European Studies Program

The overall aim of the programme is to offer students a comprehensive understanding of the different social processes and historical events that shape Europe today. The programme aims to provide interdisciplinary understanding of the most important contemporary trends in Europe - expansion and transformation of the EU, as well as Eastern Europe's social conditions - from different perspectives: historical, political, economic and cultural. The programme offers students the knowledge and basic skills needed for both a vocational career and academic research related to European development. The programme provides a comprehensive knowledge of Europe, with the opportunity for students to specialize in one of eight disciplines: History, Economic History, History of Ideas, Human Geography, Sociology, Political Science, Business Administration, Economics.

The pedagogical basic idea of the programme lies in the creation of a critical attitude, the fostering of independent thinking and the desire for an exploratory approach to knowledge. All courses in the programme are closely linked to new research, with special emphasis on multidisciplinary academic studies on European development. Methodologically, the programme offers students educational tools to identify, formulate and analyze relevant issues and materials from humanities and social sciences, as well as to communicate issues relating to Europe and the EU to differnt groups in the society.

Each profile subject has it's own entry requirements.

Anyone who has successfully completed the programme can apply for a diploma with the denomination Degree of Bachelor of Science with a major in European Studies (Filosofie kandidatexamen med huvudområdet Europakunskap).

The first semester contains core courses in European Studies. Semester two and three consist of core and in-depth courses in one of the above mentioned profile subjects. The fourth semester contains in-depth courses in European Studies. In semester five the students studies research methods and writes an individual thesis in European Studies. The sixth and final semester the student chooses between freestanding courses, exchange studies or internship.

All courses on semester 1-5 are mandatory.

The programme is offered on full-time.

For more information on each course: see the respective course syllabus.

Programme Overview

Semester 1 (Core Courses)

Module 1

EU1110 Introduction to European Studies, 15 credits

and

Module 2

EU1130 Modern European Integration I, 15 credits

Semester 2

Core course(s) within the profile subject*, 30 credits

Semester 3

In-depth course(s) within the profile subject*, 30 credits

Semester 4 (In-depth Courses)

Module 1

EU1235 Modern European Integration II, 15 credits

and

EU1240 Living in Europe, 15 credit

Semester 5 (Method Course and Thesis Course)

Module 1

EU1330 Research Methods in European Studies, 15 credits

and

Module 2

EU1540 Degree Thesis in European Studies, 15 credits

Semester 6

Elective Semester**, 30 credits

Freestanding, elective courses in Sweden

or

Exchange Studies

or

EU1410 Internship

* The profile subjects are: Sociology, Economics, Business Administration, Economic History, Human Geography, History of Ideas, History and Political Science. Selected when applying for the programme.

** The student chooses. We demand 30 approved credits in completed courses. We cannot offer a guaranteed place if the student chooses freestanding courses in Sweden or exchange studies. We offer a guaranteed place on the internship course if the student arranges an approved internship placement.

After completing the programme the student should acheive the applicable outcomes for the relevant education cycle contained in the Swedish Higher Education Act (Swedish Code of Statutes- SFS 1992:1434) together with the relevant higher education qualification contained in the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance (Swedish Code of Statutes- SFS 1993:100, Qualifications Ordinance, Appendix 2). Furthermore, the student should achieve the following outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding

After completion of the education the student shall

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of various political, social, cultural and economic conditions and processes in Europe, both in the past and in the present, 
• demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of intergovernmental organizations and institutions in Europe, with a particular focus on the EU,
• demonstrate knowledge of applicable research methods in the area and orientation on current research issues, 

Competence and skills

After completion of the education the student shall

• demonstrate the ability to critically review and reflect on conditions and development processes in Europe,
• demonstrate the ability to identify, formulate and analyze problems within social science and humanities from an European perspective, 
• have the ability to seek, collect and evaluate relevant information regarding conditions and development processes in Europe, 
• have the ability to compile, present and in oral and written form defend its scientific report within given time frames, 
• be able to communicate about issues relating to Europe and the EU in dialogue with different groups in society, 

Judgement and approach

After completion of the education the student shall

• have developed its ability to critically read scientific texts, 
• have achieved an independent attitude towards different scientific subjects and theoretical traditions, 
• demonstrate insights into the importance of knowledge about Europe and the EU in the society, 
• demonstrate the ability to make judgments of the EU from different societal and scientific perspective, 
• be able to make relevant research ethical assessments, and
• be able to identify their own need for additional knowledge.

For students who have begun their studies before July 1, 2011, courses can be replaced as follows:

EU1130 Modern European Integration 1 15 credits

can be replaced by

EU1120 Europe after World War II 15 credits

For students who have begun their studies before July 1, 2012, courses can be replaced as follows:

EU1235 Modern European Integration 2 15 credits

can be replaced by

EU1230 Institutions for European Cooperation 15 credits

For students who have begun their studies before July 1, 2007, courses can be replaced as follows:

EU1110 Introduction to European Studies 15 credits and

EU1130 Modern European Integration 1 15 credits

can together be replaced by

EU0300 Europakunskap: Grundkurs 30 credits

EU1235 Modern European Integration 2 15 credits and

EU1240 Living in Europe: Work, Welfare, Family 15 credits

can together be replaced by

EU2100 Europakunskap: Fortsättningskurs 30 credits

EU1330 Forskningsmetod i Europakunskap 15 credits and

EU1540 Kandidatuppsats i Europakunskap 15 credits and

Optional courses 30 credits

can together be replaced by

EU4200 Europakunskap: Fördjupningskurs 1-2 60 credits

The programme is taught in Swedish.

The optional internship can take place in a location other than Gothenburg.

Students will be required to pay their own expenses related to the optional internship.

The quality assurance activities are guided by the Programme Board of the European Programmes quality assurance plan, which is prepared in accordance with the applicable Policy for the Quality Assurance and Quality Development of Education at the University of Gothenburg (Policy för kvalitetssäkring och kvalitetsutveckling av utbildning vid Göteborgs universitet).

For courses included in the programme but not within the main field of European Studies each department is responsible for the quality assurance activities.

Students admitted to the programme have general guaranteed admission to all compulsory courses within the programme provided that they 1) apply according to assigned administrative procedures, and 2) have completed the prerequisite courses. Students admitted to the programme have no guaranteed admission to the freestanding courses on the sixth semester.