Return to Main | Newsletter | Quick Links
   

 








 

Teaching - The BA in European Studies

One of the principal purposes of the Centre is to strengthen the identity of and provide support for faculty and students involved in the BA European Studies degree. The programme Is managed by means of a Course Board under the aegis of a Course Director for European Studies.

The Course Director, in consultation with the members of the course board, is responsible for the day to day management of the programme. This includes the preparation of all publicity material relating to European Studies, academic orientation of incoming students, liaison with Socrates network coordinators, on-going advice and counselling to European Studies students, and preparation of final degree transcripts in cooperation with student services. The Course Board is constituted according to the guidelines established by the College of Humanities governing the creation and functions of Course Boards.


Programme of Study

The BA in European Studies is a four year programme of study which includes six taught semesters on campus and a further two semesters off campus. The latter includes a combination of both a co-operative education placement and a study abroad period beginning in the second semester of year two and lasting until semester two of year three.

 

 


The foundation year of the programme is devoted to the teaching of at least one continental European language and the pedagogical skills associated with the students chosen disciplinary subjects. During this year students follow a continental European language (e.g. French, German, Spanish) and choose three disciplinary subjects focused on contemporary Europe (e.g. politics, modem history, sociology. economics, law, or a second continental language.

All students on the BA in European Studies must study at least one continental language throughout the four years.

In the first semester of year two, students continue with the study of three disciplinary streams of modules and a language (a total of four modules). The second part.of year two and the first semester of year three is spent off campus with students undertaking a combination of co-operative education and a study abroad placement in one of the University's partner institutions in Europe. The latter part of year three is spent on campus, and students continue with the study of three disciplines and a language.

The final year marks the culmination of each student's studies and provides an opportunity for students to undertake both disciplinary and interdisciplinary work both by means of course work and the final year project. Students are required to undertake a project (and participate in a project seminar). continue to study a language, and choose a combination of four disciplinary and interdisciplinary modules over the two semesters.

The MA in European Integration

A further objective of the Centre is to strengthen the identity of and provide support for faculty and students involved in the MA in European Integration. The programme is managed by a Course Director and Course Team that is made up of faculty teaching on the programme. The Course Board meets once per semester and at the end of the academic year.

The Course Director, in consultation with the members of the Course Team, is responsible for the day to day management of the programme. This includes the preparation of all publicity material relating to the MA in European Integration, academic orientation of incoming students, on-going advice and counselling to students, and preparation of final transcripts in cooperation with student services.

The Programme of Study

This one-year, full-time programme of study should attract those interested in exploring the new opportunities for professional and commercial employment created by the removal of economic frontiers in Europe and the emergence of the European Union as a powerful economic and political entity in global terms. The uniquely multi-disciplinary approach is especially designed to meet the demand for an advanced, comprehensive and intellectually-satisfying treatment of the contemporary significance of European integration. The course is intended primarily for recent graduates in the Humanities and Social Sciences who plan careers in: international business and finance; the public service; journalism and the media; research and education.

Students are required to take seven core modules and one elective module, conducted by means of lectures and seminar discussions and treating the major political, legal and economic issues of European integration. The primary focus is on a multi-disciplinary approach using both historical and theoretical analysis. An additional and substantial research element includes:

  • a dissertation of 10,000-15,000 words written on a selected theme under the guidance of an appropriately qualified supervisor;
  • assessable course research papers

Students also undertake a week-long field trip to the Irish Institute for European Affairs, Leuven, near Brussels during the second semester, as well as participating in a number of EU seminars and international conferences organised in Limerick and Dublin.


Autumn Semester Spring Semester
EC6801 Theory of Economic Integration EC6802 Economic Policies of the European Community/European Union
LA5011 The European Community as a Legal System LA5022 Legal Aspects of European Integration
P05011 Politics of European Integration P05012 External Relations of the European Union
HI5011 History of the European
Idea
E15012 Regional Politics and Policy In the European Community
EI5011 Theory and Methodology of the
Study of Integration
P05022 National Politics and the European Community/European Union
  E15022 Selected Topics in European
Integration
E15023 Central and Eastern Europe: Continuity and Change
  E15032  Dissertation

About the Centre
Research
Other Activities
Teaching

 

  University of Limerick