Single subject courses - Social Sciences

These courses are only open for exchange students. If you as an exchange student have any questions about admission, prerequisites etc, please contact the International Office at internationaloffice@adm.vxu.se.

If you are a free mover, please contact the Admissions Office regarding possibilities to study at Växjö University: admission@vxu.se.

Drawing upon ideas from several academic disciplines, our flexible course module system introduces a theo­retical framework for understanding political, socio-cultural and geographical conditions in Sweden, Europe and the world as a whole. In all courses you will be expected to read a substantial amount of literature and study independently. Each week there will be lectures, assignments and workshops. Classes are multicultural and discussions and group assignments are integral parts of the courses. Each module ends with a final exami­nation – either a written exam or you will be asked to write an essay exam or an extensive paper.

Contact Person
Anne Morrissey Haglund
E-mail: anne.morrissey-haglund@vxu.se
Telephone: +46 470 70 80 00
School of Social Sciences

November–January 2006, April–May 2007
Advanced Undergraduate Level
5 credit points (7.5 ECTS)

Contents
In the independent study course the student will have a personal tutor for guidance. Academic advice will be given both in groups and individually. The result of the study will be presented in a paper which is graded by the tutor.

Prerequisites
International students are required to have a minimum of two years of success­fully completed full-time studies (120 ECTS) at the university level.

Contact Person
Svante Lundberg
Telephone: +46 470 70 80 00
E-mail: svante.lundberg@vxu.se
School of Social Sciences

January–March 2007
Undergraduate Level
7 credit credit points (10.5 ECTS)

Contents
The Course is an introduction to theo­ries of and research on the relationship between culture and society, within sociology and other disciplines. Central phenomena to be studied are national­ism and ethnicity, which will be related to other phenomena such as globalisa­tion and racism.

Prerequisites
International students are required to have a minimum of two years of success­fully completed full-time studies (120 ECTS) at the university level.

Contact Person
Svante Lundberg
Telephone: +46 470 70 80 00
E-mail: svante.lundberg@vxu.se
School of Social Sciences

March–April 2007
Undergraduate Level
5 credit credit points (7.5 ECTS)

Contents
The Course is an introduction to theories and research in Social Psy­chology and Communications on the issue of intercultural interaction. Here, concentration is on the micro level, with analyses and discussions of relations between groups and individuals. Some important phenomena to be studied are intercultural meetings and misunder­standings, stigmatisation and exclusion.

Prerequisites
International students are required to have a minimum of two years of success­fully completed full-time studies (120 ECTS) at the university level.

Contact Person
Anne Morrissey Haglund
E-mail: anne.morrissey-haglund@vxu.se
Telephone: +46 470 70 80 00
School of Social Sciences

September 2006
Undergraduate Level
5 credit points (7.5 ECTS)

Contents
This course constitutes an introduction to how the European integration proc­ess can be understood and analysed. It presents the general ideas, tendencies and developments in the integration process. The post-war historical devel­opment of the European Communities up until the current discussion on a fu­ture European constitution of the Euro­pean Union is addressed and analysed. Various EU policy areas and the role of the EU institutions will be discussed. Contemporary political-administrative reforms, the recurrent enlargements of the European Union and the general ef­fects of the integration process are other areas under scrutiny. A theoretical per­spective on how the integration process can be understood is also presented.

Prerequisites
International students are required to have a minimum of two years of success­fully completed full-time studies (120 ECTS) at the university level.

Contact Person
Daniel Silander
E-mail: daniel.silander@vxu.se
Telephone: +46 470 70 80 00
School of Social Sciences

September 2006
Undergraduate Level
5 credit points (7.5 ECTS)

Contents
The objective is to introduce concepts, theoretical arguments and methodology to study democratization in the world. The course begins with a discussion of definitions and theories that could explain when, why and how a process of democratization starts and problems that occur before democracy could develop and be consolidated.

The second module explores differ­ent global trends of democratization and democratic development in Latin America, Africa, Asia, Middle East, and in the post-communist world. The third module consists of different themes of democratization, such as: institutions and political parties; civil society; human rights and international law; reli­gion, culture and democracy; the role of the military forces, and external forces and democratization. Finally, the course is completed with a general discussion of how processes of democratization in the world could be analyzed.  

Prerequisites
International students are required to have a minimum of two years of success­fully completed full-time studies (120 ECTS) at the university level.

Contact Person
Daniel Silander
E-mail: daniel.silander@vxu.se
Telephone: +46 470 70 80 00
School of Social Sciences

October 2006
Undergraduate Level
5 credit points (7.5 ECTS)

Content
The main objective of the course is to provide students with an introduction to the origins and expansion of the Globalisation project. We explore the nature of contemporary global changes by focusing on basic levels of analysis such as causes, agendas, consequences, and implications. The course provides students with some theoretical frame­works to be used in research projects, debates and study cases. Students will explore concepts such as identity and the nation state, the forces of mass migration and electronic media, popular consumption patterns and the world political economy, multiculturalism and ethnic tensions, and the arts and cultural industries. The course will also focus on critically questioning the main assump­tions under which Globalisation has traditionally been explained, in order to suggest ways to cope with it more creatively.

Prerequisites
International students are required to have a minimum of two years of success­fully completed full-time studies (120 ECTS) at the university level.

Contact Person
Lennart Bergfeldt
E-mail: lennart.bergfeldt@vxu.se
Telephone: +46 470 70 80 00
School of Social Sciences

November–December 2006
Undergraduate Level
5 credit points (7.5 ECTS)

Content
This course introduces students to Swedish political culture, and offers a general introduction to the Swed­ish political-administrative system at both central and local levels. During the course, the students will prepare a presentation together with a few other students, comparing some political aspects, institutions or practices of the Swedish system with those of their home countries.

Prerequisites
International students are required to have a minimum of two years of success­fully completed full-time studies (120 ECTS) at the university level.

Contact Person
Lennart Bergfeldt
E-mail: lennart.bergfeldt@vxu.se
Telephone: +46 470 70 80 00
School of Social Sciences

September 2006
Advanced Undergraduate Level
5 credit credit points (7.5 ECTS)

Content
This course intends to widen the student’s knowledge of political science and give deeper insights into various traditions within the subject area. Some 20th century classics are therefore stud­ied in depth, theoretically, empirically, and from a methodological perspective.

Prerequisites
Preferably the students should have the equivalent of 40 credit points (60 ECTS) in Political Science.

Contact Person
Lennart Bergfeldt
E-mail: lennart.bergfeldt@vxu.se
Telephone: +46 470 70 80 00
School of Social Sciences

October 2006, March 2007
Advanced Undergraduate Level
5 credit points (7.5 ECTS)

Content
The aim of the optional course is to introduce students to a specialized field of research. Each course focuses on the state of the art within the studied field, both theoretically and empirically. The pedagogical approach opens the way to further in-depth knowledge of the field. The different options will be presented to the students on arrival, followed by a selection process based on the interests and wishes of the individual students. Recent optional courses have focused on International Migration; Power, Conflict, and Non-violence; Theories of European Integration; the International Security Perspective; Public Administra­tion; and on Art and Politics.

Prerequisites
Preferably the students should have the equivalent of 40 credit s (60 ECTS) in Political Science.

Contact Person
Lennart Bergfeldt
E-mail: lennart.bergfeldt@vxu.se
Telephone: +46 470 70 80 00
School of Social Sciences

November 2006–January 2007
Advanced Undergraduate Level
10 credit points (15 ECTS)

Content
The student is – in an independent and critical manner – to research a limited and suitable topic and produce a written report, i.e. a Bachelor’s thesis. During the course, the student will be given academic advice by a personal tutor. The thesis will be assessed according to its academic qualities, and is to be pre­sented and defended in an open semi­nar. In addition, the student is required to contribute to seminars and act as a discussant to another student’s thesis.

Prerequisites
Preferably students should have the equivalent of 50 credit points (75 ECTS) in Political Science. For those students who have the ambition to apply for a Bachelor’s degree, this is compulsory.

Contact Person
Christer Persson
E-mail: christer.persson@vxu.se
Telephone: +46 470 70 80 00
School of Social Sciences

November–December 2006
Undergraduate Level
5 credit points (7.5 ECTS)

Contents
The course provides an introduction to trends and changes of urbanization in the urban structure from a global perspective.   The problem is narrowed down to the role of cities in the global economy and how this affects the growth of cities. Particular focus is on cities of the highest global urban hierar­chy, so called Mega-cities. Further more, the urban development of development countries is discussed.  

Prerequisites
International students are required to have a minimum of two years of success­fully completed full-time studies (120 ECTS) at the university level.

Contact Person
Mirza Tassaduq Baig
E-mail: mirza.baig@vxu.se
Telephone: +46 470 70 80 00
School of Management and Economics

December–January 2006
Undergraduate Level
5 credit points (7.5 ECTS)

Contents
The scope and purpose of this course is to introduce central, basic and elemen­tary knowledge of international law. The course provides an introduction to the system of norms, rules, institutions and procedures of international law. The methods of resolving international disputes, the bases of international ju­risdiction and other substantive areas of international law are treated, including the laws governing the use of force and international environmental law, which will be explored basically. Further, the course explores the nature and the relevance of international law in the contemporary International World order (in the post-colonial and globalization era) including the role of the so-called Third World in the development of international and human rights law.

Prerequisites
International students are required to have a minimum of two years of success­fully completed full-time studies (120 ECTS) at the university level.

Contact Person
Mirza Tassaduq Baig
E-mail: mirza.baig@vxu.se
Telephone: +46 470 70 80 00
School of Management and Economics

March 2007
Undergraduate Level
5 credit points (7.5 ECTS)

Contents
The course provides an introduction to the system of norms, rules, institutions and procedures in EC Law. The course is introduced with the background and development of EC Law in the European Community. The decision procedure in the EC/EU is treated, and in particular how EC Law affects this process. Furthermore, the course explores the nature and the relevance of EC law in the EU today, related to issues such as the common market and competition, human rights, justice and home affairs and military co-operation.

Prerequisites
International students are required to have a minimum of two years of success­fully completed full-time studies (120 ECTS) at the university level.