MASTER'S DEGREE IN EUROPEAN STUDIES

First year

Course	ECTS Credits	Examination Method	Language of Instruction	Marks given
History of The Idea of Europe	10	Written	English	Scale of 13
Nordic Perspectives	10	Oral	English	Scale of 13
Cultural Theories	10	Written	English	Scale of 13
European Cultural Analysis	10	Written	English	Scale of 13
European Institutions	10	Portfolio/written	English	Scale of 13
Elective Subj./Traineeship	10	Oral/written	English	Scale of 13

Second year

Course	ECTS Credits	Examination Method	Language of Instruction	Marks given
Organization Building and Project design	5	Participation	English	pass/fail
Communication	5	Participation	English	pass/fail
Project Topic and Methods	15	Written+oral	English	scale of 13
Thesis Synopsis	5	Portfolio	English	pass/fail
Thesis	30	Written	English	scale of 13

The Master's Degree in European Studies is based on a relevant BA in the Humanities or Social Sciences.

Study progression:
Exams in European Cultural Analysis and European Institutions may only be taken when the student has passed Cultural Theories .
Exams in Organization Building and Project design and Communication and Project Topic and Methods may only be taken when the student has passed European Cultural Analysis and Nordic Perspectives.
The Thesis must be taken as the last exam along with the Thesis Synopsis .


The courses:

The History of the Idea of Europe 10 ECTS.
The discipline deals with aspects of European history in a broader History of Ideas-perspective. The demonstration of the contested and ambiguous meanings of the concept of 'Europe' sets a framework for the analysis of present uses of the concept of 'Europe' as they appear, e.g. in the discussion about Europe's borders, the meanings of the EU, and European identity. The discipline focuses both on the development of different concepts of Europe and on cultural problems connected to the concept of Europe.

Duration:	One semester. Fall
Assessment:	Either: a) Active participation plus a 12-14 page individual written paper on an elective subject. Or: b) a 12-14 page individual 14-day written paper on a set subject.

Nordic Perspectives 10 ECTS.
The discipline integrates a particularly Nordic perspective in European Studies. Issues or attitudes in the Nordic countries are seen in relationship to relevant European initiatives or events. The intention is to place Europe in a regional perspective and also to place the Nordic countries in a European framework. Oral presentation skills are an integrated part of the course.

Duration:	One semester. Fall
Assessment:	A 40-minute individual oral exam testing both the academic subject and skills of oral presentation. Students will be given the exam question 48 hours before the exam.

Cultural Theories 10 ECTS.
The discipline takes its point of departure in the history of the notion of 'culture'. Its aim is to give the students a comprehensive knowledge of the theoretical foundations of Cultural Analysis and also to give them a general understanding of how such theories may be utilized for analysis in other disciplines.

Duration:	One semester. Fall
Assessment:	A 10-12 page 7-day individual written paper on a set subject.

European Cultural Analysis 10 ECTS.
The discipline aims at utilizing Theories of Culture for the concrete analysis of European cases. It may be combined with an Elective Subject. See below.

Duration:	One semester. Spring
Assessment:	Either: a) Active participation plus a 12-14 page individual written paper on an elective subject. Papers may also be written in groups of 2-5 participants. Scope 9-11 pages per participant. Or: b) a 12-14 page 14-day individual written paper on a set subject.

European Institutions 10 ECTS.
The discipline focuses on the historical and political development, institutional structures and decision-making of relevant European Institutions, among them the EU.

Duration:	One semester. Spring
Assessment:	Either: a) A portfolio group exam comprising 3 minor assignments Group size: 3-5 people. Or: b) a 12-14 page 14-day individual written paper on a set subject.

Elective Subject 10 ECTS.
The elective subject may be chosen from the range of courses offered by European Studies or chosen freely from other departments or faculties. It may be combined with European Cultural Analysis or replaced by a traineeship (see below).

Duration:	One semester. Usually offered both autumn and spring
Assessment:	A 30-minute individual oral exam based on a synopsis to be handed in two weeks before the exam.

European Cultural Analysis plus Elective Subject 20 ECTS.
This combination gives the students the opportunity to work in depth with a comprehensive European case material based on Theories of culture.

Duration:	One semester. Spring
Assessment:	Active participation plus a 24-26 page individual written paper on an elective subject.

Traineeship 10 ECTS.
Instead of the Elective Subject, the student may choose a traineeship of no less than a month’s duration in an organisation approved by the Study Leader.

Duration:	One month (or more). Preferably during summer holidays.
Assessment:	A 12-14 page individual written paper on an elective subject.

Project 3rd semester
(NB Only open to students enrolled for the full Master’s Degree in European Studies)
The project may be carried out either as a) A research-based investigation for an external customer, or: as b) An academic treatment of a certain problem, typically presented as a conference, or c) A combination of the two. The project courses listed below are intensive courses placed at the beginning of the semester in order to give the students time to carry out their research and prepare the reports. All exams must be taken within the same semester.

	Organisation Building and Project Design 5 ECTS. The discipline aims at giving the students an insight into how to create an effective organisation and construct a realistic project based on the demands of the costumer and the available resources.
	Duration: 4-6 weeks. Fall Assessment: Active participation

	Communication 5 ECTS. The discipline introduces a series of relevant communication techniques in order to enable the students to choose the most suitable ways of communication in relation to topic and target group.
	Duration: 4-6 weeks. Fall Assessment: Active participation

Project Topic and Methods 15 ECTS. The discipline aims at giving the students a broad overview of themes and problems that are relevant for the project and enable them to work with relevant literature on their own. Methods for the collection and analysis of data are introduced. Students must demonstrate their ability to combine material from academic literature with other forms of material in the solution and presentation of the project and also be able to reflect about methodology.

Duration: 4-6 weeks. Fall Assessment: Collective group exam. Exam options: Either a) A written report organized according to the needs and wishes of the external partner, and followed by an oral exam discussing the context of the work and the principles and methods behind the report. Or: b) A conference with a number of 20-minute oral presentations organized by the students collectively. The oral presentations must be based on 10-page written papers suitable, e.g. for publication in conference proceedings.

Thesis Synopsis 5 ECTS.
This exam is taken in the framework of a seminar series introducing theories and methods for thesis writing in order to create a solid foundation for thesis work.

Duration:	One semester. Spring
Assessment:	A portfolio exam taken individually or in a group.

Thesis 30 ECTS
Elective. Selected after consultation with the supervisor. The topic must be of European relevance.

Duration:	One semester. Spring
Assessment:	A 50-60 page written paper on a selective subject. The thesis may be written in groups of up till five participants with 50-60 pages for the first member and an additional 30-40 pages for each following member.

For further information, please contact
The University of Aarhus
The Study Counsel for European Studies
Email: studievejleder.europa@remove-this.au.dk