European Studies (Spanish pathway) with a year abroad

Course detail Description

The European Studies (Spanish pathway) BA degree course is split between European Studies modules and Spanish-specific modules. You will study a range of required modules that will include European politics, political economy, political thought, contemporary history, culture, economics, law, geography, alongside a focus on Spanish politics, history, language and contemporary culture.

This degree is a four-year study course that is composed of optional and required modules totalling 450 credits. Each year, you will take modules totalling 120 credits, apart from your third year, where you will take modules totalling 90 credits. Your third year of study will be spent in Spain at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid developing your modern language skills and deepening your understanding of Spanish culture and attitudes towards Europe. A generous allowance of free choice means that you can freely explore all key aspects of European studies and history, language and contemporary culture of Spain.

We use lectures, seminars and group tutorials to deliver most of the modules on the programme. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study. You will be assigned a personal tutor who will provide support and guidance for your studies.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

The primary methods of assessment for this course are coursework, assessed essays, written examinations and individual and group presentations. Your practical exam in your third year will be taken once you return to King’s College London following your study abroad year.

The Strand Campus, where most of the teaching takes place, is located in the heart of London adjacent to the Thames and close to Covent Garden. No other place in the United Kingdom can compete with London with regards to the opportunities on offer for the study of modern Europe. The library and research facilities available, as well as the range of contacts with cultural institutes, libraries, international firms, journalists, clubs and government agencies, far outstrip anything available elsewhere. Foreign language film showings, exhibitions, political talks and other cultural events take place continually.

Year 3 is spent at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

• European Studies (French pathway) BA
• European Studies (German pathway) BA
• European Politics BA

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Structure

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3
• Year 4

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules. Each year you will normally take modules totalling 120 credits.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide upto-date, innovative and relevant courses of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on this course page for updates.

You are required to take the following modules:

• Spanish Language I (30 credits) [Department of Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies]

• The Making of Modern Europe (30 credits)

• Spain in the 20th Century (15 credits) [Department of Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies]

• Global Iberias - Part 1 (15 credits) [Department of Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies]

In addition you are required to take 30 credits from a range of optional modules, which may typically include:

• Introduction to Politics (15 credits)

• Introduction to International Economics (15 credits)

• European Law (Dickson Poon School of Law) (15 credits)

• The Causes of War (Department of War Studies) (15 credits)

Year 2 Required Modules

You are required to take the following modules:

• Spanish Language II (30 credits) or

• Spanish Language (15 credits) [Department of Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies]

• The Integration of the European Union (30 credits)

• and 30 compulsory credits from the following modules:

• Nationalism in Spain (15 credits) [Department of Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies]

• Spain in the World (15 credits) [Department of Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies]

• Fatherlands: Spain and Portugal under the Dictators (15 credits) [Department of Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies]

In addition you are required to take 30 credits from a range of “Europe” optional modules, which may typically include:

• International Political Economy (30 credits)

• International Relations (30 credits)

• War & Society (30 credits) (Department of War Studies)

• War in International Order (30 credits) (Department of War Studies)

• Military Strategy (30 credits) (Department of War Studies)

• Empires, Imperialism & the History of the Modern World (30 credits) (Department of War Studies)

• A History of the European Cold War (1917- 91) (30 credits) (Department of War Studies)

• Microeconomics (15 credits) (Department of Political Economy)

• Politics of Central & Eastern Europe (15 credits)

• Institutions, Identity and Society in Russia and Eurasia (15 credits) (Russia Institute)

If you have opted to take the 15 credit Spanish Language module you are also required to take 15 credits from a range of optional modules from the Department of Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies. These options may typically include:

• Visuality, Literature & Modern Life in Latin America (15 credits)

• Imperial Visions in Iberian Literature (15 credits)

• Catalan Language & Culture (15 credits)

• The Study of Gender in Spanish American Literature and Culture (15 credits)

Year 3 Required Modules

You will spend your third year of study in Spain at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, where you are required to take 60 credits of optional modules from the International Programme,

• Exchange Placement Abroad module (60 credits)

Once you have returned to King’s College London following your study abroad year, you will be required to take 30 credits of Aural & Oral Exams

• Year Abroad Practical Language module (30 credits)

Year 4 Required Modules

You are required to take the following module:

• Spanish Language IV (15 or 30 credits)

In addition, you are required to take 60 credits from a range of optional “Europe” modules. These options may typically include:

• The EU in the International System (30 credits)

• European Political Economy (30 credits)

• Extended Essay option if written on a European topic (30 credits)

• The Nature of Riots (30 credits) (Department of War Studies)

• War on Terror (30 credits) (Department of War Studies)

• Power, Politics & Ethics in International Relations (30 credits) (Department of War Studies)

• The 9/11 Era: Anglo-American Foreign Policy since the end of the Cold War (30 credits) (Department of War Studies)

• Leadership in the Time of War & Revolution (30 credits) (Department of War Studies)

• Comparative Capitalism (15 credits)

• Public Policy in Europe (15 credits)

• Environmental Risk, Governance & Society (15 credits) (Department of Geography)

• Politics of Money & Finance in Comparative Perspective (15 credits)

• Economic Policy Making (15 credits) (Department of Political Economy)

• Representative Governments in Europe (15 credits)

• Democracy & Development (15 credits) (Department of Political Economy)

If you choose to take 15 credits of language you are also required to take 45 credits (or if you choose 30 credits of language, you’ll take 30 credits) from a range of optional modules from the Department of Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies. These options may typically include:

• Extended Essay option if written on a Spanish topic (30 credits) Or

• Dissertation (15 credits)

Please note that it is not possible to take both Extended Essay and Dissertation options.

• Myth and Archive (15 credits)

• History & Imagination in 19th Century Spanish Narrative (15 credits)

• Comparing Romance Languages: Historical Evolution and Linguistic Interference (15 credits)

• Images of Spain: Stereotypes in Modern Spanish Cinema

• Advanced Catalan Language (15 credits)

• Catalan Culture (15 credits)

• Key Terms & Points of View in Latin American Visual Arts (15 credits)

• Cross-Cultural Exchanges between Africa and the Americas, 16th-20th Centuries (15 credits)

• Sefarad: The Jews of Medieval Spain in Literary History and Cultural Memory (15 credits)