Introduction to the European Union (LW0022)

? Credit Points : 40 ? SCQF Level : 8 ? Acronym : LAW-1-LW0022

This course is a social science based course examining the politics and economics of the European Union. It is a first year course for students studying "Modern European Languages and European Union Studies". IT IS ALSO OPEN TO OTHER STUDENTS AS AN OUTSIDE OPTION IN FIRST OR SECOND YEAR.

The course is aimed at students who have little or no previous knowledge about the history and development of the process of European integration. It is a foundation course in which the central objective is to provide an introduction to the institutions, theories and public policy of the European Union, paying attention also to contemporary debates.

The course is divided into two parts: the first semester explores ideas of political unity, the political history of the European Union, the functions of the EU institutions, the political theory of integration and key questions of crises and reforms in EU governance. The second semester examines the economic history of the European Union, economic theories of integration, economic effects of integration and explores the main policy areas which come under EU competence (shared or exclusive).

? Keywords : European Union
Institutions
Public Policy
Political and Economic Theory
Democracy
Governance

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Non-LLB students only

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Law, (School of Law, Schedule F)

Other subject areas

European Languages and Cultures - Common Courses, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Economics, (Management School and Economics, Schedule H)

Politics, (School of Social and Political Studies, Schedule J)

Geography, (School of GeoSciences, Schedule N)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 1st year

? Delivery Period : Full Year (Blocks 1-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 22 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
19/09/2007	10:00	10:50	Lecture Theatre 183, Old College	Central	Lectures are on Modyas at 1210 in LT 270, and Wednesday and Thursday at 10.00 in 183

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	12:10	13:00	Central
Lecture	Wednesday	10:00	10:50	Central
Lecture	Thursday	10:00	10:50	Central

? Additional Class Information : Plus tutorials

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will have a firm grounding in the political and economic issues of European integration. In particular, the student will be expected to be able to do the following: to describe the content and structure of the main Treaties of European integration; to describe and compare the main institutions of the EU; to assess the role of each institution in the policy-making process; to explain crises and reforms in EU governance; to identify and contrast the key poltiical and economic theories that have been advanced to explain European integration; to analyse the process of economic integration; to explain and assess the main economic and social policies which have been developed at the EU level.