Democracy and Education

All teaching will be in English. Students may write their semester papers and their exam in English or Norwegian.

One year of a bachelor’s degree in education or related fields within humanities and social sciences or two years of general teacher education. Good language skills

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to

Knowledge

• demonstrate knowledge of central themes, theories, and approaches within the fields of democracy and education
• describe current issues and challenges related to democracy in a global perspective
• describe the central principles and features of democracy
• formulate a general understanding of the history, traditions, values, and characteristics of democracy in relation to the international field of education
• identify developments in the field of democracy and education

Skills

• apply the principles of democracy to the analysis of educational practices and policies from an international perspective
• apply findings from research within the fields of democracy and education to practical and theoretical challenges
• identify and critically analyse information relating to history, ethics, language, media, and education in the light of democratic values

General competance

• demonstrate awareness of diverse cultural values and beliefs, and approach these differences in accordance with the ethical standards of educational professionals
• work independently and together with others to achieved enhanced understanding of the process of participation and citizenship for educational opportunities
• understand and place new research, theories, and philosophies within the field of democracy and education

The course is ideal for students who are interested in an international perspective on democracy and education. It provides knowledge about democratic issues and global trends related to languages, literature, history, culture, philosophy, ethics, religion, media, and education. Furthermore, the course will give the students comparative analytical skills and broaden their understanding of democracy and other cultures.

The course revolves around how democracy is related to educational issues in societies with an emphasis on the following areas: (1) Democracy and education - a historical introduction, (2) Democracy in educational systems, (2) Role of globalization, citizenship, migration and societal values for education and citizenship and (3) Human rights, diversity, "freedom of speech" and media, (4) Culture, literature, language and participation.