NORAM4583 – American Politics, Institutions, Geography, Economic System

Course description

• Course content
• Learning outcome
• Admission
• Prerequisites

• Overlapping courses
• Teaching
• Examination

Course content

This course addresses several important aspects of American society as a broad basis for the study of American culture to achieve a sound understanding of what is truly American. The geographical component of the course is primarily focused on regional differences and ethnic diversity, whereas its political and economic components emphasize the defining characteristics of the American political and economic systems. An important objective is to consider American life and institutions in an international perspective, including comparisons with Norway, in particular, and other countries of special relevance. There is a strong emphasis on the self-image of Americans as a nation and its dominant values and ideologies in a broad sense. The course will also deal with problems of methodology related to the interdisciplinary nature of the American Studies movement. An overall objective is to focus on those aspects of American culture which can help us understand the role of the USA as the dominant superpower in contemporary global society.

Learning outcome

To provide insights into aspects of American culture that are vital to a true understanding of contemporary American culture and society.

Admission

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Prerequisites

Formal prerequisite knowledge

The course can be taken as a first course.

Recommended previous knowledge

The course assumes a good proficiency in written and oral English

Overlapping courses

This course overlaps with NORAM2503 – American Politics, Institutions, Geography, Economic System (discontinued).

Teaching

The course is taught throughout the semester with 2 hours per week, 28 hours in all. At the middle of the semester there is a two-week period with no teaching, which will be used for self-study and work with assignments. The students are supposed to attend the course regularly

Examination

Each student must carry out a project, to be presented orally during the course and in written form as a term paper (approx. 10 standard pages). Deadlines: a draft for the term paper is to be presented in the course of the tenth week of teaching, and the final version of the paper is to be handed in at the latest two weeks after the end of teaching. Each student is also expected to give an oral report in class on the topic for the term paper. The term paper is graded from A to E (pass) and F (fail).