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INTRODUCTION

The MA in European Politics and Governance is designed to provide students with an advanced understanding of how modern societies are governed through the complex interaction between public and private actors at different levels of government. The ability of national governments to determine domestic policy outcomes is increasingly limited by interdependencies with local and European levels of government. Furthermore, the distinction between governmental and non-governmental organisations is increasingly blurred when the formulation and implementation of policies relies heavily on the cooperation of private actors. Taking a multi-level and governance perspective, the programme offers a distinctive approach to the study of politics and policy-making. The programme aims to provide the substantive knowledge required of students who intent to pursue a career in governmental and non-governmental organisations at the local, national, or European level. In addition, the programme aims to foster students' transferable skills, emphasising research methods and other job-relevant competences, which are attractive to employers in a wide range of occupational areas.

OBJECTIVES

• To provide students with comprehensive knowledge about the roles of governmental and non-governmental organisations in the formulation and implementation of policies at the local, national, and European level.

• To enable students to critically examine theoretical approaches and empirical evidence in the study of government and governance.

• To enable students to design, conduct, and clearly communicate the results of their own independent research.

• To enable students to analyse and assess different practical approaches to governance at a variety of different levels of government.

PROGRAMME OF STUDY

The MA in European Politics and Governance is a one-year full-time programme. Students are required to take six core modules and two elective modules. The modules are delivered in a combination of lectures and seminars. The 15,000 word dissertation, to be written on a topic of choice under the guidance of a faculty supervisor, forms a substantial research element of the programme.

CAREERS

The programme aims to equip students with the substantive knowledge and analytical and transferable skills necessary to pursue a successful career in civil society and other non-governmental organisations, think tanks, interest groups, media organisations, local, national, and European administrations. The programme also provides the foundations for further doctoral research in the areas of Irish Politics, Comparative Public Administration, and European Union Politics.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must have a primary degree in a social science or related discipline, with first or second-class honours or an approved equivalent qualification. Candidates should be proficient in the use of English.

FEES

Students from EU countries: €4,660
Students from non-EU countries: €10,780
Please note that these fees refer to the academic year 2012/13 and are subject to annual review.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply through the online application system.

Postgraduate Admissions Office
Graduate School
Foundation Building
University of Limerick
Tel: +353 61 234377
Fax: +353 61 233287
E-mail: postgradadmissions@ul.ie

Further information can be found at www.graduateschool.ul.ie.
The last date for the receipt of completed applications is 7 June 2013. Applications received after the closing date may be considered if there are still places available on the course.

MODULE DESCRIPTIONS

Institutions and Policies of the European Union
The module introduces students to the institutions and policies of the European Union. The first part of the module is devoted to the description and explanation of the internal workings of the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union, as well as the interaction of those institutions during the legislative decision-making process. The second part of the module focuses on how policy decisions are made in different policy sectors, highlighting distinctions in institutional structures and actor configurations. The discussed policy areas include the common agricultural policy, justice and home affairs, the internal market, environmental policy, and economic and monetary policy.

Representative Democracy in Europe
The module examines the democratic process in European countries and the EU, focusing in particular on the linkages between the policy preferences of citizens and the public policies enacted by their representatives. Normative democratic theory tells us that such linkages are a requirement for representative democracy, but transforming citizens’ preferences into public policy is far from straightforward. The module analyses and assesses this process in the European context.

European Public Administration: Actors, Institutions & Policy Process
In this module students will explore how national administrations have become part of an increasingly integrated and multi-level European Union administration, as well as part of national executives. Transformations in the executive branch of government in Europe are evident in the necessity to prepare and coordinate national positions in the EU policy making process, agencification, and the implementation of EU legislation. A principal aim of this module is to explore the interaction between the EU and member states’ administrations. The module will investigate explanations for institutional adaptation and innovation in the domestic politics, polity and policies of EU member states which are attributed to Europeanisation, globalisation and public management reform.

Government and Governance: Politics, Policy, and Practice
The aim of this module is to enable students to understand the significant changes that have taken place in processes of policy design and decision making at international, national and local levels. The module explores what governance as a concept actually means and discusses the degree to which governance actually differs from the more traditional notion of government. In doing so, the particular challenges for both public administration and civil society arising from a governance approach are identified. The module also examines the relationship between governance and different democratic constructs, traces the possible conflicts therein and explores the potential of governance as a means of addressing democratic decline. All elements of the module are supported by investigation of governance practice, at international, national and local levels, with which students will be required to actively engage.

Research Methods
This module introduces students to the logic and design of social science research. After reviewing fundamental philosophical issues in the generation of reliable scientific knowledge, the module discusses the structure and elements of scientific theories, the ability of different research designs to generate sound causal inferences, and different methods for collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data. In particular, methodological topics include the fundamentals of statistical analysis, comparative analysis and case selection, questionnaire design and interviewing, as well as archival research and document analysis.

Other Modules
Two smaller, more practically-oriented core modules complement the substantive core modules by focusing on developing students' academic and transferable skills as well as their thesis writing skills. In the spring semester, students can choose two elective modules from a wide list of politics module options to specialise in a field of their choice. Elective options generally include (subject to timetabling and faculty availability):

• External Relations of the EU

• Policies & Policy Making in the EU

• Comparative Politics

• Issues in International Development

• Political Reconciliation in the Aftermath of Conflict

• Public Policy and Programme Management

• Foreign Aid and Development

• Peacekeeping and Peace-building

• International Security

• Global Transformation and Exclusion

• Global Justice

• European Public Administration: Actors, Institutions & Policy Process

• Development Practice and Programme Management