BALV3500 EU Law and Politics Emneplan

This course discusses the most important legal aspects and political dynamics of the European Union (EU). The focus is on its legal foundations, institutional structure and decision-making processes. At the end of the course the student will be able to understand and critically assess core issues arising in the field of EU Law, the development of the EU’s political system, and the main political dynamics that characterize the European context. Emphasis is given to the EEA Agreement and to the relationship between Norway and the European Union.

Language of instruction is English.

None

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has knowledge of

• the European Union and the EEA: historical development, theories of European integration, Treaties, etc.
• topics of EU and EEA Law: legal sources, effects of EU legislation in the national systems, the EEA Agreement, free movement of people, etc.
• the functioning of the EU institutional framework: composition and competences of the institutions, procedures, inter-institutional relations and main political dynamics that characterize the decision-making processes
• topical issues: democracy, relationship between Norway and the EU, current issues in the European context

Skills

The student is able to

• demonstrate understanding of the European integration process
• solve basic legal questions of EU Law independently, identifying and utilizing relevant legal sources
• analyze and illustrate how the institutional structure and decision-making processes of the EU work

General competence

The student is able to

• understand and critically assess core issues in the European context
• use specialized terminology and write on the topics studied
• retrieve legal sources using international databases

The course is based on lectures, group work, assignments, and self-study.

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• Coursework 1: The students, working individually or in groups, are required to submit a written work of maximum 1200 words. The groups, topics and deadline will be decided by the lecturer and announced on Canvas during the course.

The purpose of the coursework is the development of skills specified under learning outcomes.

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If the coursework requirement has not been approved, the student will be given the opportunity to submit an improved version one time by the given deadline.  

The examination regulations are specified in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet and the National Curriculum Regulations for Engineering Education. See OsloMet’s website www.oslomet.no

Oral and practical exams are assessed by two examiners, as the exams results cannot be appealed. Formal errors can nonetheless be appealed.

One overall grade is given for the portfolio. It is only possible to appeal the exam result for the portfolio assessment as a whole. Any information provided about weighting is only considered additional information in relation to the final grade. If parts of the portfolio contain elements such as an oral presentation, practical assignments etc., the exam result cannot be appealed. The rules concerning right of appeal are described in each individual course description.

Exams that are only assessed by internal examiners shall be regularly selected for external assessment.

Assessment

The grades pass/fail or a grade scale with grades from A to E for pass and F for fail are used for exam assessment.

Prerequisite knowledge and study progress

Prerequisite knowledge over and above the admission requirements are described in the course descriptions.

Even if no specific requirements for prior knowledge are defined, the students should take courses worth at least 50 credits each year to be able to complete the programme within the nominal length of study.

• From the first to the second year of the programme – courses worth 50 credits should be completed
• From the first and second years to the third year of the programme – courses worth 100 credits should be completed

Students must be registered in the third year of the programme and have completed at least 100 credits from the first and second years of the programme by 1 October, before they can write their bachelor’s thesis.

Programme supervisor scheme

The programme supervisor scheme is part of the quality assurance of each individual study programme. A programme supervisor is not an examiner, but someone who supervises the quality of the study programmes. All study programmes at OsloMet shall be subject to supervision by a programme supervisor, but there are different ways of practising the scheme. Reference is made to the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet: https://student.oslomet.no/retningslinjer-sensorer

Rescheduled/resit exams

Students must register for resit/rescheduled exams themselves. Resit/rescheduled exams are normally organised together early in the following semester. Resit exams are for students who have taken the exam and failed. Rescheduled exams are for students who did not take the ordinary exam. The conditions for taking resit/rescheduled exams are set out in the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet.

Diploma

The final assessment for each course is included on the diploma for the Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engineering. The title of the bachelor’s thesis will also be included on the diploma.

he purpose of OsloMet’s quality assurance system is to strengthen students’ learning outcomes and development by raising the quality at all levels. OsloMet wishes to cooperate with the students, and their participation in quality assurance work is crucial. The overall goals for the quality assurance system include:

• ensuring that the educational activities, including practical training and the learning and study environment, maintain a high level of quality
• ensuring that the study programmes are relevant to the professional fields
• ensuring that the quality continues to improve

For the students, this entails, among other things, student evaluations:

• course evaluations
• annual student surveys for all of OsloMet

More information about the quality assurance system is available here: https://student.oslomet.no/regelverk#etablering-studium-evaluering-kvalitetssystem

Grade scale A - F

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.

At least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

Diego Praino