Honoursmodule: Big History

6 EC

Semester 2, period 4, 5

5512HOBH6Y

Owner IIS honoursprogramma
Coordinator Esther Quaedackers
Part of Instituut voor Interdisciplinaire Studies (algemeen), honoursvakken, year 1

Course manual 2018/2019

Course content

The course will offer an integrated overview of the history of the cosmos, Earth, life and humanity, using the best available empirical evidence and scholarly methods. Special attention will be paid to general patterns and mechanisms that seem important in different phases of big history, and to unexpected connections that can be discovered between such different phases. The course will be concluded with a reflection on what knowledge about big history means for our own worldview and for ideas about the short and long term future. 

Objectives

Students will learn to reflect on their own position in space and time, as seen from an unusually broad perspective that covers the history of everything, from the big bang until today.

Teaching methods

    Seminars consisting of interactive lectures, discussions and, in-class exercises.

    Learning activities

    Activiteit

    Aantal uur

    Hoorcollege

    26

    Zelfstudie

    142

    Assessment

    Item and weight Details

    Final grade

    Fraud and plagiarism

    The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

    Course structure

    Weeknummer Onderwerpen Studiestof
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12

    Timetable

    The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

    Additional information

    For a quick impression of big history, watch David Christian’s TED talk at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqc9zX04DXs

    25

    Last year's course evaluation

    In order to provide students some insight how we use the feedback of student evaluations to enhance the quality of education, we decided to include the table below in all course guides.

    Course Name (#EC)N
    Strengths
    Notes for improvement
    Response lecturer:

    Contact information

    Coordinator

    • Esther Quaedackers