General provisions

The course is part of the Euroculture Master's programme.

Entry requirements

The course is only available to students within the Euroculture Master's programme.

Learning outcomes

After completion of the course students will be able to:

• identify and analyse key developments in modern European politics, culture, and society from the disciplinary perspectives of history and religious studies;
• formulate questions and analyse European issues concerning the steering concepts of the Euroculture programme - communication, mobility, cooperation and active citizenship - in a multidisciplinary way;
• master, at an advanced introductory level, basic knowledge about the modern history of politics, society, and religious life in Europe;
• discuss matters of cultural, political, and religious identities in Europe at an informed and sophisticated level;
• show a deep understanding of European identity/ies, civil society/ies, the ongoing European unification process in itself, its cultural and social dynamics and the consequences for its citizens and the wider world;
• identify and problematise what Europe and the EU represents for its citizens and for the wider world;
• analyse and interpret multicultural problems, develop feasible solutions and transfer this knowledge to relevant audiences.

Content

The course gives both an introduction and deepened understanding of the historical and religious aspects of culture and identity in modern Europe. The first portion explores the idea of Europe in history, charting various ways in which the continent has been conceived of as a unit, and examining several efforts to translate that vision into political reality. The second portion examines Europe's religious traditions and the interactions between these. By analysing thematic questions and problems the course discusses and uses interdisciplinary methods and theories.

Instruction

Teaching will be in English. The teaching on this campus course includes both lectures and seminars. Attendance at seminars and at least 75% of lectures is compulsory. Students who miss seminars must compensate for this absence. In general, students who miss more than 25% of lectures must also compensate. However, students who are absent for substantially more than 25% of lectures must instead take part in lectures the next time the course is provided. Participation in all lectures is highly encouraged since the lectures facilitate reading and analysis of the course literature.

Assessment

Examination takes place through active participation in the taught sessions, through written papers, and a final take-home exam.

Grades: Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) and Excellent (A).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

All work to be assessed must be in English.

Transitional provisions

Students retain the right to be examined on the course according to this syllabus for 3 semesters after their course instance has ended. Normally, instruction will be given according to the latest version of the course syllabus only.