Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2075: Integration and Disintegration in the EU

This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.

Module Aims

This module familiarizes you with basic approaches to European integration and helps you to apply these approaches to current topics of integration and disintegration. It aims at providing you with the skills to apply core theories to current debates of European integration, and to critically evaluate the usefulness of these theories. In doing so, it aims to equip you with the analytical and presentation skills required to describe and explain the emergence, development and current state of the EU. Case studies are used to illustrate the topic of integration and disintegration in the EU. The first part of the module deals with the historical development of the EU as well as with core theories of European integration and critically challenges them. The second part focuses on the empirical analysis of chosen cases of integration and disintegration.

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 Skills1. demonstrate understanding of core theories and approaches to European integration and capacity to apply them to concrete policies;
2. demonstrate understanding of the historical development and the institutional architecture of the EU
3. show knowledge of contemporary issues of the EU and of concrete cases of integration and disintegration;
Discipline-Specific Skills4. construct arguments which show an understanding of key theories and justify own choice of theory;
5. Apply arguments to empirical case studies in European integration;
6. Analyse primary and secondary source material.
Personal and Key Skills7. research & critically evaluate ideas and debates;
8. construct reasoned argument;
9. Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and deliver presentations to peers;
10. work independently and in collaboration with peers;
11. use IT for the retrieval and presentation of information.