Description of the supplementary subject in Political Theory and Philosophy The provisions of the academic regulations The academic regulations for the supplementary subject in Political Theory and Philosophy (2007) were prepared by the Board of Studies for the Institute of Philosophy and the History of Ideas and approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities on 26 September 2007. The academic regulations took effect on 1 September 2007. The academic direction and primary subject areas of the programme The supplementary subject teaches the student the necessary concepts and background to understand and analyse modern socio-political phenomena such as globalisation, immigration, the pressure on the welfare state, individualisation and changes in public political opinion. The course accordingly includes topics relating to the history of ideas and political theories as well as an analysis of a number of normative and philosophical concepts that enable the student to understand and assess value-related conflicts and dilemmas in modern politics and public administration. Academic skills and qualifications A supplementary subject in Political Theory and Philosophy gives the student the following qualifications and competences: Qualifications: The student acquires qualifications in the form of knowledge, understanding and skills in the following: significant political theories in western philosophy and history of ideas; models of analysis for political ideologies in the current public debate; analysis of current events in relation to prevailing political values and phenomena such as justice, solidarity, legitimacy, power, criticism, etc; analysis and assessment of current societal processes of change such as globalisation, emigration, the pressure on the welfare state and individualisation; the theoretical context and background for political conflicts. Competences: Through his/her academic course work, the student acquires the following professional and social competences: the ability to describe and analyse complex issues of a multidisciplinary nature and to communicate them in a scientific context; the ability to qualify the political discussion through clarification of prevailing values and ideologies; the ability to emphasise any potential for conflict in a given discussion; the ability to map out the societal relevance of certain problems and problem areas; the ability to teach, explain and enter into debates relating to subjects that are central to and European political processes as well as to public and private institutions; the ability to work in an independent and targeted manner with theoretical issues. Admission requirements and prerequisites To fulfil the admission requirements for enrolment in the programme, the student must have passed 18 months of study in another subject area. The degree gives access to the following: The supplementary subject in Political Theory and Philosophy gives access to the Master s degree programmes in Philosophy and the History of Ideas. Structure of the degree programme Examination survey Module/annual examination Title of test/ Subject type/assessment Term/ECTS
Basic Political Theory and Philosophy Projects (/) Bachelor s Project Public and Political Ideals and Concepts - Internal examination with internal co-examiner Social and Political Philosophy - External examination with appointed external co-examiner Political Theory and the History of Ideas - Internal examination with internal co-examiner Project Seminar - Internal examination with internal co-examiner Seminar, Political Science - External examination with appointed external co-examiner Seminar, Philosophy and the History of Ideas - Internal examination with internal co-examiner Bachelor s Project - External examination with appointed external co-examiner Fundamental and compulsory Pass/fail Fundamental and compulsory Fundamental and compulsory Elective Elective Elective Fundamental and compulsory First term First term First term 20 ECTS Box diagram First term Public and Political Ideals and Concepts Social and Political Philosophy Political Theory and the History of Ideas Projects Bachelor s Project 20 ECTS Regulations and guidelines for academic progress The student can only enrol in the examination in the Bachelor s project after passing all examinations in the basic module. Individual disciplines and examinations in the degree programme Basic Political Theory and Philosophy The basic module teaches the student the following qualifications and competences: Qualifications Upon completion of the programme, the student will have knowledge, understanding and skills in the following areas: political philosophy, including an understanding of the nature and characteristics of political phenomena e.g. by distinguishing between political and non-political phenomena;
the history of political ideas, including knowledge of key ideologies such as liberalism, socialism and nationalism; basic concepts relating to political theories, including sovereignty, power, public benefits and justice; political communication and rhetoric in a modern media democracy; the relationship and borderline between public and private space in modern society; social philosophy, including basic concepts relating to the establishment of political communities (e.g. acknowledgement and interest). Competences Through his/her academic course work, the student acquires the following professional and social skills: the ability to analyse and assess the values and ideological basis of current political discussions; the ability to explain key arguments in different political positions; the ability to see through historical and philosophical argumentation relating to political theories; the ability to place political views and visions in the correct ideological context; the ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary groups and take part in a dialogue about academic issues; the ability to process complex theoretical texts and apply them to concrete cases or discussions. The module consists of the following examinations: 1. Public and Political Ideals and Concepts documents sound knowledge of the basis and importance of political communication, including the communication of ideals to the public; demonstrates an ability to analyse current political statements and debates; is able to decode and discuss underlying ideological and normative assumptions in current political statements and debates. The course is taught by teachers from both the Department of Political Science and the Institute of Philosophy and the History of Ideas. The instruction typically takes the form of lectures with discussions and participation by the students. The course deals with important ideals and values of relevance to the public political debate. By working with actual cases from the political debate, the student learns to decode, analyse and assess current political agendas and conflicts as well as their background. In this way, the student learns to understand political communication, identify contradictions, formulate political implications and assess the conceptual and rhetorical context of given political statements. Individual Class attendance The examination consists of regular, active and satisfactory participation in the teaching, including two written home assignments (portfolio). Regular means that the student participates in a minimum of 75% of available lessons. Active means that the student participates in the activities involved in the teaching (general preparation, participation in discussions, etc.), including a verbal presentation in a multidisciplinary group, if applicable. Satisfactory means submission of two written home assignments involving the analysis and discussion of a select case from the current political debate. The scope of the assignments is max. five pages.
2. Social and Political Philosophy demonstrates insight into key theories relating to social and political philosophy; demonstrates an understanding of the interrelatedness and background of these theories as well as the structure of their arguments; is able to analyse the correlation between perceptions of man and society. The instruction typically consists of weekly lectures as well as classroom lessons. The instruction is based on a selection of articles or extracts of monographs that the students are expected to prepare and process in their own time. The discipline covers select basic concepts and theories within social and political philosophy, including select socio-philosophical concepts and themes such as ideology, power, alienation, individualisation and community. The discipline also covers key political/philosophical concepts and themes such as equality, freedom, the power of the state, legitimacy and democracy. Finally, the discipline provides an introduction to political concepts such as liberalism, communitarianism, republicanism and socialism. The course continuously relates basic concepts and theories to current problems in society and politics. Individual Written Choice of 10 day(s) Submission offered topics The student chooses between three questions set by the examiner and based on six to eight main questions made available at the beginning of the term. The assignment must be submitted ten days after receipt of the examination questions. The scope of the assignment is max. ten pages. 3. Political Theory and the History of Ideas is able to explain subject-related ideas, theories, concepts, arguments and methodologies; is able to compare subject-related ideas, theories, concepts, arguments and methodologies; is able to apply subject-related ideas, theories, concepts, arguments and methodologies to a given issue or matter; is able to assess subject-related ideas, theories, concepts, arguments and methodologies. The instruction typically consists of weekly lectures as well as classroom lessons. The instruction is based on a selection of articles or extracts of monographs that the students are expected to prepare and process in their own time.
The discipline gives the students insight into the content and development of basic political theories and ideas. The course involves a chronological discussion of key individuals with an emphasis on their importance for the political thinking of later generations. The instruction is based on original texts. In addition, the course gives the students insight into the content and development of political ideologies. Individual Written Set question 7 day(s) Submission The examination consists of the completion of a set, individual written assignment. The text of the assignment can be collected at the Department of Political Science. The assignment must be handed in at the same place at the latest seven days later. The scope of the assignment is max. nine pages. Projects The project module teaches the student the following qualifications and competences: Qualifications The students get an opportunity to learn skills in some of the following areas (of own choice): sound knowledge into modern political phenomena such as terrorism, globalisation, equal rights and NGOs; in-depth understanding of the principle values and institutions in the modern welfare state; in-depth knowledge of select cultural, economic, ideological and value-related change processes of a political nature, e.g. ecological awareness, feminism, racism and migration; in-depth insight into the institutional organisation of a complex modern society, including the municipal reform of 2006, the EU, early retirement issues, etc; sound knowledge of current discussions relating to political theory and philosophy. Competences Through his/her academic course work, the student acquires the following professional and social skills: the ability to independently process a defined issue; the ability to process a specific political issue in a multidisciplinary manner; the ability to constructively apply philosophical tools of analysis and concepts to concrete social and political conditions; the ability to form well-founded opinions of political phenomena in the current debate. The module consists of the following examinations: 1. Project seminar documents the ability to present, define and discuss issues relating to political theory and philosophy; is able to analyse and assess the arguments used in processed texts and to place them in the relevant context of current issues; demonstrates the ability to discuss and compare different theories and concepts.
Group supervision The objective of this type of seminar is to give a group of a minimum of three students the opportunity to carry out intensive and independent work with a topic of own choice under supervision by a teacher who is a permanent employee of either the Department of Political Science or the Institute of Philosophy and the History of Ideas. The teacher informs the administrative office for Philosophy when a project seminar has been organised. No special instruction is involved. 1) Individual Oral Topic of 45 own choice minutes The student chooses between two types of examination: Presentation The students sit for an individual oral examination with materials. The syllabus and the question for the oral examination must be approved by the teacher. At the latest, three days before the oral examination, the student submits a synopsis of max. three pages outlining the chosen strategy for the answer. During the oral examination, the student presents his/her answer, whereupon the rest of the examination takes the form of a dialogue. The duration of the examination is max. 45 minutes including. 2) Individual Written Topic of Submission own choice The examination consists of a written assignment on a topic of own choice. The syllabus and the topic of the assignment must be approved by the teacher. The assignment must not exceed 15 pages in length. The assignment can be completed by a group of max. three students, however, an assessment of the contribution by the individual student, except for the introduction and the conclusion, must be possible. It is up to the students to find a teacher and enter into an agreement about supervision. It is assumed that all members of the group participate actively in the project. The group meets with the supervisor at least five times. At the latest 14 days before expiry of the submission deadline, the supervisor in question assesses the project and advises the Board of Studies for Philosophy whether the activity requirement has been complied with. 2. Seminar, Philosophy and the History of Ideas documents the ability to present, define and discuss issues relating to political theory and philosophy and the syllabus in question; is able to analyse and assess the arguments used in processed texts and to place them in the relevant context of current issues; demonstrates the ability to discuss and compare different theories and concepts.
The method of teaching depends on the teacher(s) in question. The student chooses between the seminars approved by the Board of Studies for Philosophy and the History of Ideas and offered by the Institute of Philosophy and the History of Ideas, the Department of Political Science or other institutes and departments subject to approval by the Board of Studies. Individual Written Topic of own Submission choice If the student chooses a seminar offered by the Institute of Philosophy and the History of Ideas, the following rules apply to the examination: The examination consists of an individual, written assignment on a topic of own choice. The topic and syllabus for the assignment must be approved by the examiner/teacher. The scope of the assignment is max. ten pages. 3. Seminar, Political Science demonstrates an ability to present, define and discuss issues relating to political theory and philosophy and the syllabus in question; is able to analyse and assess the arguments used in processed texts and to place them in the relevant context of current issues; demonstrates an ability to discuss and compare different theories and concepts. The method of teaching depends on the teacher(s) in question. The student chooses between the seminars approved by the Board of Studies for Philosophy and the History of Ideas and offered by the Institute of Philosophy and the History of Ideas, the Department of Political Science or other institutes and departments subject to approval by the Board of Studies. Individual Written Topic of own choice Submission
If the student chooses a seminar offered by the Board of Studies for Political Science, the following rules apply to the examination: The method of depends on the chosen seminar, see the teaching plans of the Department of Political Science, and may consist in an oral examination. The students always have the option of writing a home assignment on a topic relating to the seminar, which is approved by the teacher. The assignment must not exceed 15 pages in length. The assignment can be completed by a group of max. three students, however, an assessment of the contribution by the individual student, except for the introduction and the conclusion, must be possible. Bachelor s Project For information about qualifications and skills, see the Projects module. The module consists of the following examinations: 1. Bachelor s Project demonstrates skills in formulating, analysing and processing issues within a defined topic; is able to individually assess and form an opinion of the processed issue; demonstrates an ability to collect, process and assess empirical material. Guidelines or a foreign language The Bachelor s project aims at an independent application of the skills acquired in past instruction and supervision in the subject area of the degree programme. The project may relate to common issues within political philosophy or issues relating to an external subject area. The project must incorporate knowledge, theories or methodologies from the student s core subject and thus reflect the focus of the BA degree programme from an angle that is relevant to the supplementary programme in Political Theory and Philosophy. Individual Written Topic of own Submission choice The examination can be taken individually or in groups. The students complete a written assignment on a topic and a syllabus approved by the supervisor. The scope of the assignment is max. 20 pages. The subject area, methodology and literature used in the project must be agreed with and approved by a supervisor. The Bachelor s project must be accompanied by a summary of one half to one whole page in length in English, German or French. The academic content of the assignment carries the most weight in the assessment, but the summary is also taken into account. If the project is written in a foreign language, except for Norwegian and Swedish, the summary can be in.