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Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
60
Junior Freshman (first) year
There are approximately 22 hours of classes
per week.
Senior Freshman (second) year
There are approximately 22 hours of classes per week.
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International relations
This module is an introduction to the positive, descriptive study of
international relations. Why do states make war? What are the conditions
for the growth of cross-border trade and finance? What is the impact
of international organisations on relations between states? This module
considers these questions by looking at differing theoretical approaches
to international relations and a selection of topics in historical and
contemporary politics, including the United Nations, the World Trade
Organisation, the European Union, and international environmental
and human rights regimes.
Introduction to social science
This module offers students an introduction to
the significant issues in the three main fields of
social science: politics, economics and sociology.
The first section of the course introduces key
debates in sociology about European social
structure.
The second section provides an introduction to
main issues in political science of significance
to students of European politics.
The third section builds on the first two sections
by paying attention to issues surrounding the
economics of the EU.
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European societies
This module examines different forms of social inequality in Western
Europe, the divisions of class, region, gender, ethnicity and life cycle.
It considers the extent to which the European Union involves a European
social model of social cohesion – a particularly European way of countering
the divisions of a market society. The course uses case studies from
France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the UK.
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Intermediate economics*
The macroeconomic module of the courses has three steps. The first
two steps study the sources of fluctuations in economic activity and the
policy responses that help mitigate such fluctuations. The third step aims
to understand why different countries have different long-run growth rates
and different levels of prosperity. The microeconomic module of the course
studies the theory and applications of microeconomics at an intermediate
level. The module covers consumer theory (indifference curves and
budget constraints); producer theory (isoquant curves and isocost lines);
market structure (perfect competition; monopoly; monopolistic competition
and oligopoly); game theory; factor markets (in perfectly competitive and
imperfectly competitive settings) and general equilibrium.
* Students who wish to take this course must seek permission from the Head
of the Department of Economics during the Trinity (third) Term of their Junior
Freshman (first) year, before declaring their Senior Freshman (second year)
subject choice.
Junior Sophister (third) year
The Junior Sophister year is spent at a university abroad
studying through the language you choose as your major
language and this is an integral part of the course. Exchanges
have been established with history and political science
departments in universities in France (Paris, Strasbourg,
Grenoble, Bordeaux), Germany (Hamburg, Tübingen, Freiburg),
Italy (Pavia, Siena, Florence), Poland (Krakow), Russia
(Moscow) and Spain (Seville, Salamanca, Alcalá). The year
abroad may entail additional expenses for students but support
funding under the European Union’s Erasmus scheme partially
offsets this additional expense (with the exception of Russia,
where the Erasmus scheme does not apply).
Senior Sophister (fourth) year
In the Senior Sophister year, language work focuses
predominantly on your major language. Coursework for your
minor language concentrates mainly on comprehension and
textual analysis. The core course in your final year is a history of
ideas course: Modernism and Mass Society – ideas and culture
since 1890. Additionally, you will choose one or two options
from a wide range of modules from history, political science,
sociology, and a number of culture and literature options
from the language departments. Students who so wish are
encouraged to write a ten thousand word dissertation (replacing
one of the options) on a subject of their own choice under the
supervision of a member of staff.
Assessment
Written, oral and aural exams are combined with continuous
assessment, essays and end-of-year examinations.
Career opportunities
Recent graduates are employed in international organisations
both in Ireland and abroad, in the EU, in the civil service and
the diplomatic corps, in business, finance and marketing. Other
popular career paths are in law, consultancy, teaching (in Ireland
and abroad), translating and interpreting, journalism and tourism.
Many students go on to do postgraduate courses, often with a
more applied, specialised focus or specifically relating to Europe.
Further information
www.tcd.ie/European_Studies
Tel: +353 1 896 1808
E-mail:
european.studies@tcd.ie