Module Catalogue 2023/24

Pre Requisite Comment

none

Co Requisite Comment

none

Aims

• to give students an in depth understanding of the political processes and major policies of the EU
• to introduce students to key debates about states co-operating at an international level
• to give students an understanding of the processes of integration and the corresponding support and opposition to that process
• to introduce students to debates about the EU’s role in the world

This module aims to introduce students to the key challenges facing the European Union in the 21st century. It will outline key internal and external policy areas and discuss the political debates surrounding these.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module will cover these three broad themes:

Challenges to the European Integration Process

Internal Politics and the Policies in a Changing Era

The EU as an International Actor

Topics covered will include democracy and power, enlargement, economic policies and foreign and security policies.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of the module students will have an understanding of

•       the process of European integration and the challenges to it
•       the main policy areas and their impact on the Member States
•       key concepts in integration theory
•       the main features of the EU’s international relations

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students will have developed

•       skills of synthesising and understanding complex information
•       writing and methodological skills

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures are designed to introduce students to the key external and internal EU policy areas as well as discussing the European integration process and the challenges to it.
The seminars will provide an active learning environment in which this understanding of the lecture material will be enhanced and in which empirical, conceptual and theoretical controversies surrounding European integration and EU policies introduced in the lectures can be critically explored in depth by students.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The online examination will assess students understanding of key concepts, theories and empirical material across the entirety of the syllabus. Students will answer 2 questions.

The 2000 word essay will provide students with the opportunity to explore an aspect of the EU or the European integration process in greater depth. The essay will provide a means of assessing their ability to place and synthesise the material gained from lectures and seminars in addition to empirical, conceptual and theoretical understandings derived from their own independent study.


Exchange Students:

An alternative form of assessment will be set for exchange students in Newcastle for only 1 semester replacing the examination. The alternative form of assessment is set in accordance with the University Assessment tariff and the policy on the assessment of exchange students.

General Notes

N/A