This PhD course ‘Contemporary Topics in Childhood Studies’ (5 ECTS) centers on "Re-Framing Childhoods" within the interdisciplinary field of childhood studies. Designed for doctoral students, this course provides an in-depth exploration of the multifaceted ways in which childhood is framed and reframed across societal institutions, emphasizing the interplay between social, material and discursive perspectives. By critically examining these frameworks and engaging with key theoretical approaches, doctoral students gain insights into how social and institutional contexts—such as schools, early childhood education and care (ECEC), families, and leisure environments—shape childhood in both explicit and implicit ways. This topic is particularly important given that childhoods have become increasingly structured and complex, influenced by institutional expectations, societal norms, and rapid changes in digital and physical environments. Through lectures and seminars, doctoral students are encouraged to relate the discussion to their own projects and engage in cross-cutting discussions on research on children and youth, fostering collaborative exploration and a nuanced understanding of contemporary debates in the field.
Key themes
- Critical thinking in research
- Governance: Understanding the role of governance and organizations in shaping childhood within educational and social institutions.
- Places, Spaces and Materiality: Investigating place, space, and materiality in terms of identity, and how they construct various childhood positions.
- Civilizing Institutions: Discussion on institutions as spaces where children are "civilized" and socialized.
- Commoning Childhood and Family: Exploring socio-political practices and struggles that highlight experiences care and social reproduction as well as analysis of the family as a space where childhood is shaped and experienced.
- Documentalization of Childhood: Examining various approaches to understanding and researching documentation of children and childhood.
Course Structure
26.-28 May in Trondheim: The course will include lectures, seminars, and discussions led by experts in the field, focusing on contemporary issues related to childhood and society. It provides an engaging platform for doctoral students interested in deepening their understanding of how childhood is framed within various societal contexts. Doctoral students will have the opportunity to connect theoretical concepts with critical analysis, enriching their perspectives on current challenges in childhood studies.
8-9 September online: Course participants will present their own papers and give feedback to others.
Learning methods and activities
Lectures, guided readings, seminars and independent study. We will also facilitate social and professional networking opportunities.
Compulsory assignments
Participation in class and course activities.
Evaluation
Individual paper (10-12 pages) within the remit of the course content and related to the course literature.
Pass/Fail.
An identical version of the exam paper cannot be used directly in the PhD thesis as an article or a chapter. A revised version of the exam paper may be included in the thesis.
Deadline: November 14th 2025
Course materials
Compendium ca 600 pages
Prerequisites:
Master's degree in social sciences, educational sciences, humanities or equivalent.
PhD students are prioritized for admission.
Maximum: 15 PhD candidates.
The number of places is limited and the first-com principle applies
A minimum of 5 registered PhD candidates is required for the course to be held.
For more information and to apply, please contact Hege F Lie
Application
Applicants who do not have a study right at NTNU, need to apply for this to take research courses at NTNU.
PhD candidates at NTNU who want to register for courses that are not included in their education plan, should also apply as described here.
You can apply for admission to research courses through NTNU's Søknadsweb (choose "Single courses" → "PhD courses for external candidates"). Choose the right application alternative (see "Which application alternative should I choose?") and write the course code(s) in the comment section.