Module POC2125 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
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.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
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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).
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Research project online | <300 words | 1,2,4 | Written or verbal |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Research project | 65 | 3000 words | 1-7 | Written |
Policy note | 35 | 1500 words | 1-7 | Written |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Research project | Essay (3000 words) | 1-7 | August/September Reassessment Period |
Policy note | Essay (1500 words) | 1-7 | August/September Reassessment Period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
- M. Cini and N. Perez-Solorzano Borragan (eds.) (2012, 2016) European Union Politics, Oxford University Press
- J. Richardson (ed.) (2005) The European Union: Power and Policy Making, Routledge (2nd edition)
- Wiener and T. Diez (2009) European Integration Theory, Oxford University Press (2nd edition)