European Studies: Introduction to Concepts and Methods

Study Board of Political Science, Journalism, Sociology, and European Studies

Teaching language: English
EKA: B300010402, B300010412
Censorship: Second examiner: None
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Soenderborg
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Bachelor

Course ID: B300010401
ECTS value: 10

Date of Approval: 13-03-2018


Duration: 1 semester

Course ID

B300010401

Course Title

European Studies: Introduction to Concepts and Methods

Teaching language

English

ECTS value

10

Responsible study board

Study Board of Political Science, Journalism, Sociology, and European Studies

Date of Approval

13-03-2018

Course Responsible

Name Email Department
Dorte Jagetic Andersen doa@sam.sdu.dk

Offered in

Soenderborg

Level

Bachelor

Offered in

Autumn

Duration

1 semester

Mandatory prerequisites

None.

Recommended prerequisites

The students are expected to be motivated to undertake a university education and they are expected to communicate in English with proficiency, both orally and in writing.

Aim and purpose

The course introduces the students to the interdisciplinary field of European Studies and its most important disciplines, economics, political science, sociology, law and historical research. The course thus also introduces the student to multiple scientific positions and how they form the framework for undertaking social science research within a field characterized by a variety of research approaches and sometimes fully developed interdisciplinary research. Furthermore, the course aims to develop the student’s methodological and academic skills through an individually chosen course work.

The overall purpose of the course is thus to: 

  • Introduce students to the possibilities and problems involved in working in an interdisciplinary field of research
  • To enhance students’ knowledge of and interests in European Studies as a field of research and study
  • Enable students to carry out their specific university education with the greatest motivation while performing according to the highest academic standards  


Content

The course is structured around a core theme, which will be presented by different researchers from the perspective of their research discipline. The theme could be ‘Europeanization’ or it could be ‘The impact of globalization-processes on European society’ and it is developed in collaboration between lecturers in the Centre for Border Region Studies. The introduction course will cover the following disciplines: Political science, sociology, history, law and economics. Moreover, the students will be asked to reflect on key controversies as well as productive points of conjunction between the perspectives of the various disciplines.  

Learning goals

The course will enable the students to analyse a specific topic in the field of European Studies from a conceptual as well as empirical perspective, and to demonstrate the ability to work according to academic standards. The students present their results in a written exam paper and an oral presentation.


Intended knowledge outcomes

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the variety of and differences between approaches characterizing research in European Studies
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the possibilities and problems of performing interdisciplinary social science research
  • Identify and describe specific topics, challenges and problems with relevance in research in contemporary European Studies
  • Individually provide a multi-structural and comprehensive presentation of an issue of relevance in research in contemporary European Studies


Intended skills outcomes

At the end of the course the student must be able to:

  • Choose a subject with relevance in contemporary European Studies 
  • Structure the chosen subject in order to write an academic paper
  • Analyze the subject and compare and relate to empirical examples
  • Provide an assessment of results and findings and the path of analysis followed 
  • Communicate the results in an oral presentation according to academic standards

Literature

Consists of a course syllabus of 600 pages and additionally 400 pages chosen by the student for the seminar paper. 
Excerpts from Rumford, Chris (ed.) (2009) The Sage Handbook of European Studies. Sage publications 
Selected articles 

Teaching Method

In order to ensure that all students are at a similar level of comprehension, students will be asked to read and prepare prior to the face to face lectures and practical sessions. The face to face teaching is designed to introduce a research theme from the perspective of one social science discipline at a time. The practical work aims to make the students reflect on the basic methodological position of, basic research tools used, and substantial insights produced in the specific disciplinary approach with which they are confronted. Moreover, the students will be asked to identify key controversies between the disciplines as well as point where the disciplinary approaches and insights could be constructively joined. There will thus be a mixture of lectures and seminars/practical sessions.

Workload

Category                                                   Activity                                                         Number/lenght    Student hours
Scheduled learning and teaching activity: Lecture                                                                  9                    18 
Scheduled learning and teaching activity: Practical                                                                6                    12 
Guided independent study                        Assessment preparation and completion              ---                   20 
Guided independent study                        Supervised individual research and reading         ---                   40 (for the entire class)
Guided independent study                        Skills practice – reading                                        ---                   10 
Guided independent study                        Student-led individual research and reading         ---                   30 
Guided independent study                        Reflective learning activity                                     ---                  10 

Examination regulations

Exam

Name

Exam

Timing

The written report is part of the ordinary exam in January. Reexam in February.

Registration for the course is automatically a registration for the ordinary examination of the course. Cancellation is not possible. If the student does not participate in the examination, the student will use an examination attempt. 
The university may grant an exemption from the rules in case of exceptional circumstances.

Please note that the type and form of the re-examination may differ from that of the ordinary examination.

Tests

Exam

Name

Exam

Form of examination

Project report

Censorship

Second examiner: None

Grading

7-point grading scale

Language

English

Length

Paper of max 15 pages.

Assignment handin

Electronic hand in via SDU-Assignment in Blackboard.

ECTS value

10

Additional information

No group assignments allowed.


Please note:

1) Students who have passed the examination condition, but not the examination: Re-examination on the basis of a revised paper.

2) Students who have not passed the examination condition: Submission of paper of an additional five pages. 

EKA

B300010402

Exam condition

Name

Exam condition

Additional information

Writing group meetings/participation in seminars/oral presentation of problem statement.


Please note:
1) Students who have passed the examination condition, but not the examination: Re-examination on the basis of a revised paper.

2) Students who have not passed the examination condition: Submission of paper of an additional five pages. 

EKA

B300010412

External comment

NOTE - This course is identical with the former course European Studies: Introduction to Concepts and Methods , Id 8550511.
Used examination attempts in the former identical course will be transferred.
Courses that are identical with former courses that are passed according to applied rules cannot be retaken.

The student is automatically registered for the first examination attempt when the student is registered for a course or course element with which one or more examinations are associated. Withdrawal of registration is not possible, and students who fail to participate in an examination have used one examination attempt, unless the University has made an exemption due to special circumstances. 
If a student does not meet the established university prerequisites for taking the exam, he or she has used one examination attempt, unless the University has made an exemption due to special circumstances.

NOTE - The course is not offered for exchange students.

Courses offered

Offer period Offer type Profile Education Semester
Fall 2018 Mandatory BSc European Studies (fra 2017) BSc European Studies | Bachelor of Science (BSc) in European Studies | Soenderborg 1
Fall 2018 Exchange students

Teachers

Name Email Department City
Dorte Jagetic Andersen doa@sam.sdu.dk Soenderborg

URL for Skemaplan

Sønderborg
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