Energy History (HIS356)

This course explores the history of human use of energy. It uses historical cases that can illuminate how energy choices have been made in the past. The focus is on the modern era and covers historical developments in energy sources, energy delivery, and energy consumption.


Course description for study year 2025-2026. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

HIS356

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Autumn

Language of instruction

English

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

This course examines how humans have developed, harnessed, and relied upon various energy sources over time. The course will explore energy regimes, which are more than just the technological innovations and energy sources, but rather a holistic understanding of energy’s role in social structures, politics, infrastructures, economies, etc. Covering a variety of energy sources, including biopower, fossil fuels, and nuclear power, the course will also explore ‘energy transitions’ including their social and cultural changes.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

After completing the course, the student will

  • have deep knowledge about the key theoretical concepts in energy history to explain historical energy use such as energy regimes, transitions, technological systems, and technological styles
  • have advanced knowledge of how energy and its use is historically situated in social, cultural, environmental, and political forms

Skills

After completing the course, the student will be able to

  • discuss and problematise how energy choices have been made in the past
  • critically analyse historical scholarship about energy history
  • identify an appropriate topic and independently find appropriate scholarly literature for an essay about energy history
  • apply advanced historiographical perspectives in their own independent writing

General Competence

After completing the course, the student will be able to

  • apply historical knowledge and historical modes of thought to representing and understanding contemporary society, for instance brainstorm how the same issues are likely to appear in future energy development
  • construct detailed arguments based on scholarly foundations, using sources, theories, and methods discussed in the course in a precise and transparent manner

Required prerequisite knowledge

See the admission requirements for Master’s program in History and History Didactics

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Term paper 1/1 Letter grades All

Term paper, 3500 words (+/- 10%) not including footnotes, references, tables of contents, and appendices. The exam is specified on the Canvas page for the course. Any use of AI needs to follow UiS regulations and shall be indicated and explained.

Coursework requirements

3 mandatory assignments
The assignments will consist of a term paper proposal, a theoretical concepts assignment, and a group assignment.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Melina Antonia Buns

Study Adviser:

Signe Ekenberg

Method of work

Seminar, individual work, group work.

Students are expected to actively participate in seminars and to prepare for each meeting. If a student cannot attend a seminar, they are expected to inform the lecturer in advance.

Open for

Master program in History and History Didactics; Lektorutdanning trinn 8-13; exchange students.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto