Advanced Knowledge, Organization and Politics
Course content
This is the core mandatory course for the MA specialization in Knowledge, Organization and Politics. The course reviews a range of central theoretical-analytical perspectives and empirical studies, each contributing to the sociological analysis of the ways in which society is organized and governed as well as the role(s) played by the production and use of knowledge in different organizational and political fields. For this purpose, analytical tools from three branches of sociology will be introduced and discussed: organizational sociology, sociology of knowledge, and political sociology. The mutual relations, overlaps, and tensions between these subject areas and fields serve as the object of both theoretical and empirical analysis, as well as being put to use by students in their independent project work, i.e. inquiries into a chosen topic or problematic within the thematic field.
The central question running throughout the course is how knowledge and power come to relate in specific organizational contexts, and how we might understand and analyze such contexts sociologically. Here, we link our analyses to contemporary and central sociological discussions on such themes as knowledge production and consumption, ignorance, expertise, institutional isomorphism, professionalization, power, quantification, polarization, governance, digitization and misinformation. These and related concepts will be used as tools for contextualizing the project-based inquiries within the thematic field which students will carry out and discuss in-between themselves throughout the entirety of the course.
Mandatory MA course 1. Semester
The course is open to:
- Exchange and Guest students from abroad, at both bachelor and master level
- Credit students from Danish Universities, at master level
Specialisation line/course package:
Knowledge, organisation and politics
The aim of the course is for students to acquire and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competencies forming the basics of the MA specialization in Knowledge, organization and politics.
The demonstration of the fulfilment of the learning goals is done through the project work.
As such, the project work should demonstrate that students have acquired the ability to independently identify and analyze cases and settings where knowledge, politics and organization interact.
The project should hence demonstrate:
Knowledge:
- An overview of the core sociological research literature within the thematic field of knowledge, organization and politics provided through readings of a variety of exemplary cases.
- Knowledge of central analytical approaches to the thematic field of knowledge, organization and politics
Skills:
- To identify and analyze one or more empirical cases or settings that exemplify how knowledge, organisation and politics interact
- To state a relevant research problem which relates to the course aims and course content.
- To choose, motivate and apply central concepts from the literature to the analysis of the selected empirical cases and situations.
- To generate adequate empirical data, perform a structured analysis of these data through the lens of relevant analytical perspectives and to reflect methodologically on their own knowledge production during the project work.
Competences:
- To thoroughly compare and contrast key analytical perspectives
- To assess practical consequences of their analysis for key actors, issues, and problems within and across organizational fields where relations between knowledge and politics is important.
The course combines class-based teaching and project work (either individually or in groups). Project work consists in on-going writing of draft text, based on readings and independent research, which eventually becomes the written exam assignment (based on which an oral defence is held as the final part of the exam). Students are expected to give and receive feedback on draft texts from fellow students during some classes throughout the course. Apart from this, class-based teaching will consist in combinations of lectures (incl. guest lectures) and student-driven discussions, including student presentations. Students are expected to contribute actively to the discussion of core theoretical-analytical tools as well as more specific analytical examples and tasks. As part of the project work, aspects of conducting literature reviews within the relevant field of research will be taught and trained.
A compendium consisting of central texts within the thematic field will be put together and made available prior to course start.
The total curriculum is app. 1000 pages.
In addition, students are required to choose supplementary reading
materials for their project work (app. 200 pages).
Feedback and peer-feedback of student projects is integrated in the programme as described above. The form and time dedicated to project work and peer feedback in class hours will be specified in the detailed course programme.
When registered you will be signed up for exam.
- Full-degree students – sign up at Selfservice on KUnet
- Exchange and guest students from abroad – sign up through Mobility Online and Selfservice- read more through this website.
- Credit students from Danish universities - sign up through this website.
The dates for the exams are found here Exams – Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Please note that it is your own responsibility to check for overlapping exam date.
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Home assignmentOral examination
- Type of assessment details
- Written Home Assignment with oral defence examination.
Individual or group.
The students are required to formulate their own exam questions based on pre-defined guidelines provided by the teacher. The teacher is required to provide at least two exemplary exam questions that adhere to the guidelines.
Max. 20 pages + 10 pages pr extra groupmember. - Aid
- All aids allowed
For oral exams with a synopsis and home assignments with an oral exam, the student may bring a printed copy of their synopsis or submission to the exam. During the initial presentation, the student is allowed to use a presentation script or presentation slides. The examiner can approve additional material.
The Department of Sociology prohibits the use of generative AI software and large language models (AI/LLMs), such as ChatGPT, for generating novel and creative content in written exams. However, students may use AI/LLMs to enhance the presentation of their own original work, such as text editing, argument validation, or improving statistical programming code. Students must disclose in an appendix if and how AI/LLMs were used; this appendix will not count toward the page limit of the exam. This policy is in place to ensure that students’ written exams accurately reflect their own knowledge and understanding of the material. All students are required to include an AI declaration in their exam submissions regardless of whether they have used generative AI software or not. This declaration should be placed as the last page of the exam submission. Please note that the AI statement is not included in the calculation of the overall length of your assignment. The template for the AI statement can be found in the Digital Exam system and on the Study Pages on KUnet under “Written exam”. Exams that do not declare if and how AI/LLMs were used will be administratively rejected and counted as one exam attempt.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
- Exam period
-
Exam information:
The examination date can be found in the exam schedule here
The exact time and place will be available in Digital Exam from the middle of the semester.
- Re-exam
-
Reexam info:
The reexamination date/period can be found in the reexam schedule here
Same as the ordinary exam.
Note! This is a mandatory course, and it is therefore only possible to take the exam during the fall, as the course is not offered in the spring.
Criteria for exam assessment
Please see the learning outcome.
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 56
- Preparation
- 321
- Exam Preparation
- 35
- English
- 412
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- ASOK15101U
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Capacity
- Approx. 40 students
- Studyboard
- Department of Sociology, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Sociology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinators
- Mathias Wullum Nielsen (3-707a7143767266316e7831676e)
- Nicole Milman-Doerr (2-706642757165306d7730666d)
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Kursusinformation for indskrevne studerende