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History of Integration

This course will examine the different integrational pushes in Europe, including the EU. We will compare various regional organizations and examine the reasons that the EU has survived, grown, and prospered when several other alternatives fell by the wayside. We will also use the EU as a comparative case in examining other regional integration attempts around the world.

USG Course Instructor: Dr. Heather Mbaye

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2011 - Summer

Introduction to the European Union

The purpose of the course is to introduce the European Union (EU). Originally formed in 1957 by six nations, the EU is currently composed of twenty-seven countries from Western and Central Europe. A commitment to cooperate did not become a priority until after World War II when hesitation about relinquishing certain aspects of national sovereignty was overridden by the war's devastation. The authority of the EU evolved slowly through a series of treaty agreements to encompass a complex network of social, political, and economic responsibilities. In the process, an elaborate structure of institutions developed to manage the EU's expanding range of activities.

USG Course Instructor: Dr. Chris Bourdouvalis

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Communications and Media

It is an understatement to say communications and the media are driving forces in the European Union. Europe is crossed with not only phone lines, but is filled with antennae, modems, radio waves, satellite signals, television broadcasts, and other forms of telecommunications that serve to unite the countries within. This course examines six key elements in this field: 1) Basic Concepts and Principles in the EU Law, 2) Broadcasting, 3) Voice Telephony, 4) The Internet, 5) Consequences of EU Enlargement, 6) Media Policies and Practices.

USG Course Instructor: Frank Barnas

LMU Course Instructor: Dr. Rainer Hülsse

Science and Technology Policy

This class will examine Science and Technology Policy, with particular attention to the European Union and (for comparison) the United States. The course begins with an overview of technological innovation, and of the current state of science and policymaking in the EU and the US. After these introductory topics, we will investigate Environmental Policy --paying particular attention to those policies in the EU and US. The class then examines how governments can encourage scientific and technological innovation, and concludes by asking whether government and society can (or should) try to limit or control technological innovation.

USG Course Instructor: Dr. Heather Mbaye

LMU Course Instructor: Dr. Rainer Hülsse

2011 - Fall

Introduction to the European Union

The purpose of the course is to introduce the European Union (EU). Originally formed in 1957 by six nations, the EU is currently composed of twenty-seven countries from Western and Central Europe. A commitment to cooperate did not become a priority until after World War II when hesitation about relinquishing certain aspects of national sovereignty was overridden by the war's devastation. The authority of the EU evolved slowly through a series of treaty agreements to encompass a complex network of social, political, and economic responsibilities. In the process, an elaborate structure of institutions developed to manage the EU's expanding range of activities.

USG Course Instructor: Dr. Rick Reiman

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Law and Legal Systems

This course focuses on the legal institutions that constitute the European Union and the legal processes of those institutions. The course covers the legal institutions of the European Union, including the European Parliament, the European Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice, and the European Ombudsman.

The course will look at the body of law, both static and dynamic, on which these institutions rest and that have been produced by the institutions themselves. This law includes the several treaties that provide the legal basis of the EU; the body of statutory law enacted by the Parliament, the Council, and the Commission; and the judicial decisions adjudicated by the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance; and finally, the administrative rulings issued by the European Ombudsman.

We will also examine the extent to which EU law has made a real impact on the lives of European citizens, companies, and member governments.

USG Course Instructor: Dr. Heather Mbaye

LMU Course Instructor: Dr. Rainer Hülsse

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Multi-level Governance / Federalism

Students taking this course will learn about the different types of federalism in a comparative (US-Europe) context. In examining the relationship between various levels of government in the EU, the multi-level character of the Union will emerge.

USG Course Instructor: Dr. Chris Bourdouvalis

LMU Course Instructor: Dr. Rainer Hülsse

2012 - Spring:

Introduction to the European Union

The purpose of the course is to introduce the European Union (EU). Originally formed in 1957 by six nations, the EU is currently composed of twenty-seven countries from Western and Central Europe. A commitment to cooperate did not become a priority until after World War II when hesitation about relinquishing certain aspects of national sovereignty was overridden by the war's devastation. The authority of the EU evolved slowly through a series of treaty agreements to encompass a complex network of social, political, and economic responsibilities. In the process, an elaborate structure of institutions developed to manage the EU's expanding range of activities.

USG Course Instructor: Dr. Rick Reiman

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Foreign Policy of the EU

This is an upper division reading course on the foreign policy of the European Union. The course explores regionalism in international relations with a focus on how its growing complexity reflects the variations in regional political, social, and cultural contexts. The course will focus on the challenges to all states created by an increasingly interdependent, globalized world. We will explore how regional responses to these challenges have developed in a manner that reflects the contexts of three major regions: Europe, North America, and Africa. The early part of the course focuses on theories of regional integration. The remainder of the course will examine these three regions of the world in light of these theories. We will explore differences in institutional design, goals, and scale across these regions and how these differences reflect the particular context of these regions. We will focus on three intergovernmental institutions: The European Union, The North American Free Trade Agreement, and the African Union (formerly the Organization of African Unity). Special attention shall be given to the role of the EU as an exemplar of regional integration and its influence in the evolution and design of the other two organizations.

USG Course Instructor: Greg Dixon

Social Policy in Europe

This course examines the history of social policy in the European Union. We will examine gender policy, education, child care, elder care, and other policies in the context of improving social conditions in the domestic policy arena.

USG Course Instructor: Dr. Heather Mbaye

2012 - Summer

Introduction to the European Union

The purpose of the course is to introduce the European Union (EU). Originally formed in 1957 by six nations, the EU is currently composed of twenty-seven countries from Western and Central Europe. A commitment to cooperate did not become a priority until after World War II when hesitation about relinquishing certain aspects of national sovereignty was overridden by the war's devastation. The authority of the EU evolved slowly through a series of treaty agreements to encompass a complex network of social, political, and economic responsibilities. In the process, an elaborate structure of institutions developed to manage the EU's expanding range of activities.

USG Course Instructor: Dr. Chris Bourdouvalis

Click here for a syllabus

Environmental Policy

Environmental Policy in the European Union is a survey of the critical issues that define the relationship between environmental quality and the course of European integration. These include the historical origins of environmental policy, the difficulties of implementing changing regulations, the role of EU governance in policy implementation, and the future prospects for the EU's success in environmental regulation (with an occasional glance at environmental policy in the United States). This course will also provide students the opportunity to explore specific case studies of the politics of environmental policy in the application of EU environmental policies in two discrete areas: fisheries and climate change.

USG Course Instructor: Dr. Heather Mbaye

LMU Course Instructor:

Doing Business in the EU

This course focuses on the challenges to business in the US and EU. It focuses on institutions and rules which impact the business environment for domestic and international firms.

USG Course Instructor: Donna Cunningham

LMU Course Instructor:

2012 - Fall

Introduction to the European Union

The purpose of the course is to introduce the European Union (EU). Originally formed in 1957 by six nations, the EU is currently composed of twenty-seven countries from Western and Central Europe. A commitment to cooperate did not become a priority until after World War II when hesitation about relinquishing certain aspects of national sovereignty was overridden by the war's devastation. The authority of the EU evolved slowly through a series of treaty agreements to encompass a complex network of social, political, and economic responsibilities. In the process, an elaborate structure of institutions developed to manage the EU's expanding range of activities.

USG Course Instructor: Dr. Chris Bourdouvalis

Click here for a syllabus

US-EU Relations

This course examines the ways that government, politics and policies work within the European Union and the United States. We begin by exploring the question of what "comparative politics" means and what it contributes to our understanding the complex and varied political universe that we live in. From a comparative perspective we will examine how political institutions work in different settings, and the factors such as culture, ideology, history, structure, and political leadership which shape different political systems affect key policy arenas.

USG Course Instructor: Dr. Heather Mbaye

LMU Course Instructor:

European Monetary Union

European Monetary Union addresses the core policies of the enlarged European Union, focusing on those relating to money and monetary decision making. It analyzes the evolution of the major policy areas and institutions, as well as the evolution of the European Monetary System as a whole.

USG Course Instructor: Dr. Heather Mbaye

LMU Course Instructor: