Big interest in course on US politics

In August, a brand new course started up at the School of Education and Communication (HLK), Jönköping University (JU) called American Politics - Race, Class, Religion.. Interest in it has been very high and it’s first intake of satisfied students are now finishing the course.

Aron Engberg, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, and Tobias Samuelsson, Professor of Social Sciences, initiated the new course and are responsible it. The course (7.5 credits) has been given entirely via distance learning with a flexible approach, all with the aim of being accessible to as many people as possible.

“Since this was the first time we offered the course, we had no idea how much interest there would be. The fact that more than 400 people applied is incredibly gratifying and shows that there is great interest in going in-depth and learning more about the subject,” says Aron Engberg.

60 students, with a diverse age range, geographic backgrounds and education levels were accepted on the course. One of them is 19-year-old Ester Carlberg who lives in Vadstena. She likes to be busy and when she saw the course she applied straight away.

“I have always been interested in politics and wanted to understand my surroundings. The United States for me and many others is like a big cluster of ‘crimes’ against human rights and a land of oppression. It seems like a third worldcountry dressed up as a first-worldcountry. I really want to understand how such a country can work, both ethically, defensibly and practically. I thought this course sounded exciting,” says Ester.

Magnus Åkerlind is 49 years old, lives in Sollentuna and has worked as an IT consultant, IT manager and CIO at various international companies over the past 25 years. However, he left his last job to focus on his family and himself for a while. He was looking for interesting distance learning courses and this one caught his eye.

“As my wife is from the United States and I lived there for a few years, I have a close relationship with the country. I also have a strong political interest. That's why I felt the course was a good fit for me ahead of the upcoming presidential election,” he says.

A basic qualification was all that was required to apply for the course, which has meant that the prior knowledge of the students has varied greatly.

“Of course, it's always a challenge when you give courses like this. For those who have wanted even more knowledge and a greater understanding, we have offered suggestions for literature, podcasts and other sources during the course”, says Aron.

“Good analyses and wow factor”

The plan is to hold the course every other autumn, in order to follow the US electoral cycle (presidential and mid-term elections) as closely as possible, to be up to date and to use the electoral process in teaching.

The course is designed to provide a better understanding of US politics, so that students can follow the US elections with more knowledge. They will learn to understand key events and the historical and contemporary context in which elections take place.

“In general, the course is as I expected. Perhaps initially there was a slightly greater focus on the current presidential election than I had anticipated. It had very good course literature and teaching to understand the purpose of the Constitution and the challenges it has faced over the past 250 years. There were enormously interesting lectures from Swedish and American teachers on the background of the current presidential candidates and what contributes to the debate climate that has arisen. I think the scope and expectations of the course were at a very good level,” says Magnus Åkerlind.

Ester also thinks the course has been rewarding.

“I don't really know what I expected, but I'm so pleased! The course leaders are super talented and know so much. You can tell that they want us to learn and understand. If you ask a question, you get in return an essay that offers good analyses and a real wow factor. It feels so much fun to be able to see what has happened and what is happening right now and tie everything together,” she says.

Aron Engberg thinks that the course has succeeded beyond expectations.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of the course and I believe, and hope, that we have given the course participants useful knowledge to understand American politics. Above all, it has been very enjoyable to have a course with so many interested and committed students, and also to immerse myself in something as exciting, and as strange, as the American election,” says Aron Engberg.