Luxemburg Homes

Course Information

SUMMARY COURSE DESCRIPTION JLS 551-N01

The European Union, NATO, the Council of Europe and others

This course will study the major trends and events propelling, accompanying, and challenging the unification of Europe; European legal, economic and security concepts and institutions; and the major issues and problems stemming from the harmonization and unification of Europe and worldwide globalization. It will focus on international trade, security, and human rights issues. Major organizations to be studied are: the International Court of Justice; the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia; the European Union; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); the European Investment Bank; the Council of Europe; the European Court for Human Rights; the European Union Institute of Security Studies, INTERPOL, EUROPOL; and others. Students will visit Amsterdam and The Hague (The Netherlands); Brussels (Belgium); Luxembourg; Strasbourg, Paris, Lyon and Nice (France).

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The program has three major focuses and offers instruction and information on:

international business and trade

international security and the new world order

international human rights and justice.

The main objective of this study-tour is to provide the students with a solid introduction to:

European legal concepts, institutions and jurisprudence as reflected in the work of the European Union, the Council of Europe and their respective Courts of Justice;

major contemporary trends, problems and events propelling, accompanying and following the unification of Europe;

the future of the Euro-American relationship;

the new global order as formulated and supported by various international organizations, particularly the European Union.

the dynamics and impact of worldwide globalization.

The course will highlight the study of the remaking of Europe from a legal, political, and business point of view. Thus, it offers useful material and information for international studies, political science, business, justice and the law.

CREDITS

Students can choose to enroll for either three (3) or six (6) graduate or undergraduate credits.

Please consult with your academic advisor to make sure that the credits will count towards your degree objectives and, if you are not at American University, that your university or college will accept the transfer of the credits towards your degree.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Course requirements for the first three credits:

Students are expected:

to complete assigned readings;

keep a journal of impressions, experiences, and field observations (guidelines to be distributed);

attend & participate regularly in scheduled activities, seminars, visits and discussions;

and successfully complete a final written examination to be administered in Europe.

Grade for the first 3 credits:

Your grade will be calculated as follows:

40% attendance and participation

35%, the journal

25% the examination.

Course requirements for the next 3 credits:

Students enrolling for 6 credit hours must complete the requirements for the first three credits and, in addition, write a research paper, 30 pages long for graduate and 20 pages long for undergraduate students, double-spaced, not counting bibliography/references and tables. .The paper can be written from different academic perspectives (e.g. economics, international relations, political science, justice, history, law and society etc.) and must relate to a major area and/or institution studied during the program (see above, “Course Objectives”). Students are expected to submit a brief proposal for approval by the Program Director before writing the paper.

Grade for the next 3 credits:

For students taking the program for 6 credits, your grade on the first three credits (including the exam) will count for 60%, and the paper for 40%, of the final grade.

READINGS: You are responsible for reading the textbook and the course-book throughout the course of the program.

The course packet that will be distributed is meant to help you prepare for the visits and the seminars. You should read the description of each agency or organization before we visit it. The course-book has been organized chronologically and there is a table of contents for each major city visited. Follow that to find the information each day to prepare for the visits. It is important that we arrive prepared to learn and ask meaningful questions. The course-book is meant to facilitate that. While readings in the course-book are not formally mentioned in the readings listed for each date, you should read the section appropriate for the date and the visit(s) planned for that date.

DEADLINES

THE JOURNAL is due on August 9, 2005, or earlier, in Dr. Viano’s office. Specific guidelines on writing the journal will be distributed. There is no set format for the presentation of the journal. Some students in addition to the text, use photographs, postcards, other memorabilia and their own artwork. Others just write plain text. How to present the journal is the students’ personal decision depending on what the journal means to them and its historic importance to them in documenting an important college experience. If the journal is plain text, it can be emailed. If you mail it from abroad or if it is handwritten or an elaborate product, make sure you send it by courier or overnight mail to prevent loss.

THE PAPER for those taking the course for 6 credits is due in Dr. Viano’s office on August 9, 2005 at the latest. Extensions until December 5, 2005 can be granted. Such extension must be requested on or before August 9, 2005. Otherwise, points may be subtracted for late submissions. It is the student’s responsibility to approach the professor with such a request. An “incomplete” form must be signed by both the student and the instructor before the end of the summer session.

Academic conduct: The University’s Academic Integrity Code and Students’ Conduct Code is fully incorporated herein by reference.