Postgraduate - UnitAPG5438 - The European Union and the world

Students who successfully complete this unit will be expected to demonstrate:

1. a developed understanding of the conceptual difficulties associated with the study of the EU's external relations
2. informed appreciation of the EU's role as an actor and presence in world affairs
3. understanding of the major theoretical debates about ways of analysing EU external policy and the roles of the EU in world affairs
4. understanding of the institutions, processes and policies of EU external relations
5. knowledge of EU relations with Asia, Oceania, the United States, Africa, Russia, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, Central and South America, and other countries and regions
6. understanding of the status and role of the EU in key international organizations
7. strong skills in the critical reading of a variety of texts and the academic scholarship based upon these texts
8. strong skills in critical oral and written assessment of the academic scholarship, including methods, assumptions and uses of evidence, and in organising and defending a verbal and written argument based upon those assessments
9. a capacity to devise, plan and successfully complete a research essay
10. a capacity to reflect upon and make critical use of a range of resources including, where relevant, on-line materials
11. Students completing this unit at fifth level will be expected to demonstrate, in addition: the acquisition of a higher level of analytical skills and a greater understanding of the key conceptual and methodological issues involved in analysing the role of the EU on the international scene.