Every PhD thesis needs to explicitly grapple with issues of theory, methods and ethics. The course facilitates thorough discussions on a broad range of theoretical and methodological problems, including scientific theory and ethical issues. Course modules will change from year to year, and the course will introduce current debates in international historiography in relation to them.
The course has a core syllabus that all participants are expected to have read and reflected upon before the course begins. There will be additional recommended reading lists on issues related to and beyond those dealt with in the course. The plenary sessions of the course will be conducted in English, in some of the the group modules it will be possible to use Scandinavian languages. The students are expected to contribute actively in all parts of the course.
It is recommended to take this course in the first year as a PhD fellow. Even though tailored for first-year candidates, it is open for candidates at any stage of their process who works on a dissertation using historical methods and approaches.
Confirmed teachers:
- Toufoul Abou-Hodeib, University of Oslo
- Klaus Nathaus, University of Oslo
- Liudmila Nikanorova, Open University
- Kim Priemel, University of Oslo
Essential Information:
- This is a 5-day course (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday). It will start at 09:00 on Monday, 4th March and end on Friday, 8th March at 16:00.
- NB: On Wednesday, 6th March, course participants may also participate at our independent Professional Skills Workshop on Digital Humanities at the National Library of Norway. A separate application for this workshop is required (workshop application form).
- The course will be at the 12 floor of Niels Treschows hus, Blindern Campus of the University of Oslo.
- Participation in all course activities every day, is mandatory.
- Active participation in discussions of all papers and seminars is required.
- The course language is English, but essays may be written in English or in one of the Scandinavian languages. The latter may be discussed in Scandinavian.
- Credits: 5 ECTS
- The syllabus is max. 500 pages.
Mandatory Writing:
Reading responses
- 400-600 words response for each of the seminars.
- The response should be uploaded to the relevant seminar folder at the latest 1 week prior to the workshop.
- You are expected to to make one or a set of observations that they think are worth taking particular note of in the readings.
Essay
- The essay of 2400-3200 words, excl. references, should discuss a specific methodological and/or theoretical and/or ethical problem. The problem shall be clearly identified and be the center of the discussion. The essay should be analytically advanced and situated in the relevant literature, with full references.
- We recommend that you choose a problem that is central to your thesis or related to one of the course modules. Please note that the essay should be a standalone piece, and that a draft introduction for your PhD will not be acceptable. Your essay will be discussed as part of the course, and each participant will serve as a main commentator for one essay as will one of the teachers.
Deadlines
- Deadline for application is 12th January, but candidates may be accepted after this date if the course is not fully booked. Applicants who are based at NRSH partner institutions will have priority and will be accepted on a rolling basis.
- Accepted students will be given access to Teams folder with all the course readings and other information.
- Deadline for the submission of the essay: 16th February
Application
Questions can be sent to:
- Oliver Reiersen, oliver.reiersen@iakh.uio.no, with a copy to
- Ada Nissen, a.e.nissen@iakh.uio.no
Costs
- All participants must organise and pay for their own travel and accommodation. Participants from the partner institutions of the NRSH who do not have personal research funds for accommodation, are asked to get in touch with Oliver Reiersen (oliver.reiersen@iakh.uio.no).
- There will be a lunch served every day and a welcome dinner for all participants on Monday.