Entry requirements

General entry requirements + English 6 and Civics 1b or Civics 1a1 +1a2.

Progression level in relation to degree requirements

The course is part of the main field European Studies on beginner level (1-30 credits)

Course contents

The aim of the course is the following

1. To provide basic knowledge of, and critical perspectives on the political, cultural and societal development of Europe temporally and spatially, including the formation and development of the European Union (EU)

2. To provide and develop basic knowledge about European Studies as a field of knowledge; concepts, theoretical frameworks and approaches to investigating Europe scientifically

3. To provide basic knowledge of different forms of intellectual, philosophical and artistic expressions that have been formed in Europe, contributed to forming and critically mirroring Europe, from the Enlightenment until the 20th century

The course is divided into three modules:

1. Introduction to the scientific study of Europe, and Europe as an idea and concept 7,5 hp

This module introduces the thematic base of European Studies at Malmö University and supplies a historical overview of Europe as an idea and ideas about Europe. Central concepts dealing with state, region, nation, relations between states, and different perspectives on the organization of European space, are introduced.

The course also introduces and trains basic abilities for academic studies and research, such as source criticism, literature search, scientific writing and reading.

The course examines learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8

2.European histories – cultures, societies, political thinking and organization, 15 hp

This module is divided into three tracks that partly run parallel.

Track 1: constitutes a critically reflective overview of European history. It focuses on processes internal to Europe, as well as on mutual influence between Europe and other parts of the world, with central themes such as colonialism, imperialism and migration.

Track 2: focuses on the general development of political thinking and philosophy in Europe, with special focus on some central themes and critique within this development.

Track 3: focuses on different forms of artistic expressions that have been formed over time in Europe, contributed to forming and critically mirroring Europe.

The course examines learning outcomes 4, 5, 7 and 8

3. History and theory of European integration and the formation and development of the European Union after 1945, 7,5 hp

This module aims to provide basic knowledge and understanding of the process of European integration, its origins and development with focus on the formation of the European Union after 1945, how internal and external cooperation and conflicts shaped this process and how the political system of the European Union is constructed. The module also gives an introduction to theories of integration and divisiveness in Europe, and a critical analysis of such processes with the help of relevant theoretical perspectives.

The course examines learning outcomes 8, 9 and 10

Learning outcomes 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are examined during all three modules.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the student shall:

The following learning outcomes concern knowledge and understanding:

1. Show basic knowledge about the concept of Europe, its origins, history, and changes over time.

2. Show basic knowledge about and understanding of the program’s multidisciplinary and international character.

3. Show basic knowledge of and understanding about scientific rules, academic writing and ethics, and source critical methods.

4. Show basic knowledge of and understanding about cultural conceptions and cultural creativity in Europe over time, and how cultural expressions have shaped European self-perception and social critique.

5. Show basic knowledge of the development of political thinking and philosophy in Europe, which touches on the relationship between the individual and society and the state, including perspectives on citizenship in relation to gender, class, race and minority rights..

6. Show basic knowledge of and understanding about regionalization-, nation- and state building processes in Europe from the early modern era until today

7. Show basic knowledge of political, social, economic and/or cultural structures, processes and ideas in Europe and globally connected to resource usage, resource management and long-term sustainability..

8. Show basic knowledge of Europe’s global role and position over time, including the history and consequences of colonialism and imperialism.

9. Show basic knowledge of the formation, development and operation of the European Union.

10. Show basic knowledge of the different theories developed to explain and understand integration- and regionalization processes, with focus on theoretical perspectives concerning European integration and the political development of the EU.

The following learning outcomes concern abilities and acquired competences:

11. Demonstrate ability to write short texts based on scientific practice

12. Demonstrate ability to make short presentations.

13. Demonstrate ability to finish exercises and examinations in the allotted time.

14. Demonstrate the ability to search for, evaluate and compile information and interpretations concerning the main themes of the course’s different modules, departing from presented problems and tasks.

15. Demonstrate awareness of the need for further studies and additional knowledge.

Learning activities

Self-studies individually and in group

Lectures

Theme studies/project

Seminars

Group tutorials

Assessment

Module 1 is examined through individual sit-in/digital examinations and seminars

Module 2

Track 1 is assessed through an individual examination

Track 2 is assessed through an individual examination

Track 3 is examined though the active participation in group work which is concluded with a group presentation

Module 3 is examined through an individual written essay and a portfolio of seminar activities

Course literature

Selections of the following literature (parts of the literature will be recurring course literature during the programme)

• Booth, Wayne, Gregory Colomb and Joseph Williams, The Craft of Research, Chicago, 2008, third edition (e-book and core book for writing processes in the whole program)
• Boucher, David and Poul Kelly (eds.), Political Thinkers - From Socrates to the Present, Oxford University Press, Third Edition 2017
• Buzan, Barry and Richard Little (2000), International Systems in World History, Oxford University Press (selected chapters, available as an e-book at the library).
• Caine, Barbara and Glenda Sluga, Gendering European History 1780-1920, Sidney (2000, 2002), selected chapters
• Dinan, Desmond (ed.) (2014), Origins and Evolution of the European Union, Oxford University Press, 2nd edn.
• Hansen, Peo & Stefan Jonsson (2014), Eurafrica - The untold history of European Integration and colonialism, London Bloomsbury (Selected chapters)
• Hobsbawm Eric John. The Age of Revolution: Europe 1789-1848. Reprinted. History of Civilisation. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1975 (Selected chapters).
• Howell, Martha & Walter Prevenier. From Reliable Sources: An Introduction to Historical Methods. Ithaca N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 2001.
• Huges, Robert. Shock of the New: Art and the Century of Change. (Special Edition). Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2009. (Selected chapters)
• Judt, Tony. Postwar?: a history of Europe since 1945. Penguin Press, 2005 (Selected chapters).
• Jönsson, Christer, Sven Tägil & Gunnar Törnqvist (2000), Organizing European Space, Sage. (Available as an e-book at the library)
• Kenealy, Daniel, Hadfield, Amelia, Peterson, John and Corbett, Richard (eds.) (2022) 6th edn. The European Union: How Does it Work? Oxford University Press.
• Kümin, Beat (ed.), The European World 1500-1800 - An introduction to Early Modern History (3rd edition 2017, e-book)
• Lindqvist, Sven, Exterminate all the brutes. New York: The New Press, 2007.
• May, Tim, Social Research – Issues, methods and process, Open University Press: Buckingham, 2011 (also used in the third semester). Selected parts, E book
• Mazower, Mark. Dark continent?: Europe’s twentieth century. Penguin Books, 1999 (Selected chapters).
• McMahon, Robert J. The Cold War?: a very short introduction. Second edition. Very short introductions: 87. Oxford University Press, 2021 (Selected chapters).
• Osterhammel, Jürgen, The transformation of the world?: a global history of the nineteenth century. America in the world. Princeton University Press, 2014 (Selected chapters).
• Rose, Gillian, Marxist Modernism: Introductory lectures on Frankfurt School Critical Theory. Verso Books, 2024 (Selected chapters).
• Tägil, Sven (ed.) Europe – The return of History, Lund, 2001. Selected chapters. Also used in later courses
• Weller, Shane, The idea of Europe - A Critical History, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2021

+ articles and other literature ca: 800 additional pages

Course evaluation

Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

Interim rules

If a course is no longer offered, or has undergone significant changes, the students must be offered two opportunities for re-examination based on the syllabus that applied at the time of registration, for a period of one year after the changes have been implemented.

Additional information

If a student has a Learning support decision, the examiner has the right to provide the student with an adapted test, or to allow the student to take the exam in a different format. The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.