Programme description for European Integration, 1-semester Programme (Autumn 2023)

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What do you learn?

Learning outcome

Upon successful completion of this programme, the student should be able to

Knowledge

• understand the driving forces behind the process of European integration from a historical, sociological, economic and political perspective

• assess the legal foundation of European integration and the political system of the European Union as well as its policies and policy-making processes

• analyse different concepts and theories of European integration and grasp different methodological approaches to European integration

Skills

• apply analytical, methodological and theoretically informed approaches to the study of European integration

• critically assess and challenge well-established approaches and develop dissenting arguments

• discuss current issues facing the political system of the European Union and its policies

• transfer relevant information to other instances of regional integration

General competence

• demonstrate a thorough understanding of key political, economic and legal aspects of European integration that are of importance to government and private business

• engage in inter-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration with neighbouring fields of European Studies, e.g. law, economics, political sciences, etc.

Structure and content

Admission requirements

Applicants must have a BA, or have finished the third year of a five year Advanced Teacher Education in a relevant field of study such as social sciences, economics and law, or an equivalent background consisting of 180 ECTS.

Recommended previous knowledge

Working language and literature is in English. Assignments and exams are in English only.

General description and profile

Hardly ever has it been more timely and important than today to study the process of European integration. In the aftermath of the global financial and economic crisis of 2008, the sovereign debt default crisis has affected several EU Member States of the Euro-zone. The Euro crisis and its potential domino-effects vis-à-vis other countries, does not only undermine the economic basis of the historical project of European integration, it also threatens to push the entire world into a global maelstrom. The European Union is at the most critical juncture of its history facing both the threat of disintegration and the challenge of further deep integration. Any lasting solution is certain to require fundamental changes in the way the EU has been governed thus far. It is toward this background that new light is being shed into old debates, such as the persistence of national interest, the democratic deficit and, in general, the European Unions role in the world and model for regional integration.

Bringing together graduate students, young scholars and well-established academics from Norway, Europe and the entire world since 1990, the European Integration Summer School at the University of Agder has always provided a stimulating environment for these debates. The programme is dedicated to the study of the European integration and proposes to take a closer look at various core aspects of European integration. Doing this from a country outside the European Union, but inside Europe, sometimes triggers more nuanced perspectives.

The European Integration Summer School prides itself of providing a very comprehensive, methodologically driven introduction into European Studies at the MA level. Its profile is threefold: first it provides an introduction into key aspects of the political system of the European Union; second it includes a module on methodology in European Studies and identifies on an annual basis core themes of European integration, such as for instance the European Unions role in the global combat against climate change which are discussed together with the top scholars in the respective field; third, it offers interested students a web-based thesis option during the subsequent fall term which may be used to deepen any aspect of the courses of the European Integration Sumer School.

 The programme consists of three courses of 10 credits each:

• ST-419 History, institutions and policies of European integration (summer)

• ST-420 Current issues in the European Union (summer)

• ST-421 Current debates on the European Union (fall)

The first course is a problem-oriented analysis of the motives behind European integration, its historical, economic and political foundations and core aspects of the political system of the European Union. The second course is concerned with a selection of current issues of the European Union, such as for instance the development of its external relations and the implications of the European debt crisis for the Economic and Monetary Union. Both courses make up the core of the European Integration Summer School (EISS) of the University of Agder, Norways oldest summer school dedicated to the study of the European integration. Finally, an additional course, offered in the fall term and open to successful participants of the previous two courses only, will provide the students with the opportunity of writing a thesis (with the approval of the academic coordinator) on a topic of their choice, but related to any of the topics dealt with during the summer school. Upon the successful completion of all three courses students will earn 30 ECTS.

Teaching methods

ST-419 and ST-420 are highly demanding portions of this programme which are given over a period of seven weeks during the summer. Both courses build on lectures, working groups and seminars and involve several local and international scholars. Students are expected to take an active part in the development of the study as they are exposed to a unique blend of different lecture and teaching styles creating an extraordinary classroom atmosphere. As a consequence, there is an attendance requirement of at least 80% of all classes.

Students have to hand in one individually written assignment of 1200 words per course in order to be able to sit for the final exam. For each course, there is a six hours school exam. ST-421 consists of a thesis which is due at the beginning of the exam period in the fall term.

Successful completion of the European Integration Summer School courses (ST-419 or ST-420) before examination in ST-421.

Occupational profiles / further studies

The programme can be taken as a specialisation within the Master Programme in Public Policy and Management. It can also be combined with other social science subjects and economics. It is an asset for all those students who aspire to a career in a local, national or international environment that requires an advanced knowledge and understanding of the European Union.

Evaluation

Study programme evaluation is carried out in accordance with standard procedure in the quality assurance system, chapter 2.3.1., by way of an annual evaluation in the study programme committee with student representatives from each class/year in the programme.

Contact person

Head of Department.