Course description
This course focuses on key questions and debates of social science theory. The course runs over five weeks, and each week focuses on one topic, such as: agency and structure; constructions of social explanation; scales of social relations, local to global; ideational and material forces in social relations; and theory and practice, knowledge and action. During the course, the students will address larger strategic (meta-theoretical) choices of research approach and relate that to their own PhD project.
Target group
The course is part of the compulsory coursework for PhD students in Peace & Development Research and Environmental Social Science at the University of Gothenburg. It is also open to PhD students at other departments and universities who are enrolled in a PhD programme in Peace & Development Research, Environmental Social Science or other relevant fields of study, or equivalent.
Requirements and Selection
Entry requirements
In order to be eligible for the course the applicant must fulfil the general entry requirements for third cycle studies. A good command of English is vital.
Selection
The course is open for students enrolled in a PhD program in Peace and Development Research, Environmental Social Science or other relevant fields of study, or equivalent.
PhD students at the School of Global Studies will be given priority. Other applicants will be assessed and admitted based on the relevance of their PhD project.
Other information
The course runs full-time for five weeks and is taught through a mixture of lectures, individual studies, seminars, collaborative group work and written assignments. The doctoral student is expected to write a short paper each week.
In the autumn of 2022, the course will be given on campus, which means that you must be in Gothenburg to take it.
Course syllabus
SFGS310
Department
School of Global Studies
Subject
Social Science
Type of course
Generic skills courses
Keywords
Meta-theory, Social Science Theory, Metateori, Samhällsvetenskaplig teori
