PSIR 440 | Course Introduction and Application Information - Department of Political Science and International Relations

Course Name

Policymaking in the European Union

Code	Semester	Theory (hour/week)	Application/Lab (hour/week)	Local Credits	ECTS
PSIR 440	Fall/Spring	3	0	3	6

Prerequisites	None
Course Language	English
Course Type	Elective
Course Level	First Cycle
Mode of Delivery	-
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course	-
National Occupation Classification	-
Course Coordinator	Doç. Dr. Alexander BUERGIN
Course Lecturer(s)	Doç. Dr. Alexander BUERGIN
Assistant(s)	-

Course Objectives	The aim of this course is to understand which factors explain the establishment, shape and evolution of the political system and the policies of the EU.
Learning Outcomes	The students who succeeded in this course; will be able to describe the basics of European integration theories and concepts of preference formation and interaction will be able to report the content and functioning of EU policies and analyze the interaction of the the involved actors will be able to apply these theories and concepts in order to analyze the evolution of the political system of the EU and its policies will be able to transfer their theoretical/analytical knowledge to other areas of international relations or domestic politics will be able to compose a well structured presentation in wich they assess a specific research question will be able to compose a well structured essay on a specific research question
Course Description	(1) Examination of theories and analytical approaches of policy making: Who are the relevant actors? How do they interact? What factors shape their preferences? How are they constrained by institutional and normative factors? (2) Application of these concepts/questions to a selection of policies. (3) Train effective presentation techniques. Therefore, parts of the course will be allocated to the student presentations. Subsequently students receive in class a longer feedback of the instructor.
Related Sustainable Development Goals

Course Category	Core Courses
	Major Area Courses
	Supportive Courses	X
	Media and Management Skills Courses
	Transferable Skill Courses

Week	Subjects	Related Preparation
1	Introduction/How to make a good presentation?	Online material about presentation techniques and guideline for power point presentations
2	Policy Making in the EU: The Institutional Triangle	Michelle Cini (2005): European Union Politics, ch. 9, 10,11
3	Theories of Policy Making	Helen Wallace, William Wallace and Marck A. Pollack (2005): Policy Making in the EU, ch. 2
4	Analysing Executive Politics: Agenda Setting, principalagent theory, bargaing power	Simon Hix (2005): The political system of the European Union, ch. 2
5	Analyzing Legislative Politics: Decision making procedures, norms, role of interest groups	Simon Hix (2005): The political system of the European Union, ch. 3
6	Common Agricultural Policy	Michelle Cini (2005): European Union Politics, ch. 16
7	Single Market	Simon Hix (2005): The political system of the European Union, ch. 6
8	Midterm Exam
9	Economic and Monetary Union	Helen Wallace, William Wallace and Marck A. Pollack (2005): Policy Making in the EU, ch. 6
10	Employment Policy	Helen Wallace, William Wallace and Marck A. Pollack (2005): Policy Making in the EU, ch. 11
11	Eastern Enlargement of the EU	Helen Wallace, William Wallace and Marck A. Pollack (2005): Policy Making in the EU, ch. 16
12	Foreign and Security Policy	Helen Wallace, William Wallace and Marck A. Pollack (2005): Policy Making in the EU, ch. 17
13	Justice and Home Affairs	Helen Wallace, William Wallace and Marck A. Pollack (2005): Policy Making in the EU, ch. 18
14	Europeanization and Implementation	Michelle Cini (2005): European Union Politics, ch. 21 and 22
15	Summary of the previous sessions
16	Review of the Semester

Course Notes/Textbooks

The literature above, power point presentations

*All course readings are available at the University Library and as open sources.

Suggested Readings/Materials

National and international news sources, institutional web pages of the EU, academic journals

Semester Activities	Number	Weigthing
Participation	1	10
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments	1	15
Presentation / Jury	1	15
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm	1	25
Final Exam	1	35
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade	4	65
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade	1	35
Total

Semester Activities	Number	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Theoretical Course Hours (Including exam week: 16 x total hours)	16	3	48
Laboratory / Application Hours (Including exam week: '.16.' x total hours)	16		0
Study Hours Out of Class	16	2	32
Field Work			0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques			0
Portfolio			0
Homework / Assignments	1	20	20
Presentation / Jury	1	10	10
Project			0
Seminar / Workshop			0
Oral Exam			0
Midterms	1	25	25
Final Exam	1	35	35
		Total	170

#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	* Contribution Level
#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	To be able to use the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the areas of Political Science and International Relations.	-	-	-	X	-
2	To be able to have the basic knowledge of, and make use of other disciplines which contribute to the areas of Political Science and International Relations.	-	-	-	-	-
3	To be able to distinguish the differences between classical and contemporary theories and to assess their relationship.	-	-	-	-	-
4	To be able to recognize regional and global issues, and develop solutions based on research.	-	-	-	X	-
5	To be able to assess the acquired knowledge and skills in the areas of Political Science and International Relations critically.	-	-	-	-	-
6	To be able to transfer ideas and proposals on issues in the areas of Political Science and International Relations to other people and institutions verbally and in writing.	-	-	-	-	-
7	To be able to identify the historical continuity and changes observed in the relations between the actors and institutions of national and international politics.	-	-	X	-	-
8	To be able to examine concepts, theories, and developments with scientific methods in the areas of Political Science and International Relations.	-	X	-	-	-
9	To be able to take responsibility as an individual and as a team member.	-	-	-	-	-
10	To be able to act in accordance with the scientific and ethical values in studies related to Political Science and International Relations.	-	X	-	-	-
11	To be able to collect data in the areas of Political Science and International Relations and communicate with colleagues in a foreign language ("European Language Portfolio Global Scale", Level B1).	-	-	-	-	-
12	To be able to speak a second foreign at a medium level of fluency efficiently.	-	-	-	-	-
13	To be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout human history to their field of experience.	-	-	-	-	-