EURO401-21CY (C) Cross Year 2021

The Idea of Europe and European Integration

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 12 July 2021
End Date: Sunday, 10 July 2022
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 15 August 2021
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 8 April 2022

Description

The goal of this multidisciplinary course is to encompass the diversity of academic insights into the process of European integration, providing students with an appreciation for the historical context of integration and an understanding for the political, social, economic and cultural factors that influence the way in which the EU functions today. The course concentrates on Europe of the 21st century; however, some, earlier historical context is also provided where necessary. The course calls on the wide variety of recognized expertise existing in NZ and internationally.

This European Studies core course will be taught by a combination of academics from Europe and around New Zealand, as well as a number of UC staff.  The course brings together a number of thematic strands linked under the central organizing principle: what is “the idea of Europe”?  This multidisciplinary approach will examine the diversity encompassed with the “Idea of Europe and European Integration”, covering perspectives that are Social, Cultural, Linguistic, Identity, Historical, Political, and Philosophical in nature.

The course concentrates on Europe of the 20th century; however, some, earlier historical context is also provided where necessary.

The course uses seminars and group discussion teaching methods, giving students the ability to hone their skills at analytical debating and develop their confidence in presenting their research. It also expands the opportunities for students to involve themselves in critical thinking concerning the EU and allows for open and frank discussions. Research assignments allow the students to tailor the course to their area of interest and to practice their research and investigation skills.  A number of classes are taught using virtual methods of delivery by leading academics from Europe.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course students should be able to

1. Conduct research, present their knowledge accurately, and to construct well-reasoned, well-supported arguments, using the correct forms of referencing.

2. Demonstrate an ability to situate their knowledge of the EU in a wider ‘civilisational’ context of Europe and knowledge of Europe/EU within the wider global political and social context. Independent, non-directed reading followed by written reflections is one of the key avenues to this knowledge, complemented by discussions during the seminars and seminar presentations by the leading experts from the UC and international universities and

3. Demonstrate an understanding of the “Idea of Europe” – considered through historical, cultural, social, political, economic and legal prisms  --  to place it in the wider context of theoretical and methodological discussion in relation to European integration. This is the key for both cohorts of students – those who have specialised in EU studies in the past and those who did not.

4. Demonstrate the continuing development of good inter-personal and communication skills widely recognised as important for all graduates.  This course specifically seeks to develop students’ abilities to participate in the class and to write research informed essays;

5. Demonstrate their capacity to engage with current issues of significance in society;

6. Demonstrate commitment to high levels of academic scholarship.

7. Demonstrate an ability to think critically along the continuum “Knowledge-Comprehension-Application-Analysis-Synthesis-Evaluation”

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the NCRE Director.

Course Coordinator

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences Head of Department

Assessment

Regular attendance and participation in class discussions - 10%

Essay 1- 30%

Essay 2 - 30%

Essay 3 - 30%

Textbooks / Resources

There is no single text book for the course. The collection of selected readings will be available for the students prior to each seminar.  Students are strongly encouraged to form their own bibliographies.

Relevant material, which may be helpful, can be found at the Library Subject Guide for European Union Studies: http://canterbury.libguides.com/euro

Information about European Union programme (EURO) at the post-graduate level can be found at the website of the National Centre for Research on Europe: http://www.europe.canterbury.ac.nz/.

Course links

EURO401 LEARN

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,905.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All EURO401 Occurrences

  • EURO401-21CY (C) Cross Year 2021