higher education in Norway or abroad.