Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a course titled "Scientific Theory and Methodology" (ASTB17005U) as part of its academic programs. This course is designed to introduce students to scientific theory and methodology in the social sciences, with a focus on understanding how knowledge is created and how to critically evaluate different paradigms in social science research.

Course Description

The course aims to provide students with a foundation in scientific theory and methodology, enabling them to understand the relationship between science and values, rationality concepts in different social science theories, and the use of quantitative and qualitative methods. Students will learn to analyze and evaluate different sources and arguments, and to argue at an academic level.

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, students are expected to be able to:

• Describe the relationship between science and values, including the value basis for different forms of science
• Explain rationality concepts in different social science theories
• Explain quantitative and qualitative methods used in different scientific theoretical directions
• Understand source-critical analysis and the evaluation of different forms of primary and secondary sources
• Understand different scientific theoretical directions and their significance in a social science research process
• Produce an academic discussion through argumentation analysis
• Compare different scientific theoretical understandings of the relationship between science and values
• Apply scientific theoretical considerations in relation to an understanding of political science as a problem-driven discipline
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different scientific theoretical directions and paradigms
• Reflect critically on the knowledge production of political science analyses

Course Structure

The course consists of 56 hours of classroom instruction, with a total workload of 56 hours. The course is taught in Danish and is offered at the bachelor's level. The course is 7.5 ECTS points and is placed in the autumn semester.

Examination

The course is completed through a written take-home assignment. To pass the exam, students must complete two writing exercises during the semester. The exam can be taken in either Danish or English. The assessment criteria are based on the course's learning objectives, and the exam is evaluated as either passed or not passed.

Course Information

• Language: Danish
• Course code: ASTB17005U
• ECTS points: 7.5
• Level: Bachelor
• Duration: 1 semester
• Placement: Autumn
• Study board: Department of Political Science
• Offering institute: Department of Political Science
• Offering faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Course responsible: Peter Nedergaard

Additional Information

The course is also offered as part of continuing education and is available to students from other universities. The timetable for the course can be found on the university's website. Students are responsible for checking for exam conflicts. The course is taught in a classroom setting, and students are expected to participate in discussions and complete assignments. The course materials include a reading list of 750 pages, which is the same for all students. The course is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in scientific theory and methodology, enabling them to critically evaluate different paradigms in social science research and to argue at an academic level.