Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies

 (Further details. Complete study program.)

Would you like to know more about the circumpolar north of the world? Are you interested in indigenous peoples´ history and living conditions? Do you want to know more about political conditions, environment, natural resources and sustainable management, living conditions and cultures in arctic areas?

The aim of the foundation courses about the circumpolar North is to provide a broad introduction to different issues affecting the worlds´ Northern areas, peoples and living conditions. The educational programme consists of five introductory courses (10credits/ECTS each). The core courses are all designed for self-study/ online teaching backed up by a manual for self-study situations. If you want, you can proceed with the advanced emphasis courses of minimum 30 ECTS and electives to make up a complete degree programme, Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies of 180 credits (ECTS).

Objectives:

-         To provide knowledge of environmental issues, nature, natural resources, management and sustainability in the circumpolar areas of the North.

-         To provide knowledge in the human history, cultures, politics and living conditions in the Northern areas, with a special focus on the indigenous populations.

-         To provide knowledge on models of democracy and governance

We can offer you the following introductory courses (online teaching):

-         BCS100X An Introduction to the Circumpolar World (Spring and Autumn term)

-         BSC120X Peoples and Cultures of the Circumpolar World (Autumn term)

-         BSC131X Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World I (Autumn term)

-         BCS110X Land and environment of the Circumpolar World (Spring term)

-         BSC132X Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar World II (Spring term)

Progress:

Semester start for the online courses will be on 1^st of September for the fall semester and 15^th of January for the spring semester. The students’ academic performance will be assessed both through answers to given questions, papers and a final written home-based exam.

The responsible teacher will administer the course/unit and the exam by e-mail/internet, using the virtual classroom programme ClassFronter.

You can also take these core courses (seven courses each on six credits) through the International BCS Secretariat of the University of the Arctic (www.uarctic.org) or in combination with our 10 credit courses.

If you want to extend the introductory courses part of the programme to make up a complete Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies, Bodø University College offers three advanced courses/units, all taught in English, during the autumn semester (10 credits/ECTS each):

-         HI215S The History of the high North

-         SA212S Northern Scandinavian Societies

-         SA210S Scandinavian Politics

These courses are offered as ordinary taught courses at the campus of Bodø University College, but will later also be developed and given as distance-learning courses. They are all designed to give an in-depth knowledge of the Northern areas of the Nordic countries in line with the multi-disciplinary character of the Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies programme. Excursions will be offered as an integrated part of the programme.

To qualify for the BA degree, you will have to write a bachelor assignment (Essay), 10 credits/ECTS on a relevant, self-elected topic. A Norwegian bachelor degree requires you to have courses/units corresponding to 180 credits/ ECTS. The remaining credits can be taken as electives/optional units. We would, however, suggest that you take another in-depth program (major) of minimum 80 credits to qualify for a broader range of MA-programs. Courses/credits taken at your home institutions can also be used for the remaining 90 credits/ECTS to get the BA degree, eventually as a joint degree.

The courses can also be used as optional topics (electives) in other bachelor programmes.

Location

Bodø University College has close to 5000 students and is located near the city centre of Bodø in northern Norway. Although the city is located north of the Polar Circle, the climate is relatively mild thanks to the Gulf Stream bringing warm air from the Gulf of Mexico. This part of Norway is known for its amazing natural beauty, offering excellent possibilities for outdoor recreation and experiences of a lifetime.

Bodø University College is known for its excellent learning environment and its variety of student activities. Student accommodation is located close to campus, and is guaranteed to foreign students.  International students are served by the International Office, which will assist with practicalities and in making your stay an interesting and a pleasant one. 

Internationalisation:

If you want to extend the introductory courses to make up a bachelor degree, you can, if you wish, take the advanced emphasis courses at another university which is a member of the University of the Arctic. The member institutions do not claim a fee for exchange students. You can also apply for a scholarship within the North2North student exchange programme through Bodø University College. Further information on recommended alternative advanced emphasis courses will be given on request.

Programme/Course access:

Students who hold a general competence for admission to higher education are admitted. Bodø University College has NO tuition fee, only a minor fee for registration. International students from the networking universities of the University of the Arctic who register for the distant teaching courses (core courses of the BCS) will not have to pay a register fee.

Programme Chair

Bjørn K. Sagdahl

Tel: +47 755 17364

E-mail: bjoern.sagdahl@hibo.no

Administrative Chair

Jan R. Storkersen 

Tel: +47 755 17804

Fax:  +47 75 51 73 78

E-mail: jan.r.stoerkersen@hibo.no

International Office

Tine Viveka Westerberg

Tel: +47 755 17818

E-Mail: tine.viveka.westerberg@hibo.no