Theories and Methodologies in Societal Safety (SAM915)

The course provides in depth knowledge and understanding of new theories, methodologies and recent research results in societal safety. The contents of the course will be customized for the individual student's needs through selection of the curriculum and learning methods.


Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.

See course description and exam/assesment information for this semester (2024-2025)
Facts

Course code

SAM915

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

5

Semester tution start

Spring, Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Spring, Autumn

Language of instruction

Norwegian

Offered by

Content

The course will acquaint students with contemporary theoretical and methodological issues in societal safety and enhance the student's understanding of mechanisms that may affect the risk and safety/security at the individual, organizational or societal level. Examples of theme could be, but not restricted to:

  • theoretical perspectives on risk and societal safety/security,
  • safety/security as a learning process,
  • strategic interaction and societal safety/security,
  • societal safety/security and rhetoric,
  • national and international contingency planning and crisis management,
  • perspectives on supervision and regulation,
  • the relationship between technology, organization and risk
  • climate change risks and safety/security issues,
  • roots of and societal consequences of terrorism, etc.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

  • Identify new theoretical and methodological contribution relevant for own work
  • Apply new theories and methodological approaches in analysis of the selected topic at a level that could be developed into articles of international standard
  • Gain knowledge ofthe broader context within which the student's own research project is situated

Skills

  • Identifying relevant literature and compose a consistent curriculum
  • Critically reflect on selected theoretical and methodological presuppositions
  • Organize and present a research-based material in an open seminar
  • Lead and summarize academic discussions in open seminars
  • Communicate results and reflections in speech and writing in a clear and systematic way

General competence

  • Understand the relevance of new theories and methodologies as part of choices one must make in developing a scientific research project
  • Critical evaluation of new theories and methodologies

Required prerequisite knowledge

Participants must be enrolled in a PhD programme.

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Assignment 1/1 Passed / Not Passed All

All steps described in working methodology has to be fulfilled. The assignment should potentially be developed into a journal article. Max 5000 words.No re-sit opportunities are offered for the assignment. Students who do not pass the assignment can retake it the next time the course is held.

Coursework requirements

The student should

  • in cooperation with the supervisor identify and organize a curriculum on about 5-800 pages
  • invite to an open seminar and present the selected curriculum in a clear and systematic way
  • Lead and summarize seminar discussions
  • Write an assignment based on the literature, presentation, discussion and own reflections that could be developed into articles of international standard

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Bjørn Ivar Kruke

Head of Department:

Tore Markeset

Overlapping courses

Course Reduction (SP)
Theories and Methodologies in Societal Safety (PHD701_1) 5

Open for

The course is open to interested PhD candidates at the University of Stavanger and other universities. Single Course Admission to PhD-Courses.

Course assessment

The faculty decides whether early dialogue will be held in all courses or in selected groups of courses. The aim is to collect student feedback for improvements during the semester. In addition, a digital course evaluation must be conducted at least every three years to gather students’ experiences.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto