Education

VITHF900: Theory of science and ethics

VITHF900 engages PhD candidates in research ethics and in key areas of theory of science with an emphasis on the humanities and the relationship between research and society.

Bilde av bygg på HF-fakultetet med tre i front

The Faculty of Humanities, University of Bergen.

Photo:

Eivind Senneset/UiB

Main content

PhD course: VITHF900 Theory of Science and Ethics with Supervised Paper

VITHF900 (10 ECTS) engages PhD candidates in research ethics, and in key areas of theory of science with an emphasis on the humanities, and the relationship between research and society. In addition to lectures, and discussions of these topics in a seminar setting, the course gives candidates the possibility to develop a longer paper in theory of science and/or ethics that bear directly on their field of research or PhD project. The candidates write their papers in a supervised and deliberative process with representatives from the SVT and a small group of co-students.

The course is only open for PhD candidates at the Faculty of Humanities and the Grieg Academy - Department of Music at the University of Bergen UiB.

The course is held by the Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities (SVT) in the spring semester. The five-day seminar is usually held in January.

The course is held in English.

Content

Course description

Kategori	Tekst
Emnekode	VITHF900
Namn på emnet, nynorsk	Vitskapsteori og etikk med rettleia paper
Namn på emnet, bokmål	Vitenskapsteori og etikk med veiledet paper
Namn på emnet, engelsk	Theory of Science and Ethics with Supervised Paper
Studiepoeng, omfang ECTS Credits	10 ECTS
Studienivå (studiesyklus) Level of Study	Ph.D.
Fulltid/deltid Full-time/Part-time
Undervisningsspråk	English
Undervisningssemester Semester of Instruction	Spring
Undervisningsstad Place of Instruction	The Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities (SVT). Two of the four seminar days are normally held outside of Bergen.
Mål og innhald Objectives and Content	The aim of the course is 1) to engage Ph.D. candidates in key areas of theory of science with an emphasis on the philosophy of humanities and research ethics, as well the relationship between research and society, and 2) to offer candidates an arena for critical reflection upon their own field of research and their Ph.D. projects, and 3) to develop this into a paper in a process with feedback from co-students and supervisors.
Læringsutbytte Learning Outcomes	Upon completing the course and the presentation and discussion of the paper, the Ph.D. candidate is expected to have demonstrated: Knowledge of general problems of theory of science and ethics, and an ability to identify and discuss such problems as applying to the candidate’s field of research and to presuppositions for his or her Ph.D. project.
Krav til forkunnskapar	Masters degree, or equivalent.
Tilrådde forkunnskapar
Studiepoengsreduksjon
Krav til studierett	Ph.D.-candidates enrolled in the Ph.D. program at the Faculty of Humanities and at the Grieg Academy - Department of Music at the University of Bergen UiB.
Arbeids- og undervisningsformer Teaching and Learning Methods	Lectures, plenary discussions, group discussions, supervision in groups and/or individually, commenting on co-students’ drafts, public presentation of paper.
Obligatorisk undervisningsaktivitet Compulsory Assignments and Attendance	1. Prepare for (read text compendium) and take part in the four-day seminar in the theory of science and ethics at the Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities (SVT). The course takes place annually in January and February. Attendance at seminar: min. 80%. 2. Take part in supervision of the paper in groups and/or individually. 3. Comment on two co-students’ paper drafts 4. Present the paper. The presentation takes place in the form of a public lecture (30 min.) followed by a discussion with committee members and peers (45 min.). The paper must be recommended by an assessment committee before it can be presented.
Vurderingsformer Forms of Assessment	A paper (4000-6000 words) on a self-chosen topic on a problem in theory of science and/or ethics with relevance for the candidate’s field of research or own project. The paper must be recommended for submission before it can be submitted. Main emphasis of assessment will be the paper, the presentation of the paper, and discussion of the paper after the presentation. Final assessment is given by the committee after the presentation and discussion. The members of the assessment committee are proposed jointly by the Ph.D. candidate’s home department and the SVT. The committee shall normally consist of the supervisor of the Ph.D. project, a representative of the faculty at the candidate’s department/academic field, and a representative from the SVT. The committee is appointed by the SVT. Deadline for submitting paper is early spring 2022. Presentation of the paper will take place before the end of spring term. The Department shall make copies of the recommended manuscript available to the public within one week before the presentation.
Hjelpemiddel til eksamen Examination Support Material
Karakterskala Grading Scale	Approved/not approved
Vurderingssemester Assessment Semester	Spring
Litteraturliste Reading List	Will be made available before December 1st.
Emneevaluering Course Evaluation	Participating candidates will evaluate the course at the end of the semester.
Programansvarleg Course Coordinator	Programstyret har ansvar for fagleg innhald og oppbygging av studiet og for kvaliteten på studieprogrammet og alle emna der.
Emneansvarleg	Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities (SVT)
Administrativt ansvarleg Course Administrator	Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities (SVT)
Kontaktinformasjon Contact Information	studie@svt.uib.no

Spring 2025

Course days

Monday 20 January, University of Bergen (campus)

Tuesday 21 January, Solstrand Hotell & Bad, Os

Wednesday 22 January, Solstrand Hotell & Bad, Os

Monday 27 January, University of Bergen (campus)

Tuesdag 28 January, Universitety of Bergen (campus)

-> Link to the full spring 2025 schedule here.

All five days of the course are mandatory.

The Faculty of Humanities will cover the cost for the stay at Solstrand Hotell & Bad, including all meals and transport. If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know in the registration link below. You will also be asked if you will travel with the group to and from the hotel or arrange your own transport.

Registration

To sign up for the course you must both sign up both at StudentWeb.uib.no and via the registration form below. The deadline for signing up in Studentweb is 6 December 2024. The registration form will close 6 December 2024. You will be asked to upload a copy of your project description/summary to the registration form.

Please note that your registration is not complete before you sign up both via StudentWeb and the registration form.

Link to StudentWeb.uib.no

Registration form VITHF900 Theory of Science and Ethics, spring 2025.

Academically responsible

Silje.Langvatn@uib.no

Torjus.Midtgarden@uib.no

Administrator:

studie@svt.uib.no

09.12.2024