spring 2019 BNS115 Land and environment of the Circumpolar World - 15 ECTS

Application deadline

Applicants from Nordic countries: 1 June for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.

Exchange students and Fulbright students: 1 October for the spring semester and 15 April for the autumn semester. 


Type of course

Compulsary subject in BA Northern Studies. Subject can be taken as single course.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements: Nordic applicants: Generell studiekompetanse International applicants: Higher Education Entrance Qualification and certified language requirements in English. A list of the requirements for the Higher Education Entrance Qualification in Norway can be found on the web site from the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT). For language requirements we refer to NOKUT's GSU-list.

Admission code: 5199 (Nordic applicants).


Course overlap

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

BNS110X Land and Environment of the Circumpolar World 10 stp

Course content

The primary aim of the first half of the course is to provide students with a more in-depth understanding of the land and environment that defines the Circumpolar North as well as the key issues involving interaction between humans and environment that were introduced through modules of BNS 100X: Introduction to The Circumpolar World.

The second half of the course will provide students with a greater understanding of the complexity of important concepts and issues related to the land and environment of the North.  This part of the course deals with the impacts of natural and physical change on the peoples and conditions of the Circumpolar North.  The main focus is on three major fields for scientific study:  (1) climate change, (2) natural resources, and (3) health and environment.  Emphasis is given to the challenges of sustainability in the North, and to the need for long-term proper stewardship.

By taking the course the students will be left with a deeper insight into the challenges presented by the physical and natural universe, and the impact on Northern peoples as well as an awareness of the relationship between science and policy, and its significance for the future of the Circumpolar North.

The course is mainly identical with BCS 311 (6 ECTS) and BCS 312 (6 ECTS)


Objectives of the course

The course objectives: Building competence on nature, ecosystems, environmental issues and sustainability of the circumpolar world.

Knowledge:

  • Arctic land and oceans
  • Arctic ecology
  • Arctic climate and climate change
  • Sustainable use of natural resources and management

Skills:

  • Ability to make use of an ecological approach
  • Ability to explain mechanisms of climate change
  • Ability to explain the interdependency among oceans, ecology and climate

General competence:

  • In Arctic environmental issues
  • In ecological systems at land and sea
  • Sustainability and management tools


Language of instruction and examination

English

Teaching methods

The course is designed in separate modules for online self-studying/ distant teaching with a manual for self-studying situations. Students are supposed to answer questions module by module. Some tutoring and responses from the responsible teacher will be given.

Assessment

Course requirements: 

Answers to given module questions. The answers have to be approved by responsible teacher before the students are allowed to do the final exam.

Examination: 

A final written home based exam:

- Available time: 3 days

-  Extent. 5 to 6 pages

- Font: Times New Roman, 12 pkt., line spacing 1,5. Margins; right, top and bottom 2 cm, left 4 cm.

Grading: scale A - F, with F for failed. 

Possibility of re-sit exam in case of F.


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  • About the course
  • Campus: Digital | Other |
  • ECTS: 15
  • Course code: BNS115