Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POC2125: Politics of the European Union

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Please note that this module is only delivered on the Penryn Campus.

Module Aims

The module aims to provide an introduction to European integration by presenting major concepts, theoretical debates, historical events and key academic texts. It also aims to link theoretical arguments to empirical examples through employing examples from the history of European integration. By undertaking the module, you will develop an understanding of what the European Union is, how it evolved and how it can be interpreted from different theoretical perspectives.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. demonstrate knowledge of the history of the European Union through lectures, class discussion and submitted coursework; 2. demonstrate knowledge of major theories of EU integration through lectures, class discussion and submitted coursework
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. demonstrate the ability, through formative and summative coursework, to assimilate taught materials and utilise them to analyse European integration; 4. demonstrate knowledge of major political theories and understanding of how to apply them to examples of political processes
Personal and Key Skills	5. research and write analytical essays 6. formulate critical arguments; and 7. communicate arguments effectively through written submissions.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Introduction to European integration – what is ‘Europe’ and the European Union?
Major theories of European integration – federalism, neofunctionalism, intergovernmentalism, the ‘governance’ turn and Europeanization
The historical development of the EU – early integration and the post-War federalist movement, the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community, the Single Market, Maastricht and the European Union, Single Currency, the Lisbon Treaty process, Brexit, the Covid crisis
Future developments – geo-political expansion (enlargement) and de-Europeanization, policy functions and potential challenges after the Covid crisis

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities	22	11 lectures of 2 hour duration
Guided Independent Study	128	Private study students are expected to read suggested texts and make notes prior to seminar sessions. They are also expected to read widely to complete their coursework assignments. More specifically, students are expected to devote at least: 60 hours to directed reading; 6 hours to completing the formative research outline; 14 hours for completing the policy note; Around 50 hours on completing the research project.

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).