KULH2012 – Witchcraft and Magic
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course examines key aspects of the cultural history of magic and witchcraft, with emphasis on the witch hunts in early modern Europe. It explores how conceptions of magic, witchcraft, and ‘trolldom’ changed over time through philosophical reflections, demonological manuals, legislative texts, literature, and oral traditions, and how these ideas manifested as social realities.?Students will also study the later redefinitions of magic in modern occultism and neopaganism.
Beginning in the 1500s, combating witchcraft through legislation and judicial prosecution became a priority for European authorities. Witchcraft trials became a nexus between law, theology, and popular culture. Students will examine the cultural and social foundations of this phenomenon through a variety of historical sources, with particular focus on Norwegian and European witchcraft trials. Throughout the course, students will be introduced to and learn to apply central theoretical and methodological perspectives within witchcraft research.
Learning outcome
Upon successful completion of the course, students are able to
- demonstrate an orientational knowledge in the history of magic and witchcraft in Europe
- discuss historical implications of critical terms like magic, witchcraft, trolldom, esotericism, and occultism
- identify different approaches to historiography and interpretation in the academic study of magic and witchcraft
- recognize central theoretical and methodological perspectives within witchcraft research and apply them in written assignments
- perform a critical contextualisation of a historical source
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with KULH1050 – Witchcraft and Magic (discontinued).
- 10 credits overlap with KULH1003 – Witchcraft and Magic (discontinued).
Teaching
Lectures and seminars are given in English.
Supervision is offered in both English and Norwegian. The curriculum is in English with an optional choice of Norwegian source material that can be used in the exam.
Obligatory coursework:
- One written qualifying assignment. The assignment may be conducted individually or in groups.
The course assumes active participation in seminars. Deadlines and content will be provided at the start of the teaching term.
All compulsory activities must be approved to qualify for the exam. It is your responsibility to verify that you have obtained approval for all compulsory activities.?
Absence from compulsory activities:?
It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam.?
More information on compulsory activities at the University of Oslo:?
The approved compulsory activity remains valid for the 5 following semesters in which the course is offered. However, exceptions may arise if the course undergoes changes in its assessment format, teaching, or other significant modifications.?
Examination
Home exam.
The exam is a three-day home exam of 10 pages consisting of two assignments of equal lengths. One standard page is approximately 2300 characters without spaces, including references. The front page and bibliography are not included in the page count.?
The deadline and a detailed requirement for the assignments will be announced at the beginning of the three-day period.
You must submit the exam in Inspera -?see guides for digital exams.?
You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam.?
You can find more information about the exam on the semester page of the course.?
If you are ill when submitting a home exam or have another valid reason for not taking an exam, you can apply for a postponed submission deadline.
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
If you are ill when submitting a home exam or have another valid reason for not taking an exam, you can apply for a postponed submission deadline?
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.