The course is aimed at first year students in Global Studies. The main objective is to train students in organising and writing academic texts, processing references, using citations correctly, creating standardised bibliographies, and recognizing plagiarism. The course thus addresses ground aspects, which are necessary to successful academic career. By the end of the course, students should have a clear idea of the academic demands expected by students at the university level, and of the working tools that can be used to fulfill these demands.

New theories and studies on globalization and global processes are presented in the class. The course aims at giving a general overview of important themes related to globalization processes. Studies that shed light on the diverse economic, social and political aspects of global processes are furthermore examined. A critical examination of main concepts is an important aspect of the course but studies that show how people are agents/victims in globalized world are also presented.

The teaching consists of lecture and class discussions. 

 The course is taught in English.

In the course we examine the field methods and train students in their application. The focus is on ethical issues, research design, the fieldwork setting, participant observation, different kinds of interviews, use of visual material and the analysis of data and presentation of research results.

The aim of the seminar is to aid students who are writing their thesis. We will discuss how to approach a final thesis and the students will have the opportunity to discuss their research issues. This seminar creates a forum for master students to discuss their research projects and receive support, encouragement and feedback in the work process. The seminar will be flexible to meet the needs of the group of students attending at each time.

In the seminar each student works or their own project and the teaching method is built on a “shut up and write!” ideology. The instructor has a short introduction in each meeting followed by some productive writing of the students in a supportive environment.   In the second part of the seminar each student will present and discuss their project for about 20 minutes.

Note that this course is only taught in the spring semester and is intended both for students that enroll in the MA thesis course in the spring semester or the following fall semester.

Taught every other week.

Einkunn: Staðið/Fall

MA thesis

MA thesis

MA thesis

This course treats the debate on aid effectiveness, and institutions and actors within international aid, approaches to development cooperation, and their strengths and weaknesses. Multilateral institutions, bilateral donors, non-governmental organizations and emerging donors will be presented. Important approaches to aid, such as project support, sector-wide approach, budget support, result-based management, participatory methods and gender sensitive approaches will be introduced. as well as challenges in environmental and resource management and disaster aid.

Note: The course is only open to students that are yet to complete this course as a mandatory option, i.e. students registered for a postgraduate diploma in Development studies or Global health, and Global study MA-students with development studies as area of specialization.

Global health priorities are the focus of this course. The global burden of disease across countries will be scrutinized, as well as inequality and other important socio-economic determinants of health in a globalized world. Particular focus will be given to maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health from a global perspective, as well as health systems designed to provide good and timely services. Global nutritional challenges and mental health issues will be discussed as well as prevention and impact of infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, cholera, Ebola and COVID-19. Other subjects for discussion and analysis with importance for health include violence, environment, culture, disaster and complex emergencies, as well as ethical issues. In addition, the work and policies of international institutions and development organizations will be discussed, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

The course focuses on anthropological research on nature and the environment, as well as ideas from other human and social sciences, on the relationship between people and their environment. Various basic terms and theories central to environmental anthropology and related fields will be introduced and discussed.

The course explores several attempts to throw light on the emergence and characteristics of various cultural and social institutions and practices by reference to ecological systems and material relations as their foundation. It will also address critique of such attempts. 

A particular emphasis will be placed on changing views on the environment that have emerged in recent years, including ideas of resource extraction and management and several forms of environmentalisms.

Last but not least the many interactions of climate change causes and effects and societies will be explored as they are materialising all over the globe. Climate, climate change and society and culture, and their mutual influences, will also be investigated as a historical theoretical issue, from various points of view.

Several ethnographic examples of human-environment interaction will be examined throughout the course.

In this course, the focus will be on the cultural relativity of perception. A central concept here is that of the mode of perception, which refers to a particular integration of the sensorium in a certain cultural context. Visualism, aural cultures, and the multiple possibilities of smell, taste and touch for cultural expression will be among the topics of discussion. The main theories of perception that have provided anthropologists with inspiration will be introduced. There will also be an emphasis on practical experimentation with the students' perception of the various phenomena of the world.

Aim: To make students aware of the social constitution of perception and its cross-cultural relativity.

Vocational training in global studies and anthropology aims to provide students with increased skills through vocational training and to strengthen their connections with the labour market. This is a practical course that provides insight into the activities of institutions, non-governmental organizations, companies and other parties in-line with the aims of the course.

An agreement is made between the study program in anthropology and the relevant field of work. Students can make suggestions for a field of work or receive suggestions from the study program about a suitable field for internships. Subjects should be related to different aspects of anthropology and global science (electives: migration and multiculturalism, global health and development studies). For example, there could be one or two more important projects as well as various incidental projects. It is desirable that the student becomes acquainted with as many areas of work as possible in his / her field of work. The study program does not pay wages for the working hours, but the course is eligible for credits.

The student must contact the study program before the internship begins and have the plan approved. A special agreement is made with the person responsible for the worksite. 

The scope of the internship shall be 125-150 hours divided between while working in the workplace and writing a report. 

Before starting work in the field, the student compiles a reading list in consultation with the supervisor/supervisory teacher about the type of activity that the student intends to become involved with and the field itself. The student submits a draft summary of reading material before the internship begins. At the end of the participation in the worksite, the student writes a report on the internship where the activities are described and analysed.

In order to get credits evaluated for the internship, the student must hand in:

1. A letter from a supervisor, which includes a confirmation that the internship has lasted for at least 4 months along with a short stutta statement about the student and his tasks.
2. A statement that includes: 
   1. A descrption of the main tasks conducted during the internship periods,
   2. Weekly reports based on the student's journal entries,
   3. A description how the internhsip is useful for his/her study programme.
   4. tasks where a specific part of the work is examined and put into a theoretical perspective.

In this course the focus is upon anthropologists' discussion of art. Different definitions of the concept will be considered and, in that context, the relation of art to aesthetics and ethics. Answers will be sought to the question of whether all work that appears artistic to westernized perception is indeed so to those who produce this work. Authorship, authenticity and problems arising from the interaction between different cultural traditions will be considered. In order to shed light on these issues various ethnographic studies throughout the world will be studied.

Vocational training in global studies and anthropology aims to provide students with increased skills through vocational training and to strengthen their connections with the labour market. This is a practical course that provides insight into the activities of institutions, non-governmental organizations, companies and other parties in-line with the aims of the course.

An agreement is made between the study program in anthropology and the relevant field of work. Students can make suggestions for a field of work or receive suggestions from the study program about a suitable field for internships. Subjects should be related to different aspects of anthropology and global science (electives: migration and multiculturalism, global health and development studies). For example, there could be one or two more important projects as well as various incidental projects. It is desirable that the student becomes acquainted with as many areas of work as possible in his / her field of work. The study program does not pay wages for the working hours, but the course is eligible for credits.

The student must contact the study program before the internship begins and have the plan approved. A special agreement is made with the person responsible for the worksite.

The scope of the internship shall be 250-300 hours divided between while working in the workplace and writing a report.

Before starting work in the field, the student compiles a reading list in consultation with the supervisor/supervisory teacher about the type of activity that the student intends to become involved with and the field itself. The student submits a draft summary of reading material before the internship begins. At the end of the participation in the worksite, the student writes a report on the internship where the activities are described and analysed.

In order to get credits evaluated for the internship, the student must hand in:

1. A letter from a supervisor, which includes a confirmation that the internship has lasted for at least 4 months along with a short stutta statement about the student and his tasks.
2. A statement that includes: 
   1. A descrption of the main tasks conducted during the internship periods,
   2. Weekly reports based on the student's journal entries,
   3. A description how the internhsip is useful for his/her study programme.
   4. tasks where a specific part of the work is examined and put into a theoretical perspective.

The student works on a written project or a literature review on a specific area related to the research topic of the master thesis. The student contacts the supervisor, who will guide the student regarding this reading course.

This course covers a detailed overview of theories in criminology and sociology of deviance. Students will read empirical research testing these theories in Iceland and elsewhere.

Different types of crimes and topics will be discussed in criminological/sociological light, such as gender and crime, immigration and crime.

Emphasis is placed on linking theoretical discussion with empirical research.

According to the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, slightly over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. This is projected to be 66% percent by the year 2050, with Africa and Asia accounting for 90% of this new urban growth. Urban anthropology has increasingly played a critically important role in the development of the discipline of anthropology in terms of theory, research methods and social justice movements. This course provides an historical overview of the development of urban anthropology and on through to recent developments. An emphasis will be placed on anthropological theory and research methods, but also issues such as social justice, architecture, design and urban planning. The course will cover, among others, the early Chicago ethnographers and early urban poverty research, utopian and modernist urban planning, power and built form, divisions and gated communities, crime and urban fear, urban homelessness, and the governance of built spaces. The course will conclude with a section on cities in transition, which includes a focus on the post-industrial/global city, the effects of neoliberalism on urban spaces, and a discussion of the possible future(s) of urbanism and the role of anthropology in understanding these developments.

The reading material be based on on essential theoretical works as well as recent research. The history of the field will be critically examined in light of trends at the beginning of the 21^st century. The course is intended for students at masters and diploma levels. 

Work format

Teaching will take the form of lectures and discussion.

Missing

This course provides students with an introduction to the major approaches and theories of International Relations.  Students are introduced to the aims of theory, theoretical frameworks - rationalist vs reflectivist - as well as the main theories themselves.  How the theories can be applied in practice is also examined.

Theory aims to identify broad patterns and draw wider conclusions from a series of discrete moments in international affairs, in order to generate greater insight into, and meaning from, our world. With this in mind, this course explores the various ‘great debates’ that have emerged over time between and among theories of international relations, as well as more recent contributions. How theories can be used to interpret and understand world affairs will be demonstrated throughout the course, drawing on real-life case studies.

The course deals with Iceland's foreign affairs and foreign policy from 1940 to 2018. The aim of the course is to cover all major events in the history of Iceland's foreign affairs during this period such as membership of NATO, the defence and economic relationship with the USA, the cod wars and Nordic and European cooperation. The course also covers the most recent changes which are taking place in Iceland's foreign policy, i.e. more focus on developing aid and human rights. Theories in international studies and small-states studies will be used to analyse the case of Iceland.

The aim of this course is to develop skills in analyzing and discussing international cooperation and in particular, Iceland´s role in global affairs. Globalization from an historical and theoretical perspective is presented and the influence of globalization on politics, economics, states and individuals discussed. The foreign policy of Iceland is analyzed with an emphasis on the current priorities. Iceland´s role in the international system in relation to the current challenges is presented with an emphasis on security and defence matters, Arctic issues and Nordic cooperation. European integration will be explored relating to Iceland´s choices in European affairs, with a particular focus on the effects of the EEA agreement in Iceland. Moreover, Iceland´s UN participation and campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council will be covered.

This course focuses on the historical development of theories and perspectives on disability. Emphasis will be on ideologies that have influenced policies, services and disabled people everyday lives and social participation (i.e. normalization, independent living and human rights conventions). Considerable time will be devoted to exploring the new discipline Disability Studies, its origins, main characteristics and relations to other scholarship. Different theoretical perspectives on disability will be examined and the influence of particular theoretical approaches on the development of disability theory. Theoretical discussion will be connected to the disabled people's movements, human rights (including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), national and international policies, law and the social situation of disabled people.

The course covers recent writings and currents of thought that mark, or are likely to mark, turning points in social and cultural theory. Particular care will be taken to situate theories in their historical and social contexts. Attendance to weekly 40 min. discussion classes throughout the course is compulsory. Distance learning students attend in person or via the Internet (with Zoom).

The course addresses the main issues in gender studies through the lens of diversity in modern societies. The gender perspective is applied to provide an overview of the status and condition of men and women. The origins and development of the fight for women’s rights and gender studies as an academic field. The main concepts of gender studies are introduced, including sex, gender, essentialism and constructivism. Finally, the course looks into how gender necessarily intersects with other social factors.

Teaching Arrangement: The course is based on flipped learning, which means that all lectures will be available on Canvas. On-campus and distance students attend weekly discussion sessions at the university or on Teams, and online students participate in weekly discussions on Canvas

Human mobility and multicultural societies are often seen as the main characteristics of the contemporary world. In the course, we look at main theories approaching mobility and multicultural society, critically addressing them and analyzing their utility. The concept of multiculturalism and related concepts such as culture, assimilation and integration are critically evaluated, as well as mobility in the past and the relationship between mobility and multiculturalism. Different approaches in the social sciences are introduced and main research themes in anthropology in particular and social sciences in general will be examined.

The teaching methods are lectures and discussions.

Global health priorities are in focus in this course. Global burden of disease across countries will be scrutinized as well as inequality and other important socio-economic determinants of health in a globalized world. Particular focus will be given to maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health in low- and middle-income countries, health systems and care-seeking. Global nutritional challenges and mental health issues will be discussed as well as prevention and impact of infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, cholera, Ebola and COVID-19. Along the coursework, other subjects for discussion and analysis with importance for health include violence, environment, culture, disaster and complex emergencies, as well as ethical issues. In addition, the work and policies of international institutions and development organizations will be discussed, including the new Sustainable Development Goals.

The course focuses on stereotypes and prejudice as manifestations of Othering processes and racism, by using the lens of critical race theories and postcolonial perspectives. The course emphasizes the interlinking of past and present discourses and images about those categorized as Others and how Othering takes place. For this purpose, it analyses colonial imaginaries and of the historical connection of orientalism with key concepts such as culture, identity, and development. It thus highlights the connection between older colonial discourses, nationalism, and contemporary imageries that target marginalized groups, with a specific focus on the European context.  

The course asks how discourses shape bodies and identities of specific groups or categories of people, as well as the social and physical spaces they inhabit. The course also addresses the issue of agency and strategies of resistance against Othering processes and racism, and explores the delicate role that anthropological knowledge, and social theory more in general, plays in this scenario.  

 The course will be taught in English. 

According to the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, slightly over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. This is projected to be 66% percent by the year 2050, with Africa and Asia accounting for 90% of this new urban growth. Urban anthropology has increasingly played a critically important role in the development of the discipline of anthropology in terms of theory, research methods and social justice movements. This course provides an historical overview of the development of urban anthropology and on through to recent developments. An emphasis will be placed on anthropological theory and research methods, but also issues such as social justice, architecture, design and urban planning. The course will cover, among others, the early Chicago ethnographers and early urban poverty research, utopian and modernist urban planning, power and built form, divisions and gated communities, crime and urban fear, urban homelessness, and the governance of built spaces. The course will conclude with a section on cities in transition, which includes a focus on the post-industrial/global city, the effects of neoliberalism on urban spaces, and a discussion of the possible future(s) of urbanism and the role of anthropology in understanding these developments.

Students must have completed 120 ECTS in their BA study before attending this course

Vocational training in global studies and anthropology aims to provide students with increased skills through vocational training and to strengthen their connections with the labour market. This is a practical course that provides insight into the activities of institutions, non-governmental organizations, companies and other parties in-line with the aims of the course.

An agreement is made between the study program in anthropology and the relevant field of work. Students can make suggestions for a field of work or receive suggestions from the study program about a suitable field for internships. Subjects should be related to different aspects of anthropology and global science (electives: migration and multiculturalism, global health and development studies). For example, there could be one or two more important projects as well as various incidental projects. It is desirable that the student becomes acquainted with as many areas of work as possible in his / her field of work. The study program does not pay wages for the working hours, but the course is eligible for credits.

The student must contact the study program before the internship begins and have the plan approved. A special agreement is made with the person responsible for the worksite. 

The scope of the internship shall be 250-300 hours divided between while working in the workplace and writing a report.. 

Before starting work in the field, the student compiles a reading list in consultation with the supervisor/supervisory teacher about the type of activity that the student intends to become involved with and the field itself. The student submits a draft summary of reading material before the internship begins. At the end of the participation in the worksite, the student writes a report on the internship where the activities are described and analysed.

In order to get credits evaluated for the internship, the student must hand in:

1. A letter from a supervisor, which includes a confirmation that the internship has lasted for at least 4 months along with a short stutta statement about the student and his tasks.
2. A statement that includes: 
   1. A descrption of the main tasks conducted during the internship periods,
   2. Weekly reports based on the student's journal entries,
   3. A description how the internhsip is useful for his/her study programme.
   4. tasks where a specific part of the work is examined and put into a theoretical perspective.

The societal role of museums will be discussed from several angles: economic, political, cultural, social and last but not least in an international context. Examples of topics that will be discussed in the course are the role of museums in building the concept of the nation; the legal environment of museums; how museums are run; the status and role of the main museums; museums owned and run by local authorities and other museums; the financing of museums, and the policies of authorities regarding museums. Both national and foreign examples will be taken. The course is intended for students at the masters and diploma levels (but is open to BA students in their final year).

Work format

Teaching will take the form of lectures and discussions.

According to the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, slightly over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. This is projected to be 66% percent by the year 2050, with Africa and Asia accounting for 90% of this new urban growth. Urban anthropology has increasingly played a critically important role in the development of the discipline of anthropology in terms of theory, research methods and social justice movements. This course provides an historical overview of the development of urban anthropology and on through to recent developments. An emphasis will be placed on anthropological theory and research methods, but also issues such as social justice, architecture, design and urban planning. The course will cover, among others, the early Chicago ethnographers and early urban poverty research, utopian and modernist urban planning, power and built form, divisions and gated communities, crime and urban fear, urban homelessness, and the governance of built spaces. The course will conclude with a section on cities in transition, which includes a focus on the post-industrial/global city, the effects of neoliberalism on urban spaces, and a discussion of the possible future(s) of urbanism and the role of anthropology in understanding these developments.

Students must have completed 120 ECTS in their BA study before attending this course

This course is in direct continuation of Criminological Theory and covers a variety of issues related to crime and society. This involves, among other things, the nature of crime and criminal law, corrections and the role of police in society.

The Nordic welfare model is frequently viewed as an ideal model for other welfare state, as it has achieved the greatest success in equalizing outcomes. Iceland is a part of the nordic model, but it is different in many ways, for example with more limited support to individuals and less spending on welfare. Yet, there have been great achievements regarding equality, Iceland is generally among the countries with the highest levels of gender equality and multiple indicators that measure inequality are lowest in Iceland.

 In this course, we will go over the major sociological theories on inequality and the welfare state, and the position of Iceland will be considered both compared to the other Nordic countries as well as other welfare state in advanced, industralized nations. We will focus on the organization of the welfare state, how scholars have classified welfare states, and the consequences of the welfare state for example for health, inequality, and the opportunities that individuals have in society.

This course is scheduled to be taught in the spring of 2026.

The objective of this course is to gain methodological knowledge, understanding and practical skills to analyze images and visual data (photographs, films, drawings, advertisements, online media, etc.). We will discuss various methods of analysis of the visual content, consider visual databases and how to work with them. Students receive practical training in visual methodological studies and how to evaluate them. The course is based on practical assignments, where students prepare and design research proposals, collect data and how to analyze. The course is interdisciplinary and is suitable for students of humanities and social sciences, and other related fields.

Vocational training in global studies and anthropology aims to provide students with increased skills through vocational training and to strengthen their connections with the labour market. This is a practical course that provides insight into the activities of institutions, non-governmental organizations, companies and other parties in-line with the aims of the course.

An agreement is made between the study program in anthropology and the relevant field of work. Students can make suggestions for a field of work or receive suggestions from the study program about a suitable field for internships. Subjects should be related to different aspects of anthropology and global science (electives: migration and multiculturalism, global health and development studies). For example, there could be one or two more important projects as well as various incidental projects. It is desirable that the student becomes acquainted with as many areas of work as possible in his / her field of work. The study program does not pay wages for the working hours, but the course is eligible for credits.

The student must contact the study program before the internship begins and have the plan approved. A special agreement is made with the person responsible for the worksite. 

The scope of the internship shall be 125-150 hours divided between while working in the workplace and writing a report. 

Before starting work in the field, the student compiles a reading list in consultation with the supervisor/supervisory teacher about the type of activity that the student intends to become involved with and the field itself. The student submits a draft summary of reading material before the internship begins. At the end of the participation in the worksite, the student writes a report on the internship where the activities are described and analysed.

In order to get credits evaluated for the internship, the student must hand in:

1. A letter from a supervisor, which includes a confirmation that the internship has lasted for at least 4 months along with a short stutta statement about the student and his tasks.
2. A statement that includes: 
   1. A descrption of the main tasks conducted during the internship periods,
   2. Weekly reports based on the student's journal entries,
   3. A description how the internhsip is useful for his/her study programme.
   4. tasks where a specific part of the work is examined and put into a theoretical perspective.

An examination will be made of the religious beliefs and practices of people in Scandinavia from the earliest of times until the conversion, material ranging from burial practices to rock carvings, to the written evidence given in the works of Tacitus, Adam of Bremen and Saxo Grammaticus, as well as in early Icelandic works like the Eddic poems and the Kings' sagas. Alongside this discussion of the development and key features of Old Norse religion, some attention will be paid to the concepts of seid and shamanism, especially in connection to their role in early religions. Finally, an examination will be made of the conversion of Scandinavia and how Christian concepts and practices both fitted and contrasted with the previously dominant Old Norse worldview.

Teaching format

• The teaching takes place in the form of lectures and discussion on the material of the lectures.

In this course, the focus will be on the cultural relativity of perception. A central concept here is that of the mode of perception, which refers to a particular integration of the sensorium in a certain cultural context. Visualism, aural cultures, and the multiple possibilities of smell, taste and touch for cultural expression will be among the topics of discussion. The main theories of perception that have provided anthropologists with inspiration will be introduced. There will also be an emphasis on practical experimentation with the students' perception of the various phenomena of the world.

Aim: To make students aware of the social constitution of perception and its cross-cultural relativity.

Main theories for understanding conflicts will be presented, and concepts and methodological approaches introduced. Recent anthropological studies will be discuessed. Particual conflicts and possibilities for peace resolution will be examined.

The student works on a written project or a literature review on a specific area related to the research topic of the master thesis. The student contacts the supervisor, who will guide the student regarding this reading course.

This course explores cultural reactions to disability and disabled people as well as examining the cultural representations and constructions of disability. Special emphasis will be on history, the role of media, popular culture, literature and arts in constructing, defining and representing images of disabled people. Topics also include disability art and culture, identity, femininity and masculinity. The cultural location and context of disability will be examined and how disability can be viewed as one of the aspects creating diversity in contemporary societies. The aim is that students will gain understanding and knowledge of the cultural origins of ideas about disability and will be able to relate them to theoretical perspectives in disability studies, current events and other fields of interest.

The course is aimed at first year students in Global Studies. The main objective is to train students in organising and writing academic texts, processing references, using citations correctly, creating standardised bibliographies, and recognizing plagiarism. The course thus addresses ground aspects, which are necessary to successful academic career. By the end of the course, students should have a clear idea of the academic demands expected by students at the university level, and of the working tools that can be used to fulfill these demands.

New theories and studies on globalization and global processes are presented in the class. The course aims at giving a general overview of important themes related to globalization processes. Studies that shed light on the diverse economic, social and political aspects of global processes are furthermore examined. A critical examination of main concepts is an important aspect of the course but studies that show how people are agents/victims in globalized world are also presented.

The teaching consists of lecture and class discussions. 

 The course is taught in English.

In the course we examine the field methods and train students in their application. The focus is on ethical issues, research design, the fieldwork setting, participant observation, different kinds of interviews, use of visual material and the analysis of data and presentation of research results.

The aim of the seminar is to aid students who are writing their thesis. We will discuss how to approach a final thesis and the students will have the opportunity to discuss their research issues. This seminar creates a forum for master students to discuss their research projects and receive support, encouragement and feedback in the work process. The seminar will be flexible to meet the needs of the group of students attending at each time.

In the seminar each student works or their own project and the teaching method is built on a “shut up and write!” ideology. The instructor has a short introduction in each meeting followed by some productive writing of the students in a supportive environment.   In the second part of the seminar each student will present and discuss their project for about 20 minutes.

Note that this course is only taught in the spring semester and is intended both for students that enroll in the MA thesis course in the spring semester or the following fall semester.

Taught every other week.

Einkunn: Staðið/Fall

MA thesis

MA thesis

MA thesis

This course treats the debate on aid effectiveness, and institutions and actors within international aid, approaches to development cooperation, and their strengths and weaknesses. Multilateral institutions, bilateral donors, non-governmental organizations and emerging donors will be presented. Important approaches to aid, such as project support, sector-wide approach, budget support, result-based management, participatory methods and gender sensitive approaches will be introduced. as well as challenges in environmental and resource management and disaster aid.

Note: The course is only open to students that are yet to complete this course as a mandatory option, i.e. students registered for a postgraduate diploma in Development studies or Global health, and Global study MA-students with development studies as area of specialization.

Global health priorities are the focus of this course. The global burden of disease across countries will be scrutinized, as well as inequality and other important socio-economic determinants of health in a globalized world. Particular focus will be given to maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health from a global perspective, as well as health systems designed to provide good and timely services. Global nutritional challenges and mental health issues will be discussed as well as prevention and impact of infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, cholera, Ebola and COVID-19. Other subjects for discussion and analysis with importance for health include violence, environment, culture, disaster and complex emergencies, as well as ethical issues. In addition, the work and policies of international institutions and development organizations will be discussed, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

The course focuses on anthropological research on nature and the environment, as well as ideas from other human and social sciences, on the relationship between people and their environment. Various basic terms and theories central to environmental anthropology and related fields will be introduced and discussed.

The course explores several attempts to throw light on the emergence and characteristics of various cultural and social institutions and practices by reference to ecological systems and material relations as their foundation. It will also address critique of such attempts. 

A particular emphasis will be placed on changing views on the environment that have emerged in recent years, including ideas of resource extraction and management and several forms of environmentalisms.

Last but not least the many interactions of climate change causes and effects and societies will be explored as they are materialising all over the globe. Climate, climate change and society and culture, and their mutual influences, will also be investigated as a historical theoretical issue, from various points of view.

Several ethnographic examples of human-environment interaction will be examined throughout the course.

In this course, the focus will be on the cultural relativity of perception. A central concept here is that of the mode of perception, which refers to a particular integration of the sensorium in a certain cultural context. Visualism, aural cultures, and the multiple possibilities of smell, taste and touch for cultural expression will be among the topics of discussion. The main theories of perception that have provided anthropologists with inspiration will be introduced. There will also be an emphasis on practical experimentation with the students' perception of the various phenomena of the world.

Aim: To make students aware of the social constitution of perception and its cross-cultural relativity.

Vocational training in global studies and anthropology aims to provide students with increased skills through vocational training and to strengthen their connections with the labour market. This is a practical course that provides insight into the activities of institutions, non-governmental organizations, companies and other parties in-line with the aims of the course.

An agreement is made between the study program in anthropology and the relevant field of work. Students can make suggestions for a field of work or receive suggestions from the study program about a suitable field for internships. Subjects should be related to different aspects of anthropology and global science (electives: migration and multiculturalism, global health and development studies). For example, there could be one or two more important projects as well as various incidental projects. It is desirable that the student becomes acquainted with as many areas of work as possible in his / her field of work. The study program does not pay wages for the working hours, but the course is eligible for credits.

The student must contact the study program before the internship begins and have the plan approved. A special agreement is made with the person responsible for the worksite. 

The scope of the internship shall be 125-150 hours divided between while working in the workplace and writing a report. 

Before starting work in the field, the student compiles a reading list in consultation with the supervisor/supervisory teacher about the type of activity that the student intends to become involved with and the field itself. The student submits a draft summary of reading material before the internship begins. At the end of the participation in the worksite, the student writes a report on the internship where the activities are described and analysed.

In order to get credits evaluated for the internship, the student must hand in:

1. A letter from a supervisor, which includes a confirmation that the internship has lasted for at least 4 months along with a short stutta statement about the student and his tasks.
2. A statement that includes: 
   1. A descrption of the main tasks conducted during the internship periods,
   2. Weekly reports based on the student's journal entries,
   3. A description how the internhsip is useful for his/her study programme.
   4. tasks where a specific part of the work is examined and put into a theoretical perspective.

In this course the focus is upon anthropologists' discussion of art. Different definitions of the concept will be considered and, in that context, the relation of art to aesthetics and ethics. Answers will be sought to the question of whether all work that appears artistic to westernized perception is indeed so to those who produce this work. Authorship, authenticity and problems arising from the interaction between different cultural traditions will be considered. In order to shed light on these issues various ethnographic studies throughout the world will be studied.

Vocational training in global studies and anthropology aims to provide students with increased skills through vocational training and to strengthen their connections with the labour market. This is a practical course that provides insight into the activities of institutions, non-governmental organizations, companies and other parties in-line with the aims of the course.

An agreement is made between the study program in anthropology and the relevant field of work. Students can make suggestions for a field of work or receive suggestions from the study program about a suitable field for internships. Subjects should be related to different aspects of anthropology and global science (electives: migration and multiculturalism, global health and development studies). For example, there could be one or two more important projects as well as various incidental projects. It is desirable that the student becomes acquainted with as many areas of work as possible in his / her field of work. The study program does not pay wages for the working hours, but the course is eligible for credits.

The student must contact the study program before the internship begins and have the plan approved. A special agreement is made with the person responsible for the worksite.

The scope of the internship shall be 250-300 hours divided between while working in the workplace and writing a report.

Before starting work in the field, the student compiles a reading list in consultation with the supervisor/supervisory teacher about the type of activity that the student intends to become involved with and the field itself. The student submits a draft summary of reading material before the internship begins. At the end of the participation in the worksite, the student writes a report on the internship where the activities are described and analysed.

In order to get credits evaluated for the internship, the student must hand in:

1. A letter from a supervisor, which includes a confirmation that the internship has lasted for at least 4 months along with a short stutta statement about the student and his tasks.
2. A statement that includes: 
   1. A descrption of the main tasks conducted during the internship periods,
   2. Weekly reports based on the student's journal entries,
   3. A description how the internhsip is useful for his/her study programme.
   4. tasks where a specific part of the work is examined and put into a theoretical perspective.

The student works on a written project or a literature review on a specific area related to the research topic of the master thesis. The student contacts the supervisor, who will guide the student regarding this reading course.

This course covers a detailed overview of theories in criminology and sociology of deviance. Students will read empirical research testing these theories in Iceland and elsewhere.

Different types of crimes and topics will be discussed in criminological/sociological light, such as gender and crime, immigration and crime.

Emphasis is placed on linking theoretical discussion with empirical research.

According to the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, slightly over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. This is projected to be 66% percent by the year 2050, with Africa and Asia accounting for 90% of this new urban growth. Urban anthropology has increasingly played a critically important role in the development of the discipline of anthropology in terms of theory, research methods and social justice movements. This course provides an historical overview of the development of urban anthropology and on through to recent developments. An emphasis will be placed on anthropological theory and research methods, but also issues such as social justice, architecture, design and urban planning. The course will cover, among others, the early Chicago ethnographers and early urban poverty research, utopian and modernist urban planning, power and built form, divisions and gated communities, crime and urban fear, urban homelessness, and the governance of built spaces. The course will conclude with a section on cities in transition, which includes a focus on the post-industrial/global city, the effects of neoliberalism on urban spaces, and a discussion of the possible future(s) of urbanism and the role of anthropology in understanding these developments.

The reading material be based on on essential theoretical works as well as recent research. The history of the field will be critically examined in light of trends at the beginning of the 21^st century. The course is intended for students at masters and diploma levels. 

Work format

Teaching will take the form of lectures and discussion.

Missing

This course provides students with an introduction to the major approaches and theories of International Relations.  Students are introduced to the aims of theory, theoretical frameworks - rationalist vs reflectivist - as well as the main theories themselves.  How the theories can be applied in practice is also examined.

Theory aims to identify broad patterns and draw wider conclusions from a series of discrete moments in international affairs, in order to generate greater insight into, and meaning from, our world. With this in mind, this course explores the various ‘great debates’ that have emerged over time between and among theories of international relations, as well as more recent contributions. How theories can be used to interpret and understand world affairs will be demonstrated throughout the course, drawing on real-life case studies.

The course deals with Iceland's foreign affairs and foreign policy from 1940 to 2018. The aim of the course is to cover all major events in the history of Iceland's foreign affairs during this period such as membership of NATO, the defence and economic relationship with the USA, the cod wars and Nordic and European cooperation. The course also covers the most recent changes which are taking place in Iceland's foreign policy, i.e. more focus on developing aid and human rights. Theories in international studies and small-states studies will be used to analyse the case of Iceland.

The aim of this course is to develop skills in analyzing and discussing international cooperation and in particular, Iceland´s role in global affairs. Globalization from an historical and theoretical perspective is presented and the influence of globalization on politics, economics, states and individuals discussed. The foreign policy of Iceland is analyzed with an emphasis on the current priorities. Iceland´s role in the international system in relation to the current challenges is presented with an emphasis on security and defence matters, Arctic issues and Nordic cooperation. European integration will be explored relating to Iceland´s choices in European affairs, with a particular focus on the effects of the EEA agreement in Iceland. Moreover, Iceland´s UN participation and campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council will be covered.

This course focuses on the historical development of theories and perspectives on disability. Emphasis will be on ideologies that have influenced policies, services and disabled people everyday lives and social participation (i.e. normalization, independent living and human rights conventions). Considerable time will be devoted to exploring the new discipline Disability Studies, its origins, main characteristics and relations to other scholarship. Different theoretical perspectives on disability will be examined and the influence of particular theoretical approaches on the development of disability theory. Theoretical discussion will be connected to the disabled people's movements, human rights (including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), national and international policies, law and the social situation of disabled people.

The course covers recent writings and currents of thought that mark, or are likely to mark, turning points in social and cultural theory. Particular care will be taken to situate theories in their historical and social contexts. Attendance to weekly 40 min. discussion classes throughout the course is compulsory. Distance learning students attend in person or via the Internet (with Zoom).

The course addresses the main issues in gender studies through the lens of diversity in modern societies. The gender perspective is applied to provide an overview of the status and condition of men and women. The origins and development of the fight for women’s rights and gender studies as an academic field. The main concepts of gender studies are introduced, including sex, gender, essentialism and constructivism. Finally, the course looks into how gender necessarily intersects with other social factors.

Teaching Arrangement: The course is based on flipped learning, which means that all lectures will be available on Canvas. On-campus and distance students attend weekly discussion sessions at the university or on Teams, and online students participate in weekly discussions on Canvas

Human mobility and multicultural societies are often seen as the main characteristics of the contemporary world. In the course, we look at main theories approaching mobility and multicultural society, critically addressing them and analyzing their utility. The concept of multiculturalism and related concepts such as culture, assimilation and integration are critically evaluated, as well as mobility in the past and the relationship between mobility and multiculturalism. Different approaches in the social sciences are introduced and main research themes in anthropology in particular and social sciences in general will be examined.

The teaching methods are lectures and discussions.

Global health priorities are in focus in this course. Global burden of disease across countries will be scrutinized as well as inequality and other important socio-economic determinants of health in a globalized world. Particular focus will be given to maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health in low- and middle-income countries, health systems and care-seeking. Global nutritional challenges and mental health issues will be discussed as well as prevention and impact of infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, cholera, Ebola and COVID-19. Along the coursework, other subjects for discussion and analysis with importance for health include violence, environment, culture, disaster and complex emergencies, as well as ethical issues. In addition, the work and policies of international institutions and development organizations will be discussed, including the new Sustainable Development Goals.

The course focuses on stereotypes and prejudice as manifestations of Othering processes and racism, by using the lens of critical race theories and postcolonial perspectives. The course emphasizes the interlinking of past and present discourses and images about those categorized as Others and how Othering takes place. For this purpose, it analyses colonial imaginaries and of the historical connection of orientalism with key concepts such as culture, identity, and development. It thus highlights the connection between older colonial discourses, nationalism, and contemporary imageries that target marginalized groups, with a specific focus on the European context.  

The course asks how discourses shape bodies and identities of specific groups or categories of people, as well as the social and physical spaces they inhabit. The course also addresses the issue of agency and strategies of resistance against Othering processes and racism, and explores the delicate role that anthropological knowledge, and social theory more in general, plays in this scenario.  

 The course will be taught in English. 

According to the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, slightly over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. This is projected to be 66% percent by the year 2050, with Africa and Asia accounting for 90% of this new urban growth. Urban anthropology has increasingly played a critically important role in the development of the discipline of anthropology in terms of theory, research methods and social justice movements. This course provides an historical overview of the development of urban anthropology and on through to recent developments. An emphasis will be placed on anthropological theory and research methods, but also issues such as social justice, architecture, design and urban planning. The course will cover, among others, the early Chicago ethnographers and early urban poverty research, utopian and modernist urban planning, power and built form, divisions and gated communities, crime and urban fear, urban homelessness, and the governance of built spaces. The course will conclude with a section on cities in transition, which includes a focus on the post-industrial/global city, the effects of neoliberalism on urban spaces, and a discussion of the possible future(s) of urbanism and the role of anthropology in understanding these developments.

Students must have completed 120 ECTS in their BA study before attending this course

Vocational training in global studies and anthropology aims to provide students with increased skills through vocational training and to strengthen their connections with the labour market. This is a practical course that provides insight into the activities of institutions, non-governmental organizations, companies and other parties in-line with the aims of the course.

An agreement is made between the study program in anthropology and the relevant field of work. Students can make suggestions for a field of work or receive suggestions from the study program about a suitable field for internships. Subjects should be related to different aspects of anthropology and global science (electives: migration and multiculturalism, global health and development studies). For example, there could be one or two more important projects as well as various incidental projects. It is desirable that the student becomes acquainted with as many areas of work as possible in his / her field of work. The study program does not pay wages for the working hours, but the course is eligible for credits.

The student must contact the study program before the internship begins and have the plan approved. A special agreement is made with the person responsible for the worksite. 

The scope of the internship shall be 250-300 hours divided between while working in the workplace and writing a report.. 

Before starting work in the field, the student compiles a reading list in consultation with the supervisor/supervisory teacher about the type of activity that the student intends to become involved with and the field itself. The student submits a draft summary of reading material before the internship begins. At the end of the participation in the worksite, the student writes a report on the internship where the activities are described and analysed.

In order to get credits evaluated for the internship, the student must hand in:

1. A letter from a supervisor, which includes a confirmation that the internship has lasted for at least 4 months along with a short stutta statement about the student and his tasks.
2. A statement that includes: 
   1. A descrption of the main tasks conducted during the internship periods,
   2. Weekly reports based on the student's journal entries,
   3. A description how the internhsip is useful for his/her study programme.
   4. tasks where a specific part of the work is examined and put into a theoretical perspective.

The societal role of museums will be discussed from several angles: economic, political, cultural, social and last but not least in an international context. Examples of topics that will be discussed in the course are the role of museums in building the concept of the nation; the legal environment of museums; how museums are run; the status and role of the main museums; museums owned and run by local authorities and other museums; the financing of museums, and the policies of authorities regarding museums. Both national and foreign examples will be taken. The course is intended for students at the masters and diploma levels (but is open to BA students in their final year).

Work format

Teaching will take the form of lectures and discussions.

According to the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, slightly over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. This is projected to be 66% percent by the year 2050, with Africa and Asia accounting for 90% of this new urban growth. Urban anthropology has increasingly played a critically important role in the development of the discipline of anthropology in terms of theory, research methods and social justice movements. This course provides an historical overview of the development of urban anthropology and on through to recent developments. An emphasis will be placed on anthropological theory and research methods, but also issues such as social justice, architecture, design and urban planning. The course will cover, among others, the early Chicago ethnographers and early urban poverty research, utopian and modernist urban planning, power and built form, divisions and gated communities, crime and urban fear, urban homelessness, and the governance of built spaces. The course will conclude with a section on cities in transition, which includes a focus on the post-industrial/global city, the effects of neoliberalism on urban spaces, and a discussion of the possible future(s) of urbanism and the role of anthropology in understanding these developments.

Students must have completed 120 ECTS in their BA study before attending this course

This course is in direct continuation of Criminological Theory and covers a variety of issues related to crime and society. This involves, among other things, the nature of crime and criminal law, corrections and the role of police in society.

The Nordic welfare model is frequently viewed as an ideal model for other welfare state, as it has achieved the greatest success in equalizing outcomes. Iceland is a part of the nordic model, but it is different in many ways, for example with more limited support to individuals and less spending on welfare. Yet, there have been great achievements regarding equality, Iceland is generally among the countries with the highest levels of gender equality and multiple indicators that measure inequality are lowest in Iceland.

 In this course, we will go over the major sociological theories on inequality and the welfare state, and the position of Iceland will be considered both compared to the other Nordic countries as well as other welfare state in advanced, industralized nations. We will focus on the organization of the welfare state, how scholars have classified welfare states, and the consequences of the welfare state for example for health, inequality, and the opportunities that individuals have in society.

This course is scheduled to be taught in the spring of 2026.

The objective of this course is to gain methodological knowledge, understanding and practical skills to analyze images and visual data (photographs, films, drawings, advertisements, online media, etc.). We will discuss various methods of analysis of the visual content, consider visual databases and how to work with them. Students receive practical training in visual methodological studies and how to evaluate them. The course is based on practical assignments, where students prepare and design research proposals, collect data and how to analyze. The course is interdisciplinary and is suitable for students of humanities and social sciences, and other related fields.

Vocational training in global studies and anthropology aims to provide students with increased skills through vocational training and to strengthen their connections with the labour market. This is a practical course that provides insight into the activities of institutions, non-governmental organizations, companies and other parties in-line with the aims of the course.

An agreement is made between the study program in anthropology and the relevant field of work. Students can make suggestions for a field of work or receive suggestions from the study program about a suitable field for internships. Subjects should be related to different aspects of anthropology and global science (electives: migration and multiculturalism, global health and development studies). For example, there could be one or two more important projects as well as various incidental projects. It is desirable that the student becomes acquainted with as many areas of work as possible in his / her field of work. The study program does not pay wages for the working hours, but the course is eligible for credits.

The student must contact the study program before the internship begins and have the plan approved. A special agreement is made with the person responsible for the worksite. 

The scope of the internship shall be 125-150 hours divided between while working in the workplace and writing a report. 

Before starting work in the field, the student compiles a reading list in consultation with the supervisor/supervisory teacher about the type of activity that the student intends to become involved with and the field itself. The student submits a draft summary of reading material before the internship begins. At the end of the participation in the worksite, the student writes a report on the internship where the activities are described and analysed.

In order to get credits evaluated for the internship, the student must hand in:

1. A letter from a supervisor, which includes a confirmation that the internship has lasted for at least 4 months along with a short stutta statement about the student and his tasks.
2. A statement that includes: 
   1. A descrption of the main tasks conducted during the internship periods,
   2. Weekly reports based on the student's journal entries,
   3. A description how the internhsip is useful for his/her study programme.
   4. tasks where a specific part of the work is examined and put into a theoretical perspective.

An examination will be made of the religious beliefs and practices of people in Scandinavia from the earliest of times until the conversion, material ranging from burial practices to rock carvings, to the written evidence given in the works of Tacitus, Adam of Bremen and Saxo Grammaticus, as well as in early Icelandic works like the Eddic poems and the Kings' sagas. Alongside this discussion of the development and key features of Old Norse religion, some attention will be paid to the concepts of seid and shamanism, especially in connection to their role in early religions. Finally, an examination will be made of the conversion of Scandinavia and how Christian concepts and practices both fitted and contrasted with the previously dominant Old Norse worldview.

Teaching format

• The teaching takes place in the form of lectures and discussion on the material of the lectures.

In this course, the focus will be on the cultural relativity of perception. A central concept here is that of the mode of perception, which refers to a particular integration of the sensorium in a certain cultural context. Visualism, aural cultures, and the multiple possibilities of smell, taste and touch for cultural expression will be among the topics of discussion. The main theories of perception that have provided anthropologists with inspiration will be introduced. There will also be an emphasis on practical experimentation with the students' perception of the various phenomena of the world.

Aim: To make students aware of the social constitution of perception and its cross-cultural relativity.

Main theories for understanding conflicts will be presented, and concepts and methodological approaches introduced. Recent anthropological studies will be discuessed. Particual conflicts and possibilities for peace resolution will be examined.

The student works on a written project or a literature review on a specific area related to the research topic of the master thesis. The student contacts the supervisor, who will guide the student regarding this reading course.

This course explores cultural reactions to disability and disabled people as well as examining the cultural representations and constructions of disability. Special emphasis will be on history, the role of media, popular culture, literature and arts in constructing, defining and representing images of disabled people. Topics also include disability art and culture, identity, femininity and masculinity. The cultural location and context of disability will be examined and how disability can be viewed as one of the aspects creating diversity in contemporary societies. The aim is that students will gain understanding and knowledge of the cultural origins of ideas about disability and will be able to relate them to theoretical perspectives in disability studies, current events and other fields of interest.

The course is aimed at first year students in Global Studies. The main objective is to train students in organising and writing academic texts, processing references, using citations correctly, creating standardised bibliographies, and recognizing plagiarism. The course thus addresses ground aspects, which are necessary to successful academic career. By the end of the course, students should have a clear idea of the academic demands expected by students at the university level, and of the working tools that can be used to fulfill these demands.

New theories and studies on globalization and global processes are presented in the class. The course aims at giving a general overview of important themes related to globalization processes. Studies that shed light on the diverse economic, social and political aspects of global processes are furthermore examined. A critical examination of main concepts is an important aspect of the course but studies that show how people are agents/victims in globalized world are also presented.

The teaching consists of lecture and class discussions. 

 The course is taught in English.

In the course we examine the field methods and train students in their application. The focus is on ethical issues, research design, the fieldwork setting, participant observation, different kinds of interviews, use of visual material and the analysis of data and presentation of research results.

The aim of the seminar is to aid students who are writing their thesis. We will discuss how to approach a final thesis and the students will have the opportunity to discuss their research issues. This seminar creates a forum for master students to discuss their research projects and receive support, encouragement and feedback in the work process. The seminar will be flexible to meet the needs of the group of students attending at each time.

In the seminar each student works or their own project and the teaching method is built on a “shut up and write!” ideology. The instructor has a short introduction in each meeting followed by some productive writing of the students in a supportive environment.   In the second part of the seminar each student will present and discuss their project for about 20 minutes.

Note that this course is only taught in the spring semester and is intended both for students that enroll in the MA thesis course in the spring semester or the following fall semester.

Taught every other week.

Einkunn: Staðið/Fall

MA thesis

MA thesis

MA thesis

This course treats the debate on aid effectiveness, and institutions and actors within international aid, approaches to development cooperation, and their strengths and weaknesses. Multilateral institutions, bilateral donors, non-governmental organizations and emerging donors will be presented. Important approaches to aid, such as project support, sector-wide approach, budget support, result-based management, participatory methods and gender sensitive approaches will be introduced. as well as challenges in environmental and resource management and disaster aid.

Note: The course is only open to students that are yet to complete this course as a mandatory option, i.e. students registered for a postgraduate diploma in Development studies or Global health, and Global study MA-students with development studies as area of specialization.

Global health priorities are the focus of this course. The global burden of disease across countries will be scrutinized, as well as inequality and other important socio-economic determinants of health in a globalized world. Particular focus will be given to maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health from a global perspective, as well as health systems designed to provide good and timely services. Global nutritional challenges and mental health issues will be discussed as well as prevention and impact of infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, cholera, Ebola and COVID-19. Other subjects for discussion and analysis with importance for health include violence, environment, culture, disaster and complex emergencies, as well as ethical issues. In addition, the work and policies of international institutions and development organizations will be discussed, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

The course focuses on anthropological research on nature and the environment, as well as ideas from other human and social sciences, on the relationship between people and their environment. Various basic terms and theories central to environmental anthropology and related fields will be introduced and discussed.

The course explores several attempts to throw light on the emergence and characteristics of various cultural and social institutions and practices by reference to ecological systems and material relations as their foundation. It will also address critique of such attempts. 

A particular emphasis will be placed on changing views on the environment that have emerged in recent years, including ideas of resource extraction and management and several forms of environmentalisms.

Last but not least the many interactions of climate change causes and effects and societies will be explored as they are materialising all over the globe. Climate, climate change and society and culture, and their mutual influences, will also be investigated as a historical theoretical issue, from various points of view.

Several ethnographic examples of human-environment interaction will be examined throughout the course.

In this course, the focus will be on the cultural relativity of perception. A central concept here is that of the mode of perception, which refers to a particular integration of the sensorium in a certain cultural context. Visualism, aural cultures, and the multiple possibilities of smell, taste and touch for cultural expression will be among the topics of discussion. The main theories of perception that have provided anthropologists with inspiration will be introduced. There will also be an emphasis on practical experimentation with the students' perception of the various phenomena of the world.

Aim: To make students aware of the social constitution of perception and its cross-cultural relativity.

Vocational training in global studies and anthropology aims to provide students with increased skills through vocational training and to strengthen their connections with the labour market. This is a practical course that provides insight into the activities of institutions, non-governmental organizations, companies and other parties in-line with the aims of the course.

An agreement is made between the study program in anthropology and the relevant field of work. Students can make suggestions for a field of work or receive suggestions from the study program about a suitable field for internships. Subjects should be related to different aspects of anthropology and global science (electives: migration and multiculturalism, global health and development studies). For example, there could be one or two more important projects as well as various incidental projects. It is desirable that the student becomes acquainted with as many areas of work as possible in his / her field of work. The study program does not pay wages for the working hours, but the course is eligible for credits.

The student must contact the study program before the internship begins and have the plan approved. A special agreement is made with the person responsible for the worksite. 

The scope of the internship shall be 125-150 hours divided between while working in the workplace and writing a report. 

Before starting work in the field, the student compiles a reading list in consultation with the supervisor/supervisory teacher about the type of activity that the student intends to become involved with and the field itself. The student submits a draft summary of reading material before the internship begins. At the end of the participation in the worksite, the student writes a report on the internship where the activities are described and analysed.

In order to get credits evaluated for the internship, the student must hand in:

1. A letter from a supervisor, which includes a confirmation that the internship has lasted for at least 4 months along with a short stutta statement about the student and his tasks.
2. A statement that includes: 
   1. A descrption of the main tasks conducted during the internship periods,
   2. Weekly reports based on the student's journal entries,
   3. A description how the internhsip is useful for his/her study programme.
   4. tasks where a specific part of the work is examined and put into a theoretical perspective.

In this course the focus is upon anthropologists' discussion of art. Different definitions of the concept will be considered and, in that context, the relation of art to aesthetics and ethics. Answers will be sought to the question of whether all work that appears artistic to westernized perception is indeed so to those who produce this work. Authorship, authenticity and problems arising from the interaction between different cultural traditions will be considered. In order to shed light on these issues various ethnographic studies throughout the world will be studied.

Vocational training in global studies and anthropology aims to provide students with increased skills through vocational training and to strengthen their connections with the labour market. This is a practical course that provides insight into the activities of institutions, non-governmental organizations, companies and other parties in-line with the aims of the course.

An agreement is made between the study program in anthropology and the relevant field of work. Students can make suggestions for a field of work or receive suggestions from the study program about a suitable field for internships. Subjects should be related to different aspects of anthropology and global science (electives: migration and multiculturalism, global health and development studies). For example, there could be one or two more important projects as well as various incidental projects. It is desirable that the student becomes acquainted with as many areas of work as possible in his / her field of work. The study program does not pay wages for the working hours, but the course is eligible for credits.

The student must contact the study program before the internship begins and have the plan approved. A special agreement is made with the person responsible for the worksite.

The scope of the internship shall be 250-300 hours divided between while working in the workplace and writing a report.

Before starting work in the field, the student compiles a reading list in consultation with the supervisor/supervisory teacher about the type of activity that the student intends to become involved with and the field itself. The student submits a draft summary of reading material before the internship begins. At the end of the participation in the worksite, the student writes a report on the internship where the activities are described and analysed.

In order to get credits evaluated for the internship, the student must hand in:

1. A letter from a supervisor, which includes a confirmation that the internship has lasted for at least 4 months along with a short stutta statement about the student and his tasks.
2. A statement that includes: 
   1. A descrption of the main tasks conducted during the internship periods,
   2. Weekly reports based on the student's journal entries,
   3. A description how the internhsip is useful for his/her study programme.
   4. tasks where a specific part of the work is examined and put into a theoretical perspective.

The student works on a written project or a literature review on a specific area related to the research topic of the master thesis. The student contacts the supervisor, who will guide the student regarding this reading course.

This course covers a detailed overview of theories in criminology and sociology of deviance. Students will read empirical research testing these theories in Iceland and elsewhere.

Different types of crimes and topics will be discussed in criminological/sociological light, such as gender and crime, immigration and crime.

Emphasis is placed on linking theoretical discussion with empirical research.

According to the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, slightly over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. This is projected to be 66% percent by the year 2050, with Africa and Asia accounting for 90% of this new urban growth. Urban anthropology has increasingly played a critically important role in the development of the discipline of anthropology in terms of theory, research methods and social justice movements. This course provides an historical overview of the development of urban anthropology and on through to recent developments. An emphasis will be placed on anthropological theory and research methods, but also issues such as social justice, architecture, design and urban planning. The course will cover, among others, the early Chicago ethnographers and early urban poverty research, utopian and modernist urban planning, power and built form, divisions and gated communities, crime and urban fear, urban homelessness, and the governance of built spaces. The course will conclude with a section on cities in transition, which includes a focus on the post-industrial/global city, the effects of neoliberalism on urban spaces, and a discussion of the possible future(s) of urbanism and the role of anthropology in understanding these developments.

The reading material be based on on essential theoretical works as well as recent research. The history of the field will be critically examined in light of trends at the beginning of the 21^st century. The course is intended for students at masters and diploma levels. 

Work format

Teaching will take the form of lectures and discussion.

Missing

This course provides students with an introduction to the major approaches and theories of International Relations.  Students are introduced to the aims of theory, theoretical frameworks - rationalist vs reflectivist - as well as the main theories themselves.  How the theories can be applied in practice is also examined.

Theory aims to identify broad patterns and draw wider conclusions from a series of discrete moments in international affairs, in order to generate greater insight into, and meaning from, our world. With this in mind, this course explores the various ‘great debates’ that have emerged over time between and among theories of international relations, as well as more recent contributions. How theories can be used to interpret and understand world affairs will be demonstrated throughout the course, drawing on real-life case studies.

The course deals with Iceland's foreign affairs and foreign policy from 1940 to 2018. The aim of the course is to cover all major events in the history of Iceland's foreign affairs during this period such as membership of NATO, the defence and economic relationship with the USA, the cod wars and Nordic and European cooperation. The course also covers the most recent changes which are taking place in Iceland's foreign policy, i.e. more focus on developing aid and human rights. Theories in international studies and small-states studies will be used to analyse the case of Iceland.

The aim of this course is to develop skills in analyzing and discussing international cooperation and in particular, Iceland´s role in global affairs. Globalization from an historical and theoretical perspective is presented and the influence of globalization on politics, economics, states and individuals discussed. The foreign policy of Iceland is analyzed with an emphasis on the current priorities. Iceland´s role in the international system in relation to the current challenges is presented with an emphasis on security and defence matters, Arctic issues and Nordic cooperation. European integration will be explored relating to Iceland´s choices in European affairs, with a particular focus on the effects of the EEA agreement in Iceland. Moreover, Iceland´s UN participation and campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council will be covered.

This course focuses on the historical development of theories and perspectives on disability. Emphasis will be on ideologies that have influenced policies, services and disabled people everyday lives and social participation (i.e. normalization, independent living and human rights conventions). Considerable time will be devoted to exploring the new discipline Disability Studies, its origins, main characteristics and relations to other scholarship. Different theoretical perspectives on disability will be examined and the influence of particular theoretical approaches on the development of disability theory. Theoretical discussion will be connected to the disabled people's movements, human rights (including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), national and international policies, law and the social situation of disabled people.

The course covers recent writings and currents of thought that mark, or are likely to mark, turning points in social and cultural theory. Particular care will be taken to situate theories in their historical and social contexts. Attendance to weekly 40 min. discussion classes throughout the course is compulsory. Distance learning students attend in person or via the Internet (with Zoom).

The course addresses the main issues in gender studies through the lens of diversity in modern societies. The gender perspective is applied to provide an overview of the status and condition of men and women. The origins and development of the fight for women’s rights and gender studies as an academic field. The main concepts of gender studies are introduced, including sex, gender, essentialism and constructivism. Finally, the course looks into how gender necessarily intersects with other social factors.

Teaching Arrangement: The course is based on flipped learning, which means that all lectures will be available on Canvas. On-campus and distance students attend weekly discussion sessions at the university or on Teams, and online students participate in weekly discussions on Canvas

Human mobility and multicultural societies are often seen as the main characteristics of the contemporary world. In the course, we look at main theories approaching mobility and multicultural society, critically addressing them and analyzing their utility. The concept of multiculturalism and related concepts such as culture, assimilation and integration are critically evaluated, as well as mobility in the past and the relationship between mobility and multiculturalism. Different approaches in the social sciences are introduced and main research themes in anthropology in particular and social sciences in general will be examined.

The teaching methods are lectures and discussions.

Global health priorities are in focus in this course. Global burden of disease across countries will be scrutinized as well as inequality and other important socio-economic determinants of health in a globalized world. Particular focus will be given to maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health in low- and middle-income countries, health systems and care-seeking. Global nutritional challenges and mental health issues will be discussed as well as prevention and impact of infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, cholera, Ebola and COVID-19. Along the coursework, other subjects for discussion and analysis with importance for health include violence, environment, culture, disaster and complex emergencies, as well as ethical issues. In addition, the work and policies of international institutions and development organizations will be discussed, including the new Sustainable Development Goals.

The course focuses on stereotypes and prejudice as manifestations of Othering processes and racism, by using the lens of critical race theories and postcolonial perspectives. The course emphasizes the interlinking of past and present discourses and images about those categorized as Others and how Othering takes place. For this purpose, it analyses colonial imaginaries and of the historical connection of orientalism with key concepts such as culture, identity, and development. It thus highlights the connection between older colonial discourses, nationalism, and contemporary imageries that target marginalized groups, with a specific focus on the European context.  

The course asks how discourses shape bodies and identities of specific groups or categories of people, as well as the social and physical spaces they inhabit. The course also addresses the issue of agency and strategies of resistance against Othering processes and racism, and explores the delicate role that anthropological knowledge, and social theory more in general, plays in this scenario.  

 The course will be taught in English. 

According to the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, slightly over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. This is projected to be 66% percent by the year 2050, with Africa and Asia accounting for 90% of this new urban growth. Urban anthropology has increasingly played a critically important role in the development of the discipline of anthropology in terms of theory, research methods and social justice movements. This course provides an historical overview of the development of urban anthropology and on through to recent developments. An emphasis will be placed on anthropological theory and research methods, but also issues such as social justice, architecture, design and urban planning. The course will cover, among others, the early Chicago ethnographers and early urban poverty research, utopian and modernist urban planning, power and built form, divisions and gated communities, crime and urban fear, urban homelessness, and the governance of built spaces. The course will conclude with a section on cities in transition, which includes a focus on the post-industrial/global city, the effects of neoliberalism on urban spaces, and a discussion of the possible future(s) of urbanism and the role of anthropology in understanding these developments.

Students must have completed 120 ECTS in their BA study before attending this course

Vocational training in global studies and anthropology aims to provide students with increased skills through vocational training and to strengthen their connections with the labour market. This is a practical course that provides insight into the activities of institutions, non-governmental organizations, companies and other parties in-line with the aims of the course.

An agreement is made between the study program in anthropology and the relevant field of work. Students can make suggestions for a field of work or receive suggestions from the study program about a suitable field for internships. Subjects should be related to different aspects of anthropology and global science (electives: migration and multiculturalism, global health and development studies). For example, there could be one or two more important projects as well as various incidental projects. It is desirable that the student becomes acquainted with as many areas of work as possible in his / her field of work. The study program does not pay wages for the working hours, but the course is eligible for credits.

The student must contact the study program before the internship begins and have the plan approved. A special agreement is made with the person responsible for the worksite. 

The scope of the internship shall be 250-300 hours divided between while working in the workplace and writing a report.. 

Before starting work in the field, the student compiles a reading list in consultation with the supervisor/supervisory teacher about the type of activity that the student intends to become involved with and the field itself. The student submits a draft summary of reading material before the internship begins. At the end of the participation in the worksite, the student writes a report on the internship where the activities are described and analysed.

In order to get credits evaluated for the internship, the student must hand in:

1. A letter from a supervisor, which includes a confirmation that the internship has lasted for at least 4 months along with a short stutta statement about the student and his tasks.
2. A statement that includes: 
   1. A descrption of the main tasks conducted during the internship periods,
   2. Weekly reports based on the student's journal entries,
   3. A description how the internhsip is useful for his/her study programme.
   4. tasks where a specific part of the work is examined and put into a theoretical perspective.

The societal role of museums will be discussed from several angles: economic, political, cultural, social and last but not least in an international context. Examples of topics that will be discussed in the course are the role of museums in building the concept of the nation; the legal environment of museums; how museums are run; the status and role of the main museums; museums owned and run by local authorities and other museums; the financing of museums, and the policies of authorities regarding museums. Both national and foreign examples will be taken. The course is intended for students at the masters and diploma levels (but is open to BA students in their final year).

Work format

Teaching will take the form of lectures and discussions.

According to the United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, slightly over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. This is projected to be 66% percent by the year 2050, with Africa and Asia accounting for 90% of this new urban growth. Urban anthropology has increasingly played a critically important role in the development of the discipline of anthropology in terms of theory, research methods and social justice movements. This course provides an historical overview of the development of urban anthropology and on through to recent developments. An emphasis will be placed on anthropological theory and research methods, but also issues such as social justice, architecture, design and urban planning. The course will cover, among others, the early Chicago ethnographers and early urban poverty research, utopian and modernist urban planning, power and built form, divisions and gated communities, crime and urban fear, urban homelessness, and the governance of built spaces. The course will conclude with a section on cities in transition, which includes a focus on the post-industrial/global city, the effects of neoliberalism on urban spaces, and a discussion of the possible future(s) of urbanism and the role of anthropology in understanding these developments.

Students must have completed 120 ECTS in their BA study before attending this course

This course is in direct continuation of Criminological Theory and covers a variety of issues related to crime and society. This involves, among other things, the nature of crime and criminal law, corrections and the role of police in society.

The Nordic welfare model is frequently viewed as an ideal model for other welfare state, as it has achieved the greatest success in equalizing outcomes. Iceland is a part of the nordic model, but it is different in many ways, for example with more limited support to individuals and less spending on welfare. Yet, there have been great achievements regarding equality, Iceland is generally among the countries with the highest levels of gender equality and multiple indicators that measure inequality are lowest in Iceland.

 In this course, we will go over the major sociological theories on inequality and the welfare state, and the position of Iceland will be considered both compared to the other Nordic countries as well as other welfare state in advanced, industralized nations. We will focus on the organization of the welfare state, how scholars have classified welfare states, and the consequences of the welfare state for example for health, inequality, and the opportunities that individuals have in society.

This course is scheduled to be taught in the spring of 2026.

The objective of this course is to gain methodological knowledge, understanding and practical skills to analyze images and visual data (photographs, films, drawings, advertisements, online media, etc.). We will discuss various methods of analysis of the visual content, consider visual databases and how to work with them. Students receive practical training in visual methodological studies and how to evaluate them. The course is based on practical assignments, where students prepare and design research proposals, collect data and how to analyze. The course is interdisciplinary and is suitable for students of humanities and social sciences, and other related fields.

Vocational training in global studies and anthropology aims to provide students with increased skills through vocational training and to strengthen their connections with the labour market. This is a practical course that provides insight into the activities of institutions, non-governmental organizations, companies and other parties in-line with the aims of the course.

An agreement is made between the study program in anthropology and the relevant field of work. Students can make suggestions for a field of work or receive suggestions from the study program about a suitable field for internships. Subjects should be related to different aspects of anthropology and global science (electives: migration and multiculturalism, global health and development studies). For example, there could be one or two more important projects as well as various incidental projects. It is desirable that the student becomes acquainted with as many areas of work as possible in his / her field of work. The study program does not pay wages for the working hours, but the course is eligible for credits.

The student must contact the study program before the internship begins and have the plan approved. A special agreement is made with the person responsible for the worksite. 

The scope of the internship shall be 125-150 hours divided between while working in the workplace and writing a report. 

Before starting work in the field, the student compiles a reading list in consultation with the supervisor/supervisory teacher about the type of activity that the student intends to become involved with and the field itself. The student submits a draft summary of reading material before the internship begins. At the end of the participation in the worksite, the student writes a report on the internship where the activities are described and analysed.

In order to get credits evaluated for the internship, the student must hand in:

1. A letter from a supervisor, which includes a confirmation that the internship has lasted for at least 4 months along with a short stutta statement about the student and his tasks.
2. A statement that includes: 
   1. A descrption of the main tasks conducted during the internship periods,
   2. Weekly reports based on the student's journal entries,
   3. A description how the internhsip is useful for his/her study programme.
   4. tasks where a specific part of the work is examined and put into a theoretical perspective.

An examination will be made of the religious beliefs and practices of people in Scandinavia from the earliest of times until the conversion, material ranging from burial practices to rock carvings, to the written evidence given in the works of Tacitus, Adam of Bremen and Saxo Grammaticus, as well as in early Icelandic works like the Eddic poems and the Kings' sagas. Alongside this discussion of the development and key features of Old Norse religion, some attention will be paid to the concepts of seid and shamanism, especially in connection to their role in early religions. Finally, an examination will be made of the conversion of Scandinavia and how Christian concepts and practices both fitted and contrasted with the previously dominant Old Norse worldview.

Teaching format

• The teaching takes place in the form of lectures and discussion on the material of the lectures.

In this course, the focus will be on the cultural relativity of perception. A central concept here is that of the mode of perception, which refers to a particular integration of the sensorium in a certain cultural context. Visualism, aural cultures, and the multiple possibilities of smell, taste and touch for cultural expression will be among the topics of discussion. The main theories of perception that have provided anthropologists with inspiration will be introduced. There will also be an emphasis on practical experimentation with the students' perception of the various phenomena of the world.

Aim: To make students aware of the social constitution of perception and its cross-cultural relativity.

Main theories for understanding conflicts will be presented, and concepts and methodological approaches introduced. Recent anthropological studies will be discuessed. Particual conflicts and possibilities for peace resolution will be examined.

The student works on a written project or a literature review on a specific area related to the research topic of the master thesis. The student contacts the supervisor, who will guide the student regarding this reading course.

This course explores cultural reactions to disability and disabled people as well as examining the cultural representations and constructions of disability. Special emphasis will be on history, the role of media, popular culture, literature and arts in constructing, defining and representing images of disabled people. Topics also include disability art and culture, identity, femininity and masculinity. The cultural location and context of disability will be examined and how disability can be viewed as one of the aspects creating diversity in contemporary societies. The aim is that students will gain understanding and knowledge of the cultural origins of ideas about disability and will be able to relate them to theoretical perspectives in disability studies, current events and other fields of interest.