Social Europe

The course is given within the Master's Programme in European Studies (two year programme) and is a semi-elective course. The course is also an optional course for the completion of the Master's degree in Law. Students not enrolled in either of these programmes may attend this course as a freestanding course.

The entry requirements for the course is a Bachelor's degree of 180 credits, with a minimum of 90 credits in a social sciences discipline, humanities discipline or equivalent. Students at the Law programme are also eligible to the course after three years of studies (180 credits, equivalent of a Bachelor's degree). Applicants must prove their knowledge of English: English 6/English B from Swedish Upper Secondary School or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL, IELTS.

The course Social Europe seeks to consider the past, present, and future of Social Europe. The course will focus on inter-disciplinary aspects of the European citizenship, i.e. rights and obligations, work, family, gender, identity, migration and the future of European welfare states. The students will get in-depth knowledge of the diversity of European social policies, of their political background and of current welfare reforms. The course addresses and problematizes European social policy. This provides the baseline for thematic elaborations on different social problems and future challenges for the EU.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• have in-depth knowledge of the social and political conditions for social policy making in the European Union and Europe, with a special focus on migration and gender equality issues
• have in-depth knowledge of the relation between the EU and the EU member states in social policy-making; and in what ways various governance methods have an impact on policy outcomes in selected thematic areas

Competence and skills

• analyse specific social issues with regard to various interests at stake; what role EU institutions, different EU member states, and social movements and organisations, lobby groups etc. play in the policy process;
• analyse and reflect on the development of EU social policy in order to face challenges of contemporary society;
• present and argue for their own analytical findings orally and in writing;
• formulate and argue for interesting research problems within the field of Social Policy;
• independently produce text in accordance with good academic practice, including proper citation technique and use of references;
• communicate clearly and proficiently in English both orally and in writing

Judgement and approach

• critically reflect on current research on European social policy
• critically analyse European social policy and its outcomes

The course is taught in the form of lectures, compulsory seminars and compulsory assignments.

Language of instruction: English

The course is assessed in the form of three compulsory theme seminars, where the students have to submit a written theme assignment to each seminar (2,5 credits each). The course ends with a final research paper and a final seminar (7,5 credits).

Students will be evaluated based on their performance on the three written theme assignments, the final research paper, and oral assignments both individually and in groups.

Students can be asked to re-work graded assignments and re-submit them. If the student does not re-submit the reworked assignment on time, the student will be failed on the assignment.

A student who is not able to attend a compulsory part of the course can do an alternative assignment. The assignment is described in the course guide.

If a student, who has failed the same examined component twice, wishes to change examiner before the next examination, a written application shall be sent to the department responsible for the course and shall be granted unless there are special reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6, Section 22 of Higher Education Ordinance).

If a student has received a recommendation from the University of Gothenburg for special educational support, where it is compatible with the learning outcomes of the course and provided that no unreasonable resources are required, the examiner may decide to allow the student to sit an adjusted exam or alternative form of assessment.

At least five occasions shall be offered the students to pass a course or part of a course (Chapter 6, Section 21 of Higher Education Ordinance).

In cases where a course has been discontinued or has undergone major changes, the student shall normally be guaranteed at least three examination occasions (including the ordinary examination) during a period of at least one year from the last time the course was given. This may not be in conflict with Chapter 6 Section 21 of Higher Education Ordinance.

The grading scale comprises: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U).

To receive the grade Pass on the course, a student must have earned a passing grade on all course assignments. To receive the grade Pass with Distinction on the course, a student must have received the grade Pass with Distinction on the final paper (7,5 credits), and at least one of the theme papers (2,5 credits), and the grade Pass on the rest of the course assignments.

The student will be given the opportunity to do a course evaluation. The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.