About the course

The course interrogates different classical and contemporary political theories and their various implications for education. A key aspect of this endeavor concerns investigating tensions between the formation of the individual and the formation of society. In the course we will meet twice on a weekly basis and each week we will tackle a new thinker and a new aspect of the core problem dealt with in this course. This problem can be summarized as follows: What makes society work and what role does education play in making society work?

This course is offered as part of a programme:

Education: Educational Theory, Master's Programme (Two-Year) Education: Educational Theory, Master's Programme (Two-Year)

Course content

Syllabus autumn 2024

Earlier syllabuses

Entry requirements and selection

Entry requirements

Degree of Bachelor in education, social sciences or the humanities, and the equivalent of Swedish secondary school English 6

alternatively

A professional qualification specialising in teaching that comprises 180 credits, of which 15 credits from an independent project, and the equivalent of Swedish secondary school English 6

Selection

University credits completed 100%

Course literature

Arendt, Hannah (2006). Between Past and Future: Eight Exercises in Political Thought. London: Penguin (298 pp)

Hobbes, Thomas (2008). Leviathan. Oxford: Oxford University Press (508 pp)

Mouffe, Chantal (2005). On the Political. London: Routledge (160 pp)

Ozga, Jenny (2000). Policy Research in Educational Settings: Contested Terrain. Buckingham: Open University Press (146 pp)

Plato (2007). The Republic. London: Penguin Classics (480 pp)

Rawls, John (2005). A Theory of Justice. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press (607 pp)

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques (2004). The Social Contract. London: Penguin (176 pp)

Spinoza, Benedict (2007). Theological-Political Treatise. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (280 pp)

Plus a selection of academic papers (approx. 200 pp.)

Course evaluation

Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

Contact

This education is provided by

Faculty of Education and Society

The Faculty of Education and Society offers professional training in the fields of schools, culture, leisure and sport. The...

Department of Childhood, Education and Society

This department runs one of the country’s largest preschool teacher training programmes, as well as primary teacher training...