| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
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• 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.
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.
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
Students will have developed
• skills of synthesising and understanding complex information
• writing and methodological skills
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Pre-recorded lecture on EU history as background. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | PIP lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | PIP Seminars |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Essay and exam surgeries. Online. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 167:00 | 167:00 | Seminar/lecture readings and assessment preparation |
| Total | 200:00 |
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.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 90 | 1 | A | 50 | Online exam 90 minutes (Inspera) |
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 50 | 2000 word essay |
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 from non-English speaking home institutions replacing the examination. The alternative form of assessment is set in accordance with the University Assessment tariff.
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Disclaimer: The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2022/23 academic year. In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described. Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2023/24 entry will be published here in early-April 2023. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.