Practical Information
- Title: Music education and social theory
- PhD program: Educational Sciences (UTVIT). This course is an elective course under the category B: courses in teaching and teacher education.
- Target group: This course is at the Ph.D. level, primarily intended for individuals already admitted to a Ph.D. program.
- Admission requirements: Candidates admitted to the UTVIT PhD programme have priority of place. Others may be admitted if there is spare capacity. Priority is given first to PhD candidates admitted to other PhD programmes at INN and at other institutions, and then to staff at INN who hold a relevant master’s degree and are engaged in research. PhD candidates from programmes other than UTVIT, or those who fulfil the PhD admission requirements, may participate as single course (“enkeltemne”) students to earn ECTS credits. If you are not currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program, you must provide documentation of having completed a master’s degree with a grade average of B or better (or equivalent).
- Study form: Digital interactive seminars, digital resource base
- Dates: All digital course content available from 7 April. Interactive weekly online seminars: 6 May-3 June, 2026, Wednesdays at 10:00-14:00
- ECTS: 4
- Language of instruction: English
- Number of participants: Up to 15
- Registration deadline: 15 March 2026
- How to register: Please use the registration form: https://nettskjema.no/a/490071
- Responsible for the course: Professor Live Ellefsen, live.ellefsen@inn.no
- Administrative contact: Tove Knudsen, tove.knudsen@inn.no.
- More information about the course: Please visit the course website
Course Description
Music Education and Social Theory is a fully digital PhD course (4 ECT) where we invite participants to critically explore and examine the role of music and education in addressing pressing social challenges. As a participant, you have access to online interactive seminars, a rich knowledge bank featuring video/audio lectures, podcasts, interviews, articles, and discussion forums, as well as curated resources. Organised around recurring themes and contemporary topics in music education and society at large, the course aims to stay highly relevant. This also includes integrating opportunities for participants to discuss and receive feedback on their PhD projects throughout.
Why Music Education and Social Theory? In today's world, increasing economic inequality, social polarization, cultural diversity, and political conflict profoundly shape our personal and professional lives. These challenges also impact education and research globally, including the fields of music and music education – even in the Nordic welfare states.
Social theory provides valuable perspectives for understanding how music and music education respond to these issues. It offers a range of interpretations, from viewing music education as a space to foster equity and harmony, to seeing activist practices as tools for social justice and change, and even considering how music, culture, and education might contribute to societal problems.
Responsible for the course:
- E-post
- live.ellefsen@inn.no
- Telefon
- +47 62 51 76 97
Postadresse
Postboks 400 Vestad
2418 Elverum
Norway