Only available for the degree students of Bachelor's programme in Social Sciences.

Objectives: After the course students are able to use and apply scientific information and report information related to their research question. They also learn to discuss their own and others work scientifically.

Content: During the seminar (periods I-III) students write a Bachelor's thesis. During the first part of the seminar a student prepares a research plan, where she/he discusses research question and previous research done on the topic, and determine what materials/data she/he will use. During the second part of the seminar the student produce the thesis. The work done in the seminar groups consists of writing, discussing, reading, commenting and oral reporting of scientific texts and research. During period IV the final version of the thesis will be submitted and maturity test will be taken.

Major subject supervisors:

Journalism and Mass Communication: Taisto Hujanen and Iiris Ruoho

International Relations and Political Science: Corinna Wolff

Social Policy: Katja Repo

Please register by emailing mikko.vaha-sipila (AT) uta.fi by Tue 7.9.2010.

Lectures and essay.

This policy course provides students with an understanding of the EU policy sectors relevant to the Baltic Sea Region as well as insights into the origins, logic and significance of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, its potential, limitations and broader meaning in the EU macro-regional context.

Compensations:

International Relations
KVPOA3, Telo or KVPOS4, Bicchi

or

Political Science
VALTA7, 2 cr or VALTS2e, 3 cr.

Students of ERS and CBU programmes can include this course in their optional studies in section "Other ERS studies".

(Organized by University Network for Communication Sciences).

Contents and goals: The Finnish Media and Communication System course will introduce you to the history,  development and the present directions of Finnish media. The course will start with the analysis of more raditional mass media, such as print, radio, television in Finland and proceed to exploring different factors that lead Finland to become one of the countries with the highest development of Information Society in the world. Digitalization of media technologies and the resulting convergence of communication technologies, mediaforms and genres will be discussed from the social and cultural context perspective

Working methods: The main mode of course participation will be weekly discussions in the Moodle  discussion forums. Weekly learnign diaries.

Registration has ended.

The lectures and exercises of the course aim at developing a theoretical and methodological basis for a comparative analysis of public service media worldwide. The lectures will focus on description and analysis of public service broadcasting in the Nordic countries; history and development, structure & remit, organization, funding, programming and production, construction of audiences, performance. This kind of broadcasting oriented view is then contrasted and discussed in relation to the new identity of public service broadcasting as public service media. Through student work in the course the lectures are complemented by a comparative European and global view. The main assignment for the students is to produce basic comparative data from their respective countries of origin by making use of the analytic scheme of the lectures. The web pages of broadcasters and similar Internet sources will be used as main measures to collect the needed information for student work. The students will also be instructed shortly for the use of electronic sources of the Tampere University Library.

Lectures and exercises 21 h.

Advance registration required. Max. 25 students.

Journalism for Social Change (5 ECTS) is an online course initiated by Vikes (The Finnish Foundation for Media, Communication and Development) and IPS Finland (Inter Press Service News Agency Finland) as an integral part of their project called Kulmakivi (cornerstone, referring to the role of journalism in democracy). More information in English...

Journalism for Social Change (5 op) on Viestintä ja kehitys -säätiön (Vikes) ja IPS:n Kulmakivi-hankkeessa syntynyt englanninkielinen verkko-opintojakso. Tietoa kurssista suomeksi...

Enrollment by email to sanna.k.kivimaki (at) uta.fi. Deadline: 8.9.2010 at 16:00.
Priority to the students of journalism and international exchange students. / Ilmoittautumiset sähköpostitse: sanna.k.kivimaki (at) uta.fi 8.9.2010 kello 16 menessä. Etusija journalismin opiskelijoilla ja vaihto-opiskelijoilla.

The objective of the course is to introduce the students to the Finnish political system and in particular to analyse how the Finnish system has changed since the Second World War.

The course consists of a lecture series (2 cr) and an essay (3 cr).

Conpensates from VALTP3, 2/5 cr or VALTA6, 2/5 cr.

Please register by emailing mikko.vaha-sipila (AT) uta.fi by Tue 7.9.2010.

Lectures and essay.

This policy course provides students with an understanding of the EU policy sectors relevant to the Baltic Sea Region as well as insights into the origins, logic and significance of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, its potential, limitations and broader meaning in the EU macro-regional context.

Compensations:

International Relations
KVPOA3, Telo or KVPOS4, Bicchi

or

Political Science
VALTA7, 2 cr or VALTS2e, 3 cr.

Students of ERS and CBU programmes can include this course in their optional studies in section "Other ERS studies".

Compensations:

Social Policy: SPOIB8B2, A3A7.

Social Anthropology: SOSAA2.1 6 ECTS (includes extra assignment, please contact responsible teacher Laura Huttunen)

Social Work: STYÖS2B2.

Compensations:

Social Policy: SPOIB8B2, A3A7.

Social Anthropology: SOSAA2.1 6 ECTS (includes extra assignment, please contact responsible teacher Laura Huttunen)

Social Work: STYÖS2B2.

NAISM3/NAISS3 Feminist Methodology, 5 ECTS

Lectures: Thursdays 14-16 (exception 9.9. 14.00-17), 2 September-7 October 2010

Place: Linna K 103, except on 7.10. Pinni B1096. (The course will be videoed to the University of Jyväskylä).

Objectives: The course will deepen the students´ knowledge about feminist epistemology and methodology. The students will understand the central discussions of situating knowledge and the meaning of experience and commitment in relation to knowledge. The students can relate the readings of empirical research to larger debates on knowing and apply this to their own studies.

Modes of study: Active participation in the lectures and a lecture diary.

Program:

2.9. Dr. Kirsti Lempiäinen: Introduction to Feminist Methodology

9.9. Professor Sandra Harding: Feminist and Postcolonial Science Theories: Convergences and Disconnects

Professor Karin Widerberg: Methods of Inquiry - Feminist Approaches within Social Sciences. Sustainable Methods in Post-colonial Times (Note time: 14.00-17)

16.9. Docent, Director Clare Hemmings: Interdisciplinarity and Its Methodological Challenges

23.9. Docent, Director Clare Hemmings: Feminist Approaches to Sexuality

30.9. Docent, Academy Research Fellow Marja Vehviläinen: Researching  Gender, Agency and Institutions

7.10. Docent Jaana Vuori: Analyzing Encounters and Texts. The Case of  Integration Work with Migrants

The lecture diary may be written in Finnish or in English.

Please register by emailing mikko.vaha-sipila (AT) uta.fi by Thu 28.10.2010.

The course offers practical insights into the strategies, policies and working methods of the European Commission, including case presentations in specific policy fields such as regional policy, energy, environment, transport, and fraud prevention. The objective of the course is to provide students with a broad understanding of the institutional role and significance of the European Commission as well as to explain the inner dynamics of the EU executive body.

Compensations:

International Relations
KVPOP5 or KVPOA6, 5 cr

or

Political Science
VALTA7.

To develop an advanced interdisciplinary understanding of the main approaches and theories of European integration and an ability to apply them to the enlargemet of the European Union (EU).

Lectures 36 h + exam (3 credit points);
essay seminar 6 h (5 credit points).

Essay seminars are to be held during the III period.

Compensations:

International Relations
KVPOA3, Wiener - Diez (3 credit points) or Wiener - DieZ and Bindi/Vogt - Maier (5 credit points)

Political Science
VALTA7, 3-5 cr.

The course is part of an international Master`s programme on Global Journalism organized by Örebro University in Sweden (http://www.magj.se/). The module on Media and Development is taught in cooperation with the universities of Helsinki (Journalism) and Tampere (Journalism and Mass
Communication) and is open to students of these universities as well.

The course is taught during one intensive week (No 45): in Helsinki on 8-10 November (Monday-Wednesday) and in Tampere 11-12 November (Thursday-Friday). The first part in Helsinki covers theories of development in relation to media in general (see: Media and Development) (3 ECTS) and the second part in Tampere focuses on the particular aspect of climate change (2 ECTS). Both parts include 10 classroom hours and some readings and they can be taken either together or separately. Students of both universities have the right to attend both parts, but travel arrangements are up to each student.

Students can gain additional credits by participating in seminar session on 25.-26.11. in Tampere.

Registration:

Students at the University of Tampere: through NettiOpsu -system.

Students from other universities: please fill the registration form by 25.10.2010.

Max. 30 students

Sport and politics are inseparable today. World Cups win (and lose) elections; Olympic medallists become members of parliament - even presidents; public resources are poured into 'sport for all'-style campaigns; games such as those in Beijing raise crucial human rights issues; and performance-enhancing drugs damage national as well as individual reputations. This course explores the complex and changing relationship between sport, politics, nations and peoples. Topics covered include sport and human rights, sport and gender politics, sport and social policy, the political economy of sport, nationalism in sport and the politics of sporting celebrity. At the end of the course, students should

1) Have gained an insight into how politicians use sport.
2) Have developed an understanding of the way sport reflects political conditions.
3) Have considered if/how sport contributes to the political culture.

Compensates from VALTP5, 2 cr or VALTA3, 2 cr.

Compensates from VALTA2, 2cr or VALTS2g, 3 cr.

To develop an advanced interdisciplinary understanding of the main approaches and theories of European integration and an ability to apply them to the enlargemet of the European Union (EU).

Lectures 36 h + exam (3 credit points);
essay seminar 6 h (5 credit points).

Essay seminars are to be held during the III period.

Compensations:

International Relations
KVPOA3, Wiener - Diez (3 credit points) or Wiener - DieZ and Bindi/Vogt - Maier (5 credit points)

Political Science
VALTA7, 3-5 cr.

P3B Social Work in Different Social Contexts, organized, withing the limits of the possibilities to organize teacher exchange, in 2nd independent module.

The course covers 2 ECTS .

Aim: To provide students with basic understanding about different perspectives to social work activity in different social contexts, as well as regarding the relationship between local and global in social work.

Form of Educ. Lecture seminars, readings and assignments given by the teachers.

Target group: Undergraduate students

Language: English

Study materials: Articles delivered in the first session and materials designed by the teachers.

Mode of studying: Active participation in at least 75% of lecture seminars, readings and assignments. 

Completion:  Active participation in the lecture seminar and accomplishment of the tasks given. 

Course coordin. To be informed later.

Feedback: Written feedback from students in English or in Finnish.

Programme: Informed at the time of enrolment for the course.  

Reading assignments: Informed by the teacher in the beginning of the course.

Social Work in Different Social Contexts:

•  Tue 26 Oct, at 12-14 p.m.,PINNI B3107 Introductory lecture, Kaisa-Elina Hotari, University of Tampere  
• Mon 8 Nov- Wed 10 Nov, at 12-14 p.m. PINNI B3107 1. Social work in Spain 2. Needs of people in long-term care - comparisons between Finland, Austria and Spain. Visiting Scholar Carmen Perez, University of Alicante
• Mon 15 Nov- Wed 17 Nov at 12-14 p.m.,PINNI B3107, Social Work in India. Social exclusion in India, vulnerability,case analysis. Youth Living on the Street; interventin strategies, Runaway girls.
•  Visiting Scholars Dr. Hilarious Beck and Ms. Roshni Nair, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India
• Mon 22 Nov- Wed 24 Nov, at 12-14 p.m.PINNI B 3107, Social Work in Japan. Elderly Care. Development of Social Welfare in Japan and Elderly Care Issues. Masaya Shimmei, University of Tampere/Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Human care Research Team
• Mon 29 Nov - Wed 1 Dec at 12-14 p.m. PINNI B3107, Social work practices in Mozambique - history, context and trends in child protection. Miguel Marrengula

The course gives an overview of statistics, its importance and use in different fields of science. Basic statistical concepts and descriptive statistics are introduced, as well as an elementary introduction to estimation and hypothesis testing is given. An introduction to a statistical software package is also included.

Only the students of the Bachelor's and Master's programmes of the ISSS (International School of Social Sciences) can participate on this course.

The enrolment has ended.

Registration from December 1, see http://www.unipidvirtualstudies.fi/content/courses.
For further rinformation contact Tarja Seppä at uta.fi.

Compensates from KVPOA4, 5 cr or KVPOA6, 5 cr.

Virtual course in Moodle.

Registering: by email to eero.palmujoki(at)uta.fi between 1-31 January 2011.

Organizer: Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Tampere and Department of Political Science, University of Turku.

Goals: The aim of the course is to provide theoretical and conceptual tools for analyzing the prevalent issues in Asia, focusing on the perceived problems on the Sino-Indian axis.

Contents: The course combines the lenses of Sino-Indian relations and various theoretical approaches to security for viewing the contemporary structure of security issues in the Asian context. Security is understood here as encompassing a variety of topics including economic, trade, environmental, societal and military sectors.

Taken as: The course consists of 15 hours of online lectures including the approaches to security (Juha Vuori), to geopolitical issues (Sanjay Chaturvedi), and to subject matters on the security on the Sino-Indian axis (Jing-Dong Yuan), supervised readings, lecture diary and essay.

Grading: on a scale of 1-5

Course consist of lectures (12h), seminar (12h ) + readings + an essay.

Course contents and learning outcome:

According to the traditional modern understanding only states may have constitutions, only states may become constitutionalised. This notion, which dates back to the French Revolution, has become challenged in the post WW II era; European integration and globalization have made it pressing to argue that constitutionalization may take place also in non-state contexts, including international and domestic organizations and even man-man relations. As Jack Straw, the then UK Home Secretary, put it in the 1990s, even golf clubs may have constitutions. Really the necessary bond of a constitution to the state has been severed!

In political science, constitutionalization of non-state contexts is a rather new topic of study. This course however, explores what this phenomenon is about in theory and practice, how it has taken place, what effects it has already produced, and what kind of implications it has on other political institutions. The focus of attention is in the EU but the WTO and man-man relations will also be taken into account.

After finishing the course, the students have acquired knowledge and critical understanding of what this phenomenon is about, how it is present in daily use of power.

Compensates from VALTA7 or VALTS2e or VALTS2f.

Pre-registration by e-mail at tapani.turkka (AT) uta.fi by 10.1.2011. (30 students max.)

This course is designed to introduce students to the social sciences perspective with regards to the study of The Penal Code of Finland and the political actions and reactions to crime and criminality, by seeking a rational explanation for the epidemic of crime, through assessment of the essential characteristics of typical criminals and inductively identifies their common principles. The course also glance at the methodological crime prevention framework, with special references to the three areas of action (safe environment, high-risk potential and future crime) that have been conceptualised as primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. 

The course objectives will also provide students with an understanding of the four interrelated movements, factors, and methodologies that led to the birth of Convict Criminology:

1. Theoretical developments in criminology
2. The failure of prisons
3. The authenticity of insider perspectives
4. And the centrality of ethnography

The course will also elaborate on:
1. The nature and extent of crime in contemporary Finland through political lens.
2. The concepts and theories related to the causes of crime, including an in-depth examination of causal theories, nature, extent, control, and prevention of crime.
3. Locking up and the cost of housing inmates as a political option.
4. A comparison of crime preventions among European States.
5. An appreciation for the diverse values and viewpoints within the political system.

Class meetings: the class will meet two-three hours weekly. Meetings will involve both lectures and discussions. Student should complete the reading assigned before each meeting. Class participation is very important.

The course will include a three-day excursion to Estonia old and new Prisons (Thursday 27th - Saturday 29th January 2011). For further information on the excursion, please see the course materials page (http://www.uta.fi/laitokset/politiikka/opiskelu/aineistot.php).

Requirements

Participation: All Students are required to participate in class discussion and readings.
Presentations: Each student is also expected to do a short presentation, using the required reading materials as a point of departure.

Compensates from VALTA5, 2 cr or VALTS2c, 3 cr.

Nordic Welfare Societies in Transition

The aim of the course is that students recognise the features that have commonly been linked with the idea of a Nordic welfare model and Nordic welfare state. In addition students will learn about differences amongst the Nordic welfare states and some changes that they have undergone.

There will be various lecturers during the course. To pass the course active participation is required during the lectures and students need to write a 3 page paper on a certain research question (questions will be formulated during the course). Papers will be discussed jointly during the last session of the course.

Half of the each session will contain a lecture and another half will be dedicated to discussions and/or group work. Lectures take place on Thursdays, 9-12 at Linna 6017 beginning on 13th Jan 2011.

The course is coordinated by Liina Sointu (liina.sointu@uta.fi).

Following timetable is tentative, times are correct but the lecture themes may still change a bit, mainly amongst one another.

1. 13.01 Liina Sointu: Practicalities of the course, Brief introduction to the different welfare states in Europe, group work to formulate research questions
2. 20.01 Minna Zechner: Nordic welfare model and universalism
3. 27.01 Jouko Nätti: Labour markets and employment in the Nordic countries
4. 03.02 Minna Zechner: Nordic child care policies
5. 10.02 Liina Sointu: Nordic elder care policies
6. 17.02 Tapio Rissanen: Gender, work and equality in the Nordic countries 
7. 24.02 Jaana Vuori: Migrants, migrationand gender
8. 03.03 Lina van Aerschot: Nordic citizenship
9. 10.03 Liina Sointu: Discussion based on students' papers and feedback on the course.

No need to sign up in advance.

V306-8/ STYÖP2 Finnish Social Welfare and Social Work 5 ects

Objective of course :

Student is able to

• Describe Finnish social welfare system and social work practices
• Analyze social work methods and approaches used within different working fields in practice  
•  Analyze and compare challenges of social service / social work practices at present
• Compare analytically differences and similarities between Finnish social protection and that of student's own origin

Course contents :

• The structure, present status and development history of Finnish social protection system
• Social welfare services
• Social work and social work methods in different contexts
• Social problems and future challenges for service development

Teaching methods :

• Orientative lectures (16 hours + seminar 6 hours)
• Study visits (5-6 different social work/service fields) in small groups
• Seminar with a presentation
• Virtual learning space Moodle is used for discussions and background material

Assessment methods:

• Active participation in the lectures and study visits
• Portfolio based on literature, lectures and study visits and its presentation in the seminar

Required/Recommended reading :

• Background literature related to each theme is given during the lessons.
• Background documents in Moodle.

Year of study :
Free

Teaching place: TAMK Social services, Pyynikintie. 2A, 
Language of instruction
English

Lecturers
Principal lecturer Ulla-Maija Koivula (TAMK), tel. 050-5702471.Email: ulla-maija.koivula@tamk.fi   Contact preferably by Email.

Juha Santala (TAMK)

TAMK University of Applied Sciences
Pyynikintie 2A, 33230 Tampere
Tel. +358-50-5702471
Fax. +358-3-2452401
 

To sign up: From Tamk through Winha, from UTA from SITR courses or by email to ulla-maija.koivula@tamk.fi

Further information on registration periods at

http://www.mcampus.fi/sosnet/mcampus/index.php/6

See instructions on registration on the Department web pages www.uta.fi/laitokset/sostyo.
Registration in time 18.1.-6.3.2011.

In April 2011 Finns will elect 200 new [and old] MPs and by the time this course is taught the general election campaign will be in full swing. But what do MPs do, what do we want them to do and what are their priorities? Who do they represent? This comparative course examines the [changing] relationship between elected politicians and the citizens who voted for them. The central question is: 'Who do MPs think they represent and how do they go about the task of representing them?' In addition to distinguishing the representative roles of MPS, the discussion will include consideration of the impact of the 'digitalisation' of democracy - Facebooks, blogs and 'all that jazz' - on the relationship between politicians and the people.

Outcomes:

On completion of the course, students should

1) Have an understanding of the various roles of parliamentarians.
2) Have an insight into the incentives for parliamentarians to undertake 'constituency service'.
3) Have gained an appreciation of the changing relationship between elected politicians and the people in an era of digital democracy.

Compensates from VALTA4, 2 cr or VALTS2b, 4 cr.

A semi-presidential regime is defined as the situation where a popularly elected fixed-term president exists alongside a prime minister and cabinet who are responsible to parliament. While the study of semi-presidentialism is a relatively new field in political science, the recent upsurge in the number semi-presidential regimes has resulted in increased scholarly attention on how such regimes work. Semi-presidentialism is the dominant regime type in the newly democratized Central and Eastern European countries, and indeed semi-presidentialism is 'now the most prevalent system of government in Europe' (Amorim Neto and Strom, 2006, p. 623. At he same time semi-presidentialism is often discredited in the literature.

This course examines semi-presidentialism from a comparative perspective, with the course consisting of a lecture series (8-10 h) and a seminar where students will present a paper on a theme covered during the lectures.

Compensates all books from VALTA4 or VALTS2b.

Registration by 1 March.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union a geopolitical boom overtook new Russia. Discussions touched upon questions such as Russia?s position and role in the world, for example, whether Russia was part of the 'Wes'/Europe, or the 'East'/Asia, or something unique, Eurasia. There were also debates on with whom Russia should have cooperated, who its partners were, and who its adversaries. New Russia was compared both with the pre-revolutionary Russian Empire and the Soviet Russia.

In the course "Geopolitics in Contemporary Russia" we will focus on how different (political) actors in Russia in the 1990s and 2000s have

1) understood the position and role of Russia in the world,
2) defined the concept of geopolitics.

The approach of the course is that we can study geopolitics from the texts in which Russian actors construct Russia?s place in the world in relation to other actors. Geopolitics can thus be understood as arguments, stories or discourses built by these actors.

Lectures will be based on analyses of the texts produced by the political leadership of Russia, political parties and scholars/teachers. The texts that they have produced include official documents and programmes, speeches, interviews, university textbooks and lectures. As an introduction we will also touch upon the history of geopolitics as a field of study in the 'West'.

The course "Geopolitics in Contemporary Russia" will consist of two parts: lectures and seminars. There will be eight lectures (16 hours). Those who will attend the lectures only will write a lecture diary as their assessment (2 ECTS). After the lectures students may continue participating in the seminars, which will elaborate the themes of the lectures. In addition, each student participating in the seminar will write an essay on the topic of the course, that is, on geopolitics and/or Russian politics. Essays will be discussed and commented during the seminar (altogether four seminars = 8 hours). The maximum number of students in the seminar is 10. Those having Political Science or IR as their major and having already completed most of the intermediate studies will be given preference. Participating in the seminars and writing an essay will give an extra 3 ECTS.

Compensations:

Political Science
VALTA7, 2-5 cr or VALTS2f, 2-5 cr  or VALTS2g, 2-5 cr

or

International Relations
KVPOA2, 2-5 cr or KVPOA6, 2-5 cr or KVPOS3, 2-5 cr.