Course objectives:

This course examines major trends and developments in European politics, culture, and society since the end of the Cold War. The course will focus on political events, wars, economic crises, works of art (especially literature and film), and sport to address such themes as Europe’s transcontinental and transnational relationships, inter-European immigration, and the impact of the EU on European citizens.

Learning outcomes:

1. Critical and creative thinking

• The ability to undertake critical inquiry and analysis about various aspects of late twentieth-century and twenty-first European politics, culture, and society.
• Depth and breadth of historical understanding, based on a close and integrated reading of the course materials.
• The ability to use appropriate interdisciplinary methodologies to explain the interaction between cultural trends and social and political developments in Europe since 1989. These interactions will be grounded in literature, history, film, and political and economic theory.

2. Literacy

• The ability to interpret and analyze texts critically and in depth, in order to ascertain their explicit and implicit meaning(s).

3. Global understanding

• Familiarity with major individuals, events, themes, movements, and ideas in late twentieth-century and twenty-first century European culture.
• Familiarity with a sense of historical development in the late twentieth century and the twenty-first century, especially as it pertains to politics, economics, culture, and sport.
• Engagement with contemporary political and cultural issues through an understanding of their modern historical context.

4. Communication

• The further development of written and oral communication skills through assignments, presentations, and class discussions.
• The further development of reading comprehension through engagement with a variety of cultural and historical texts.

5. Professional and ethical behaviour

• A deeper understanding of academic integrity as applied to the responsible use of cultural and historical sources and the ethical presentation of one’s own work.
• A deeper ability to collaborate with peers.

Requirements:

10 credits

Restrictions:

None

Textbooks:

Method of presentation:

Lecture and in-class discussion

Evaluation method:

TBA

Please see Undergraduate Calendar for all EURO courses offered by the School of Languages and Literatures [1]