BA Course Descriptions

The courses regularly taught in the Bachelor’s programme are described in this section, though other courses may be offered on an occasional basis. All courses are worth 6 ECTS credits.

The courses are listed by subject area, which is also indicated by the first three letters of the course code. Courses are offered at three levels. Courses at the 100 level are introductory and can be taken by all students. They are often taken in the first year. Courses at the 200 and 300 levels are more advanced and cannot be taken without first having passed an introductory course in the subject. Some of these upper-level courses may even require successful completion of a 200-level course. Any such pre-requisites are indicated at the end of the course description.

Exemptions from pre-requisites may be granted by the Program Director and must be notified in writing to the Head of Academic Administration.

Courses at partner institutions

The curriculum includes courses that are offered by partner institutions, such as the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Boston University and the Royal Music Conservatory. While these courses are, in principle, also open to study abroad students, it needs to be taken into account that they do not always follow the same academic calendar as that of our school. This may require a certain degree of flexibility on the part of student with respect to their travel arrangements. The study abroad department will deal with such requests on a case-by-case basis. Information on the available courses will be distributed before the pre-registration period each semester. Students taking courses at partner institutions must follow their rules concerning schedules, examinations, and other academic matters.

Introduction to Global Business BUS 101G

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of business studies. It provides insight into the internal organisation of companies as well as the legal, economic, political and social environment in which businesses operate. Businesses compete for ideas, customers, employees and capital. Entrepreneurs and managers make choices on how to create and capture value through innovation, differentiation of products and services, and how they utilize resources and organise activities. Furthermore, students will be introduced to the tools to understand business decisions. Students will learn how to make educated business decisions that take market forces, technologies, government and society into consideration. The course provides knowledge on how the different divisions of a firm, such as finance, marketing, operations, human resources and innovation contribute to realizing the objectives of globally operating businesses. Students will also deepen their analytical and research skills related to business studies with exercises complementing the HUM101 course.

The Belgian Brewery Industry in a Global Context: Business, Economics, Culture and Innovation BUS 102G

Belgium is not only home to the world’s biggest brewer, but  in recent years has seen a rise of innovative micro-breweries and diversification of the beer market with potentially far-reaching implications for the business and economics of the brewery industry inside and outside the country. In November 2016, UNESCO even added ‘Belgian Beer Culture’ to the World Heritage List, highlighting the cultural importance and impact of the Belgian beer industry beyond pure business and economics.  This course focuses on key principles and changes in the economics, marketing, production and innovation of the Belgian Brewery Industry in a Global Context. Taking the Belgian beer industry as a multi-faceted case study for studying core Business processes and developments in the field of the national and international beer market (including production, strategy, marketing and product innovation), this course also explores the impact of geography, culture and globalisation on Belgian beer businesses and their business strategies. The course includes company visits, guest lecture series and experiential learning and provides unique insights into the major shifts and changes of major the economics and business processes related to the brewery industry. In cooperation with key experts, this summer course will also include the possibility of learning the nuts and bolts of the beer brewing process itself.

International Marketing BUS 131G

This course analyses the role of marketing in a globalised world with a focus on a variety of approaches used in creating customer satisfaction. The course emphasises the importance of understanding customer needs and translating them into a (perceived) superior value, quality and service for the target market. Students will learn how to compose an effective marketing programme by discussing and examining real world examples provided in case studies, films/videos, articles, class discussions and a group assignment. Students will be introduced to basic marketing theories and approaches. Students will discuss and elaborate on marketing strategies and learn how to apply them. Students will have the opportunity to apply their skills and to work on a real project. They will define the marketing strategy for a contemporary event or product.

Financial Accounting BUS 142G

The core of this course deals with the main concepts in financial accounting and how these concepts are interconnected with managerial accounting. It is centred around the study of accounting cycles of service and manufacturing industries. Students will learn how financial statements are prepared and how to analyse them, i.e., the underlying business transactions that are reported. The course covers a broad range of topics in the valuation and reporting of assets, liabilities and equity. In the second part of the course students will understand managerial accounting concepts. The emphasis is put on analysis of cost behaviour, budgeting concepts, standard cost systems and variance analysis, as well as the use of accounting information to make decisions.

Introduction to Entrepreneurship BUS 162G 

This course introduces students to the theory of entrepreneurship and its practical implementation. It focuses on different stages related to the entrepreneurial process, including business model innovation, monetisation, small business management as well as strategies that improve performance of new business ventures. Centred around a mixture of theoretical exploration as well as case studies of real-world examples and guest lectures, students will develop an understanding of successes, opportunities and risks of entrepreneurship. Students will also develop skills in written business communication and oral presentations that allow students to integrate entrepreneurship concepts and interact with business experts. This course has an interdisciplinary approach and is therefore open to students from other Majors.

Strategic Management BUS 216G

This course focuses on business strategies that entrepreneurs and management develop to secure resources and develop capabilities needed to gain or sustain competitive advantages in traditional and emerging markets. Developing such competitive advantage is at the core of strategic management. This course thus focuses on strategy formulation, implementation and performance, and deals with the identification and analysis of external opportunities as well as constraints faced by companies. This course focuses on value creation through strategic management and decision making based on financial information. The main functions of the corporation are investigated by means of theory and case-studies, products and services, research and development; manufacturing, logistics, marketing, finance/accounting, and human resources.

Prerequisites: BUS 101G and BUS 142G

International Business Management BUS 2110G

This course provides insights on tools and practices that help to identify and interpret international business opportunities. Students will analyse international management and investment strategies. This course provides insights on tools and practices that help to identify and interpret international business opportunities. Students will analyse international management and investment strategies and learn how to identify and evaluate challenges and opportunities of the international business environment.

This course draws upon international business theory and practice for understanding the international business context. It aims to provide students with practical tools and theoretical knowledge related to international trade and the exploration of practical issues faced by business managers in international business situations. Students will study international business at (i) the nation-state level and (ii) at the level of the company. Understanding international business management from the nation-state perspective, students will analyse the role of international monetary institutions as well as political and economic factor that influence foreign direct investments. At the company level, this course provides insight into factors that influence internationalisation, entry strategies into foreign markets such as exporting, licensing, joint-ventures and tools to manage and evaluate risks and changes of international operations.

This course has an interdisciplinary approach by providing insights on how the international political environment affects business decisions such as internationalising or global production. International affairs and communication students are very welcome to join this course.

Prerequisite: BUS 101G

Global Leadership  BUS 2111G

This course provides students with insight into the nature and scope of global leadership as well as its successes, limitations and failures. Students will examine the core traits, behaviours, and values of what makes managers effective leaders. The course will focus on the human side of leadership and management in a global context, exploring how successful leaders have built effective organisations and companies through essential competences, relationships, visions and interaction within and across businesses. The course will also assess the importance of cross-cultural and intercultural leadership as well as sensitivity towards a variety of social, ethical and diversity issues.

Management of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)   BUS 2112G

This course provides students with insight on key aspects and challenges of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Students will gain knowledge of systems and techniques to manage and strategically position SMEs in the national and international context. This course will emphasise the opportunities and challenges of internationalisation strategies of SMEs. Students will learn about tools for assessing foreign markets and strategic evaluation models specific to SMEs. It will introduce the strategic evaluation tools for different entry-mode options in domestic and foreign markets. It will assess the importance of competitive positioning of SMEs in an international context.

Students will examine the key characteristics of SMEs and understand the challenges and the unique position of SMEs in contrast to larger organisations. A main part of this course is dedicated to strategic management models and theories specific to SMEs. Furthermore, this course will focus on the uniqueness of the managerial process, control and accountability issues of SMEs. This course has an interdisciplinary approach. While mainly open to business students, input and expertise from international affairs and communication major will enrich the course.

Prerequisite: BUS 101G

Performance Management   BUS 2114G

This course introduces Performance Management and the paradox for leadership in a company, when a manager wants to create a mobile and flexible organisation while ensuring the implementation and anchoring of the company's strategy in the organisation, one must consider the complexity, problems and ambiguities that may arise in such an iterative process, when measurements must involve and provide meaningfulness among employees in and across the organisation.

The course focuses on key knowledge areas of performance management theory and practice, including strategy planning, incentive systems, self-efficacy, key performance indicators and how to use the strategy map and balance score card. This subject is of vital importance seeking to uncover the principles of how a company ensure empowerment and involvement of its employees, as this is emphasised as something that plays an increasingly important role for employee motivation together with greater strategic and organisational awareness.

As performance management is a cross-disciplinary field of study, the course will evaluate business, organisational, social and legal issues facing communities, business and organisations.

Corporate Financial Management BUS 222G

This course focuses on corporate finance from the managerial point of view. Students will engage in vivid discussions about the key considerations behind fundamental choices CFOs face. Students will also gain insight on the company’s financial decision-making processes and learn how to make educated financial decisions. Corporate financial management involves the process through which the corporation creates value through its capital allocation decisions. Using a blend of quantitative tools and analyses, managers forecast financial needs and opportunities, assess the value of these opportunities, and implement a strategy for achieving the company’s financial goals. Major corporate finance decisions include capital budgeting decisions, valuation analysis, financing decisions, risk management, and dividend policy. Students will learn how to analyse how a company functions by looking into the yearly reports disclosed by companies. They will gain knowledge on how to apply the most important ratios (e.g., leverage/ return on investment) and will be able to analyse the company results.

Prerequisites: BUS 101G, BUS 142G and MTH 140G

Political and Financial Risk Analysis  BUS 224G

The contemporary forces of increased globalisation create a peculiar global political and financial environment, giving rise to a new, interdisciplinary field of enquiry: Political and Financial risk analysis.

Globalised markets create many risks and opportunities for companies seeking international business. This course teaches students how to examine, analyse and evaluate the portfolio of risks that a company is facing in an international environment. Students will be familiarised with the main tools, practises and theories needed to assess a broad spectrum of potential risks. In the first part of the course students will focus on different types of financial risks and principles of diversification such as hedging. In the second part of this course political aspects will be taken into consideration when analysing financial risks.

In the era of globalisation, companies must consider new political dynamics when investing in less predictable institutional environments, such as economies in transition or markets affected by different political and economic systems as well as different factors of instability. In addition, companies have to consider other risks on the international playing field. The students will gain insights on risk assessment in international economic relations such as exchange rate regimes, monetary policy and economic financial integration as well as elaborate on political factors that impact investments.

Prerequisites: BUS 101G, and MTH 140G or STA 101G

Social Marketing  BUS 233G    

The course is based on the use of marketing principles to develop social marketing strategies and programs and to bring behavioural change for a social good. Social marketing can be used to promote merit goods, or to make a society to avoid demerit goods and thus promoting well-being of society.

Students will learn how to apply key marketing principles to campaigns and efforts to improve health, decrease injuries, protect the environment, build communities, and enhance financial well-being.

The width and breath of the topics discussed are very wide starting from fighting tuberculosis, syphilis elimination, reducing teen pregnancy to wearing seat belts. The projects and programs could be both locality based and targeted at a small number of people or could be large scale international projects dealing with global issues.

The course will also examine issues of social responsibility in business and how marketing may be used to promote more environmentally and socially conscious business practices.

Prerequisite: BUS 131G

Business Information Systems  BUS 251G

This course teaches and applies theories that help students to understand information systems. First students will be introduced to basic concepts such as logic gates and the representation of data in binary form and concepts of computers that include central processing units, internal and external memory, input/output buses. In the second part of this course students will learn about communications protocols, computer networks, operating systems, middleware, applications software and file formats.

Furthermore, the usage of information systems in organisations will be discussed. On a practical level, students will learn to use spreadsheets and relational database servers.

Prerequisite: BUS 101G

Big Data: Technological, Business and Societal Implications  BUS 253G

This course examines, analyses and evaluates the evolution, impact and future direction of ‘big data’ (i.e., extremely large volume of data sets that can be used for discovering patterns of use for business, technological and societal solutions) in relation to global business and the development of new services, products and innovations. The course explores the different ways to which companies can take advantage of big data and focuses on core aspects, such as volume, velocity, variety and variability as well as complexity. Students will also assess both the risks and opportunities associated with the generation and use of big data and will explore impacts both on societal, economic and technological processes and issues. The course will also touch on issues related to big data and technology, including the ‘robotics revolution’ and advances in Artificial Intelligence. This course is interdisciplinary in nature and open to students from other majors.

Prerequisite: BUS 101G

Social Entrepreneurship  BUS 262G

This course focuses on the growing phenomenon of ‘Social Entrepreneurship’, defined as developing business ideas and companies that drive social change through innovative and profitable solutions. As such, social entrepreneurship combines tools, techniques and visions related to entrepreneurship and business innovation on the one hand with practical, market-driven solutions for fundamental social challenges, problems and concerns on the other hand. The course will provide an in-depth analysis of the history, evolution and major features of successful social entrepreneurship initiatives and will explore innovative approaches towards generating ‘shared value’ between companies and societies. Although this course is aimed primarily at Business Students, it is deliberately interdisciplinary in nature and open to students from other majors.

Prerequisite: ECN 101G

Mergers & Acquisitions  BUS 312G

This course provides students with the full spectrum of the Merger and Acquisitions (M&A) process with a special focus on international M&As. It covers the main types of M&A (including leveraged buy- outs; management buy-outs; friendly and hostile mergers and acquisitions), and related transactions (including divestments; de-mergers; privatizations; alliances, partnerships and joint-ventures). In this course students will learn and apply tools to evaluate whether a merger or acquisition contributes to the overall goal of the company. Transactions are studied from all angles. The topics covered include: motives; search for potential acquisition targets, acquirers and partners; the role of advisers; bid tactics; legal and regulatory issues; valuation; financing; accounting and tax issues; organisational and human resource aspects; integration; successes and failures. One major challenge of an M&A is a smooth integration. Students will reflect on the challenges of integration and learn about tools to make the integration successful.

Prerequisites: BUS 101G, BUS 142G and BUS  222G

Project Management BUS 314G

This course provides a systematic and thorough introduction to all aspects of project management. Projects are an increasingly important aspect of modern business. Therefore, the course underlines the importance of understanding the relation between projects and the strategic goals of the organisation. The course also discusses the technical, cultural, and interpersonal skills necessary to successfully manage projects from start to finish. It emphasises that project management is a professional discipline with its own tools, body of knowledge, and skills. Concepts are reinforced by case studies covering a wide variety of project types and industries.

Prerequisites: BUS 101G and BUS 222G

 Women and Leadership: A Global Context  BUS 315G

This course examines key leadership concepts, in general, and women in particular. The course is not set up to teach you how to be a leader, but it will operate with the assumption that if you know how successful women and men have navigated power and authority, applied core competencies, and have secured a work-life balance, you will be better able to frame your own academic endeavours and professional development. The course will explore leadership theory in a global context by examining leadership for a global audience and understanding leadership approaches addressing diverse populations. There is still much work to be done to rectify the gender imbalance and these are exciting times to make a difference in this regard. In fact, strong leadership in our global environment is one of the most valued skills you can have. This is one of the goals of the course—to make you aware of the value of strong leadership in knowledge-based societies. This course should be of interest to students in business, communication, international relations, international law, and other fields of studies.

Business Models and Leadership in Times of Transition  BUS 316G

The world, our society and economy are changing fast. Technological advances and heightened collective consciousness can provide a unique opportunity to address current challenges. Business, diplomacy and politics all play a significant role in ensuring that today’s possibilities are translated in feasible and progressive answers to world-spanning issues. The challenge is on the levels of individual people’s alignment, on the level of the company strategy, and on the level of territorial development. Which are the transition scenarios in order to come up with sustainable solutions knowing that we are currently at a crossroads? There are some need-to-know cornerstones for a sustainable transition. The students will integrate them and apply them to a live project. This course will drive you to develop your opinion and critical decision-making skills, based on scientific knowledge.

Financial Markets and Investments BUS 321G

The course aims to familiarise students with the theoretical and practical workings and concepts of financial markets, with a specific focus on investments. It will provide students with simple, but powerful tools to assess financial management decisions. These tools can be used to make personal financial decisions, but will also prepare students for a career in the financial or investment industry. Concepts of risk/return rate, efficient markets, portfolio allocation, asset pricing are discussed in great detail. Topics, such as the 2008 financial crisis and the advantages of international diversification will also be discussed.
Prerequisites: BUS 101G and BUS 142G

International Finance  BUS 325G

The course aims at providing a solid understanding of international finance within a complex capital markets context. It emphasises the managerial perspective of finance for a multinational corporation (MNC). Based on macroeconomic and institutional foundations, advanced techniques and instruments for managing the foreign exchange exposure and risk of MNCs are developed. The course further addresses international banking and money markets. Students will be prepared to, and provided with the skills required for, international investment management, cross-border acquisitions, international capital budgeting, and multinational cash management and trade financing.

Prerequisites: BUS 101G and BUS 222G

e-Business  BUS 353G

This course deals with the characteristics of e-Commerce in various target markets, how products and services are bought and sold via the Internet and other electronic systems. It starts with building a basic understanding of the infrastructure that is the internet, and the World Wide Web as the aggregation of content made available via the internet. We will discuss the various features that make e-business (and mobile e-Commerce or m-Commerce) stand out from traditional businesses, as well as the related security, privacy, and other legal, ethical, and social issues. Students will learn some basics about what it takes to develop a mobile web application or “app”.

Prerequisites: BUS 101G, ECN 101G and BUS 251G

Global Sustainability and Society BUS 363G

This course introduces the academic approach of Global Sustainability and explores how today’s human societies can endure in the face of global change, ecosystem degradation, resource limitations, and corporate social responsibility. The course focuses on key knowledge areas of sustainability theory and practice, including population, ecosystems, global change, energy, agriculture, water, environmental economics, policy, and ethics. This subject is of vital importance, seeking to uncover the principles of the long-term welfare of a reliant sustainable future. As sustainability is a cross-disciplinary field of study, the course will evaluate business, political, and legal issues facing communities, business, and organisations.
Prerequisites: BUS 101G

Scenario Thinking  BUS 364G

In this interdisciplinary course students will use scenario thinking and planning as the main vehicle to understand global business. It is focused on the macro-environmental context of global business, at a variety of levels- local, national, regional and global. Despite half a Century of trade liberalisation and the acceleration of globalising processes since the early 1990s, we witness the re-emergence of popularism in politics, rapid increases in migration, creeping protectionism, and world free trade zones in difficulty. Global business environments are highly complex and uncertain. Organisations and management decisions and actions do not exist in a vacuum; they are situated in this complex, dynamic and often turbulent environment. Global business environments are highly complex and uncertain. These are used to recognise, understand and reflect upon the challenges and opportunities that various contextual aspects present. Due to the interdisciplinary approach students from all majors are welcome. This course is offered in an intensive module format.

Prerequisites: BUS 101G, and MTH 140G or STA 101G

Capstone in Business Studies  BUS 393G

The capstone course is the final integrative and summative course that provides an opportunity for students to integrate and apply all their knowledge acquired throughout their 3-year Business Studies curriculum to advancing their own idea and plan for setting up a viable new business.

The course challenges students to develop a marketable idea, and lay down the most important parts of a business plan. The key element is to give a real-world exercise to students, which requires them to apply knowledge acquired in the fields of entrepreneurship, economics, marketing, finance and accounting, strategic management and related fields.

During this course, students will be able to develop their business plan in detail and begin to implement the ideas to the extent to which a new company or business could be launched. Students will be exposed to real-life entrepreneurs and have to present their final ideas to an external panel of professional business leaders.

Prerequisites: Third year standing

BA Thesis in Business and Economics  –  Seminar I   BUS 395G

The advanced research methods seminar (Seminar I) for the BA Thesis in Business Studies, requires students to formulate and devise their research question for their BA Thesis topic as well as to choose and apply advanced research methods specific to the field of Business Studies in order to tackle and investigate their major research topic. In this seminar, students will acquire knowledge and skills of advanced research methods and will complete their preparatory work for conducting major research on their BA topic which will serve as a foundation for finalising their thesis writing in BA Thesis Seminar.

Prerequisite: Third year standing

BA Thesis in Business and Economics  –  Seminar II  BUS 396G

After completing the BA Thesis Seminar I, students are required to complete writing their BA thesis, applying advanced research methods acquired in BA Thesis Seminar I. Under the guidance of their thesis supervisor, students finalise the writing process and present intermediary results in senior seminars and roundtables. The final oral defence/presentation of the thesis’ results will take place in the context of the College’s public ‘undergraduate research day’.

Prerequisite: BUS 395G

Intercultural Communication   CMM 106G

The course introduces students to the phenomenon of culture in the broad sense of the term and applies it to a social, business as well as a media-driven context. Major theoretical issues and cultural criteria/dimensions are studied and highlighted to illustrate the challenges of dealing with cultures and identities in all of their complexity. A number of theoretical models are presented and analysed (such as the communication theory of identity and the bicultural identity integration theory). Throughout the semester, students will learn how best to approach and deal with intercultural issues and challenges, as well as how to best increase the likelihood of such issues being successfully dealt with or resolved. By the end of the course, students will be tasked with writing, defending and presenting a comprehensive Intercultural Report which is meant to cover all the material, models and issues raised in class throughout the entire semester. It is also expected that as a result of the course, students' level of cultural intelligence and awareness will have increased significantly. 

Persuasive Communication – Rhetoric   CMM 211G

This course offers an introduction to rhetoric defined as an act of persuasive communication. The course is divided in two parts. The first part will focus on the history and theory of rhetoric. The second part will focus on practice: first students will learn how to apply rhetorical analysis to contemporary persuasive communication instances (verbal and visual) and finally they will create their own (oral and written) pieces of rhetoric. Typical classes involve analysis of relevant materials (written texts, videoclips, podcasts, pictures), group discussions, oral presentations and a field trip/guest lecture. The paramount aim of the course is to teach students how to detect and analyse rhetoric in all its contemporary forms (ranging from political speeches to commercial advertisements) and how to use it effectively because "whoever does not study rhetoric will be a victim of it" as an ancient Greek encryption on the wall states.

Prerequisite: CMM 106G, BUS 101G or POL 101G

Global Communication  CMM 221G

The course introduces the historical context of the field of global communication and examines different approaches to global communication from the modernisation and cultural imperialism theories to cultural studies and critical political economy perspectives. The course also examines the theories and problems related to the international function of the news media, the entertainment industry and the telecommunications sector. Students also gain a clear understanding of the creation of the global media marketplace and how international communication evolves in the Internet age. Furthermore, the course discusses the international governance structures related to media, news, telecommunications and the Internet. With the help of a comprehensive textbook, seminal texts and videos, the course addresses the main political, economic, social and cultural themes intersecting the debate around the emerging global communication system.

Prerequisite: HUM 101G, CMM 106G

Political Communication  CMM 251G

This course examines the triangle that exists between politics, the media and the public. Political communication examines the relationships that exist between these three actors that are central to contemporary democracies: to communicate with the public, political elites need to pass through the media gates, as most people get their political information through the media. Yet, politicians seem to have a hate/love affair with journalists, as both actors are trying to gain the upper hand. Media themselves are constantly in flux, and the public’s use of media is shifting dramatically in response to the rise of online technologies. Finally, governments increasingly rely on communication to bolster support abroad – for example the US government’s public diplomacy efforts in the Middle East.

This course offers a broad overview of the field of political communication and public diplomacy. We discuss and apply theories regarding the impact of political communication on voters (e.g. priming, agenda setting) and the changing relationship between media and politics (e.g. journalistic role perceptions). In the final weeks of the course, we discuss a number of specialisation topics on recent trends in political communication, such as populism and personalisation.

Lobbying in the EU  CMM 252G

Lobbying is an integral part of the EU decision making process. Set at the launch of a new political mandate for the EU Institutions, and in the context of wider problems of EU legitimacy, heightened by Brexit, this course will describe the participatory model of EU policy making based around agents of participation. Indeed, actors representing State and non-governmental interests engage with European Commission decision makers and members of the European Council and of the European Parliament on a daily basis. Lobbying is therefore perceived as a legitimate tool of pluralist bargaining in which interest representatives are perceived as a source of data and practical expertise, informing and improving policy development. This course will explore the EU’s revamped institutional set up, and the application of the Better Regulation package as well as the formal decision-making processes, from legal sources, through the consultation stage and parliamentary debate to final adoption. It will address major trends in the culture of EU interest representation such as the need for “transparency” and the use of coalition and alliance building. Finally, from a practical perspective, the course will deal directly with lobbying techniques ranging from the legal drafting of amendments to the use of social media and civil society supported activities and events. Students will be encouraged to debate, use role play and hone their negotiation skills on self-researched hot topics.

Global Advocacy  CMM 253G

This course introduces students to the complex and fascinating interplay between globalisation and advocacy. By taking into account the impact globalization has had throughout the world, students of this course are introduced to the analysis of successful and unsuccessful advocacy efforts. The course investigates a wide array of cases, for example civil society’s attempts to influence international organisations (e.g. the United Nations, the World Bank), or supranational regulators (e.g. European Union) and national governments. This course discusses key theories underlying the practice of advocacy, but also trains students to apply these theories through the study of key cases.

Communication Ethics & Law  CMM 352G

This course introduces students to communication ethics and law. The course content covers key values and principles underlying communication law, and the basics of communication law, including an analysis of various legal frameworks on freedom of expression, privacy and confidential information, libel and defamation, racial hatred and blasphemy, copyright, and right of reply. Rather than entering into the specificity of one country’s legislation, students will receive a global comparative view on the subject matter. Communication ethics are heavily emphasized in the course, as the basis on which communication law and policy are developed. The course will discuss relevant policy developments and legal cases in order to better understand how the principles are worked out in practice.

Introduction to Economics  ECN 101G

The course illustrates the way in which economists view the world. You will learn about basic tools of micro- and macroeconomic analysis and, by applying them, you will understand the behaviour of households, firms and government. Problems include: trade and specialisation; the operation of markets; industrial structure and economic welfare; the determination of aggregate output and price level; fiscal and monetary policy and foreign exchange rates.

Intermediate Macroeconomics  ECN 201G

This intermediate-level course examines the determination of income, employment, the price level, interest rates and exchange rates in the economy. Piece-by-piece, we construct a model that describes how each of these variables is determined in the long- and short-run. We investigate issues of long-run growth, business cycles, international trade, and monetary and fiscal policy. We pay special attention to current developments, with an international and European perspective throughout.

Prerequisite: ECN 101G

The European Economy  ECN 202G

This course is intended for those students interested in the main aspects of the European economy considered from a theoretical, empirical and a policy perspective. The course focuses on the recent political and academic debates on the different economic issues pertaining to the European integration. It firstly considers the most relevant historical events leading to the establishment of the European Union and the Euro area. Secondly, a short overview of the different European institutions is provided. Next, monetary and fiscal integration are explored followed by a focus on the financial and economic crises. The course, then, studies in detail the structure of the European economy in terms of trade and labour market, internal production and external trade.

Prerequisite: ECN 101G

Intermediate Microeconomics  ECN 211G

Provides a rigorous intermediate-level treatment of microeconomic theory with applications to business and public policy. Topics include the mathematical foundations of economic theory; the theory of individual economic behaviour; the theory of the firm and economic organisation; perfect competition, general equilibrium, and economics of information; corporate behaviour and strategy under imperfect competition; capital theory; labour markets; welfare economics and public choice. Prerequisites: ECN 101G and MTH 140G

Environmental and Ecological Economics  ECN 301G

The course provides an overview of issues regarding the environment and sustainability from an economics perspective. It will make use of microeconomic and statistical analysis applied to real-world examples. The course introduces basic analytical concepts and relevant economic theory to address topics such as the environment as a public good, externalities, market failures, government intervention, environmental regulation, eco-innovation and sustainable development. Moreover, various tools of economic policy analysis are used to assess environmental policies such as the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and the Paris Agreement.

Prerequisite: ECN 101G

International Trade and Politics  ECN 302G

This course analyses the interdependence that arises from international trade in goods and services. We cover the following topics: the gains from trade, the pattern of trade, the impact of protection, international factor movements, and trade policy. The course further in-depth studies the institutions dealing with and regulating trade policy.

Prerequisite: ECN 101G

Economic Growth and Development ECN 322G

This course gives an overview of issues related to growth and development. It looks into different growth theories and the explanations of differences in standard of living and economic growth across nations. The course furthermore examines the long-term history of economic growth and empirical outcomes in both developed and developing countries. Topics addressed are convergence or divergence, the role of institutions, education, population growth, natural resources, technology, inequality, openness, climate and culture.

Prerequisites: ECN101G and ECN201G

Global History since 1945   HIS 101G

This course introduces students to the key developments, processes and major events in global history from 1945 to the present. The course not only focuses on conflict and cooperation among the major Western powers, but also places the development of modern International Relations into the global context of socio-economic and political developments in Eurasia, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. The course serves as a foundation for further region-based and thematic in-depth history courses at the 200 and 300 levels.

International Relations between the Wars  HIS 203G

The primary objective of the course is to examine and review the Interwar period in the history of the twentieth Century. The lectures will cover international and domestic events in between the outbreak of the Great War and the aftermath of the Second World War, such as the collapse of the European Empires and the rise of the United States; the Versailles Treaty and the creation of the League of Nations; the Bolshevik revolution, Communism and the creation of the Soviet Union; the collapse of the Weimar Republic and the rise of Nazism in Germany. Apart from deciding the shape of the international system and the world order until today, these events have also had an overwhelming impact on the appearance of the study of International Relations (IR) as an academic discipline. In this respect, the secondary objective of the course is to reflect on the implications of the Interwar period for the study of IR. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach and is suitable for all students who have a strong interest in the history and international relations of the twentieth Century.

Prerequisite: HIS 101G

Regional History of International Relations: Africa  HIS 261G

This course surveys major historical developments that underpin the contemporary politics of Africa. Among the issues discussed are: City States in Africa, Pre-Colonial Relations among States in Africa, Slave Trade, ‘Legitimate’ Trade, European Colonialism and Emergence of the Modern African State, Independence Movements and Decolonization Processes, African States and the Cold War, Violent Conflicts and Peacebuilding in Africa, Demographic Determinants of Socio-Political Change (Gender, Race, Ethnicity and Youth). Students are expected to broaden their understanding of Africa and how its history is interlinked with global politics, economic and environmental developments.

Prerequisite: HIS 101G

Regional History of International Relations: Asia   HIS 262G

This course introduces students to the history of modern Asia, developments within and between the regional states, and their impact on global politics. The course pays particular attention to Northeast and Southeast Asia. Our focus will be on historical developments that had profound influence on contemporary politics. Throughout the course, students will assess how historical paths, domestic political institutions, and extra-regional actors such as the United States have shaped the history of modern Asia. The course is composed of lectures, student presentations, and discussions during which students will analyse the readings and engage with guiding questions developed for each week.

Prerequisite: HIS 101G

Introduction to Academic Writing and Critical Thinking  HUM 101G

This course introduces students to the main conventions and requirements of academic writing and to basic elements of research processes. Students learn how to formulate a research question, how to analyse and critique the methodologies of previous studies and compose a literature review. Students improve their critical thinking skills by engaging with research language and thereby hone their academic writing. Students learn how to select, question and analyse studies and how to use academic research in their own writing. In addition, critical thinking exercises refine students’ ability to distinguish valid from invalid arguments and will teach students key critical analysis skills. The course also engages with core debates important in understanding contemporary processes in the fields of Global Business & Entrepreneurship, Communication & Public Relations, International Affairs and International & European Law.

Global Ethics  HUM 103G

This course introduces students to the major theoretical and applied debates in the field of global ethics as well as to its major moral puzzles and challenges. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives and thematic issues in the fields of Business and Economics, Communications, International Affairs and Law, the course will challenge students to reflect on major ethical theories and traditions as well as core problems such as corporate governance, media ethics, global distributive justice, the ethics of making and sustaining peace and the legal dimensions of ethics. By combining the works of both classical and contemporary philosophers with contemporary applied global issues, students will be able to critically reflect on fundamental normative questions from an interdisciplinary perspective and reflect on the rights, responsibilities and challenges of ‘good global citizenship’.

Leadership and Personal Development  HUM 203G

Leadership and Personal Development provides VeCo students with unique mentoring and individualised training on ethical issues, leadership perspectives and in-depth coaching on students’ core competences, skills and attitudes, as outlined by international education frameworks (such as the Dublin descriptors). Students meet regularly with professors, academic advisers, external coaches and mentors to work on the development of their skills (such as presentation skills, teamwork competences, critical self-reflection), attitudes, life-long learning abilities, as well as their leadership skills in various scenarios.

Pre-requisite: HUM 103G

Internship INT 381G

Working in a sponsoring firm or organisation, students undertake a 150-hour, semester-long project on a theme or topic related to their major. It requires students to work on-site at least 10/12 hours per week, keep a daily activity log and write a project report.

Prerequisites: Students in their second semester of second year or first semester of third year, good academic standing and approval by the Internship Committee

Arabic (LAR)

Elementary Arabic  LAR 101G

This is a course of Modern Standard Arabic, the language that comes closest to a Lingua Franca in the Arab World. It enables students to read modern texts and follow the news (decipher headlines and look up words that are unknown) and most important provides them with the tools to constantly improve and broaden their knowledge by engaging in conversation with locals who speak Arabic and ask for words and expressions that are new to them. Since the Arab culture is often described as an “oral culture” students of Arabic benefit greatly from this approach. They will also get an insight into the diversity of the Arabic language and the main differences between the biggest groups of dialects. At the end of the course participants will be able to have a simple conversation with native speakers, as well as getting a grip of the local variety they speak. In order to achieve that we use not only a classical teaching book, but also recorded texts (mostly with transcripts), songs and films from different countries where Arabic is spoken and one or the other social media entry. This course is a door-opener helping you to make your first steps into the Arab-speaking part of the world and will get you as far as your enthusiasm carries you, once you got the hang of it.

Chinese (LCH)

Elementary Chinese   LCH 101G

This course teaches Mandarin Chinese, which is used as official language in Taiwan and mainland of P.R. China. Equal emphasis will be given to listening and comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. The objective is to lay solid foundations for further learning of Chinese. The course will be conducted, as far as possible, in Chinese from the beginning. After this course students should be able to speak with correct pronunciation and tone, write all strokes in the correct order and some Chinese characters, understand and read simple conversations and texts. The course will also expose students to various aspects of Chinese culture. It is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Chinese.

Dutch (LDU)

Elementary Dutch  LDU 101G

This course focuses on listening and understanding, vocabulary and basic practical grammar. After these courses students should be able to manage to live in a Dutch-speaking environment, to participate in everyday conversations, to read and understand basic Dutch texts and to compose simple written work. Students will also learn more about Dutch/ Belgian culture. This course is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Dutch.

French (LFR)

Elementary French I & II   LFR 101G, LFR 102G

This sequence focuses on listening and understanding, vocabulary and basic practical grammar.

After these courses students should be able to manage to live in a French-speaking environment, to participate in everyday conversations, to read and understand basic French texts and to compose simple written work. Students will also learn more about French/ Belgian culture.

LFR101G is designed for students with no prior knowledge of French, whereas LFR102G is for students with the equivalent of one semester of college French as assessed by a placement test.

Intermediate French I & II   LFR 201G, LFR 202G

This sequence focuses on the acquisition of major elements of French grammar, as well as an intermedate  level of comprehension, accurate and active communication skills and a broader coverage of vocabulary. A great emphasis is put on speaking skills and integrated grammar and vocabulary acquisition. General francophone cultural, social and political topics are discussed at an intermediate level.

Prerequisite for LFR200 level: LFR102G or placement test.

French for International Affairs    LFR 231G     

This course prepares students to become more fluent communicators in the world of international affairs and enables students to acquire the necessary vocabulary and practical language skills to gain confidence in this specific language setting. Students with an intermediate level of French as a second/foreign language are welcome and will be offered the opportunity to study the language in a context specific to international affairs, according to the CLILL-pedagogy of content language learning. Students are expected to work independently online, but their progress will be closely monitored through weekly assignments and feedback from the instructor.

Prerequisite for LFR200 level: LFR102G or placement test.

Legal French    LFR232G

This course prepares students to enter the francophone legal world and enables students to acquire u vocabulary and the practical language skills necessary to perform adequately in a francophone legal or judicial setting. Designed for both native speakers and students with and intermediate or advanced level of French as a second/foreign language, the course is taught according to the CLIL-pedagogy of content and language integrated learning.Students are expected to work independently online but their progress will be closely monitored through weekly assignments and feedback from the instructor.

Prerequisite for LFR200 level: LFR102, placement test or native speaker

Advanced French I & II   LFR 301G, LFR 302G

The two courses are comparable in their methods of instruction, as they are content courses taught in French enabling students to master advanced vocabulary, to practice grammar, to organise class discussions, to write essays, and to do oral presentations and/or extracurricular projects, but each has its own programme and its own theme. The two courses complement each other in the development of vocabulary, comprehension, writing and oral skills, and may be taken in any order. General francophone cultural, social and political topics are discussed at an advanced level.

Prerequisite for LFR300 level: LFR200 level or placement test.

Business French   LFR331G

This course prepares students to enter the francophone business world and enables students to acquire the necessary vocabulary and the practical language skills necessary to perform adequately in a francophone business setting. Designed for both native speakers and students with and advanced level of French as a second/foreign language, the course is taught according to the CLIL-pedagogy of content and language integrated learning.Students are expected to work independently online but their progress will be closely monitored through weekly assignments and feedback from the instructor.

Prerequisite for LFR300 level: LFR200, placement test or native speaker

Introduction to International and European Law   LAW 101G

This course introduces students to both general international law and EU law. The first part is an introduction to international law. The major fields of international law are explained: sources of law, fundamental rights and duties of states, human rights, international organisations, international legal regimes governing particular subjects (the atmosphere, Antarctica, the high seas). The second part deals with EU law. It explains the sources and the hierarchy of EU law, the principles governing the powers and the division of power in the EU as well as between the EU and its member states. The course also addresses issues linked to democratic governance and human rights, the EU institutions, and the internal market. The course introduces the student to both public international law and EU law. The first part deals with an introduction to public international law. The major topics of international law are discussed: characteristics of international law, sources and subjects of international law, state responsibility, settlement of disputes (both peaceful and through war). In the process several sub-fields of international law are introduced, such as fundamental rights and international criminal law. The second part deals with EU law. Following some background into the history of the development of the EU, the lectures zoom in on the sources of EU law, the principles of direct effect and supremacy, the main institutions of the EU, the principles governing the division of competences in the EU and between the EU and its member statess, the internal market and the four freedoms, and the growing role of fundamental rights.

Introduction to International Legal Theory and History  LAW 102G

This course introduces the student to the history and theory of international law.  The first part of the course provides a general introduction to legal theory and history. On the one hand, the central debates and concepts within legal theory are discussed. On the other hand, the course looks at certain legal systems predating the development of international law: law in classical, medieval and modern Europe; and law in pre-colonial West- and East Africa and the Americas. While the first part of the course stands on its own to provide the students with elementary knowledge, it also sets the stage for how legal theory and history have interacted with the development and study of international law. The second part of the course focuses on the history and theory of international law. The student will look at the emergence of international law among European polities themselves and in their encounter with non-European polities. The course will thereby focus on essential concepts and their continued relevance today such as territory, sovereignty, jurisdiction, the sources of law, justice, the individual, and enforcement. Throughout the classes, the student will get acquainted with ways to look at international law beyond the classical ‘doctrinal’ or ‘positivist’ approach.  

Business Law  LAW 111G

This course provides a general introduction to business law concepts, beginning with the legal context in which business is conducted on an international basis, with focus on civil and common law jurisdictions. After examining the sources and components of business law, students will be introduced to Contracts Law as a key to successful business transactions. Students will become familiar with the elements of contracts and the formation process. We then move to enforcement of contracts, third party rights, performance and termination of contracts including impossibility, frustration of purpose, damages and remedies. During the second part of the course, students will be introduced to general legal concepts regarding the law of agency, intellectual property, competition, forms of business organisations, bankruptcy and the fight against white collar crime. In addressing contemporary legal debates related to business law, students will gain sensitivity to the importance of ethical considerations in business decision making.

Humanitarian Law LAW201G

Is the law silent in armed conflict? What behavior is regulated in armed conflict? How is this done? This course addresses international humanitarian law (IHL) as part of general international law, highlighting the difference between ius ad bellum (the legitimacy of armed operations) and the ius in bello (the law applicable during armed conflict). It introduces the student to the history and codification of IHL. The legal bases for IHL principles and rules are explored, including the four Geneva conventions of 1949 and the two additional protocols of 1977. The course then focuses on the classification of armed conflicts, the classification of the participants in an armed conflict, the conduct of hostilities, the protection of those affected by armed conflict, including prisoners of war and civilians, and the implementation and enforcement of IHL through national and international mechanisms. It also explores and debates some of the contemporary challenges confronting IHL today. This includes cutting-edge issues such as the legal challenges posed by new technologies, including cyber warfare and autonomous weapons, as well as more traditional issues such as sieges and terrorism. Real-world examples and case studies will be used to translate theory into practice.

Prerequisite: Law101

Criminal Law  LAW 203G

This course offers an introduction to criminal law and the criminal justice system, beginning with a historical overview of criminal law and its aims. Through a look at the historical development of criminal law, basic concepts are addressed such as the acts classified as crimes, the distinction between more serious offences (felonies) and less serious offences (misdemeanours), punishments (including incarceration and fines), the difference between the prosecuting office and the tribunal/court, the investigation process, the role of law enforcement agencies and victims’ rights. Penal codes of several countries will be used to illustrate a comparative overview of criminal law.

Law and Technology  LAW 205G

With law often playing catch-up to today’s technology driven society, the study of how law interacts with technology is more critical now than ever before. The course Law and Technology will provide a forum for discussing the legal challenges associated with new and emerging technologies in the digital age. The course covers different domains such as internet governance, intellectual property, privacy, data protection, digital currency, as the various ways technological developments can exert pressure on existing legal concepts and legal institutions. This course covers regulatory issues in the spheres of international and European law providing cutting-edge knowledge within the burgeoning field of technology regulation. This course on Law and Technology aims to give answers to the complex and dynamic issues arising in this diverse and rapidly changing field.

International Trade Law  LAW 206G

This course analyses the legal aspects of the multilateral trading system based on the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The class is designed to give students an overview of the main rules of international trade law and will examine the political and economic drivers of the present times, including the emerging tensions among trading super-powers (e.g. US-China), the increasing role of preferential agreements, the resurgence of protectionist temptations and the need to deal with the environmental emergency. The objective of this course is to give students a comprehensive overview of the functioning of the WTO and of the set of rules established by the WTO Agreement, seen in a dynamic perspective, which will allow them to understand the mutual interactions between the legal instruments and the political-economic reality. The course will analyse more in detail the following topics: non-discrimination rules (most-favoured nation treatment and national treatment), tariff and non-tariff barriers, WTO institutions and dispute resolution system, bilateral and multilateral trade relations, rules against unfair trade and the dialectic between trade and other important interests (including security, environmental and social protection, protection of life and health, public morals).

Public International Law  LAW 208G

The course’s fundamental objective is to go beyond the students pre-acquired, basic knowledge of public international law which they obtained in Introduction to International and EU Law and to provide them with a more advanced and critical understanding of its fundamental principles and doctrines. The lectures deal with the most important public international law topics, while taking into account the impact of rapid societal developments, globalisation and global governance. These topics include: foundations, history and nature of international law; sources of international law with special regard to modern theories of law making and zooming in on reservations to treaties; subjects of international law (states and non-state actors, including international organisations); jurisdiction and immunities; interactions between international and national law; responsibility of international subjects; dispute settlement mechanisms and law enforcement; and the use of force . In addition, the students will be introduced to some of the major substantive fields of international law, including international criminal law and international economic law.

Prerequisite: LAW101G

Human Rights  LAW 2010G

Liberal democracies are committed to respect human rights throughout their activities, policies, law etc. Hence, human rights need to be mainstreamed not only by public authorities, but also in law curricula.
 The course on Human Rights aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of the main features of the human rights paradigm, while zooming in on two themes of high contemporary relevance: the pluriform society on the one hand and ‘business and human rights’ on the other. Accordingly, the course on Human Rights has three components. The first (and major) component concerns the general human rights framework and its main tenets. The second focuses on human rights in the pluriform society (exploring the way human rights law protects the rights of particular groups that are considered ‘different’). Groups that are focused upon include ethnic and religious minorities, and LGBTI. The third component zooms in on the complex relation between businesses and human rights, and more particular the triangular relationship between businesses, their home and host states and persons/communities affected by business activities (and their supply chains).

Prerequisite: LAW 101G or with prior written permission from the instructor

Sustainable Development Law  LAW 2011G

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the (international and European) sustainable development legal framework. It assesses how the diverse dimensions of sustainable development according to the agenda 2030 (Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)), this is, people, peace, partnership and prosperity, interact with the planet (protection of ecosystems). The students will become familiar with the main concepts and legal frameworks related to sustainable development, mainly  adopted in fora such as the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Council of Europe (CoE),  and the European Union (EU). The students will also assess the most important topics by focusing on key judgments of international and European courts. These salient topics refer to how human rights, trade and investment, partnerships (development cooperation, value chains) and peacebuilding interact with environmental law and have an impact on ecosystems.

Prerequisite: LAW 101G

Advanced Business Law  LAW 211G

This advanced-level course illustrates that no aspect of business life is entirely free from legal aspects. Building on the concepts learned in Business Law (LAW 111G), students will further examine the sources and components of Business Law as well as conflicts of law, competency of courts and various legal regimes governing international business transactions and operations. Students will focus on special problems concerning sales contracts, product liability, property, creditor’s rights & debtor protection, secured transactions, company law, franchises, mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy and receivership. Throughout the course, students will gain enhanced critical-thinking skills and the ability to successfully identify and analyze legal issues within the business context. Finally, in examining emerging trends in Business Law, this course addresses legal ethics as applied to international business.

Prerequisite: LAW 111G

Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law  LAW 213 G                           

The first half of this course introduces students to the four primary types of intellectual property protection: patent, copyright, trademark, and design rights. Students will gain a basic understanding of the various grounds for and limitations of such protections by exploring the policies and legal principles which support European protection of intellectual property rights and as well as the sources of those rights. Special topics include validity of rights, registration, infringement, remedies and international aspects of these laws. The course also examines recent developments in EU law. The second half of the course, on Information Technology (IT) law, relates to regulating the internet and computing. It considers legal issues surrounding privacy and data protection online, surveillance, cybersecurity, e-commerce and digital currencies. It highlights the need to balance carefully various interests, rights and concerns online using an international, supranational and national legal framework.

EU Constitutional Law  LAW 222G

This course delves into the constitutional order of the European Union. It brings students into an academic journey across the fascinating and complex system of the European Union institutions, their decision-making processes, their history, and the set of rules and principles that govern the Union. Moreover, students have the opportunity to develop an insightful view into the different powers of the European Union. This course would not be complete without the study of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union. To give students a well-rounded understanding of the complex and shifting future of the Union, particular emphasis is given to specific areas of integration, such as foreign policy, environment, energy, climate change, the monetary union and freedom, security and justice. This course provides a multidimensional perspective of the legal, economic and political aspects of the constitutional order of the European Union examining them in the light of contemporary developments.

Prerequisite: LAW 101G or with prior written permission from the instructor

Comparative constitutional law   LAW231G
 
Constitutional models adopted by states have a direct impact on many aspects of society: respect for the rule of law, respect for human rights, economic relations, distribution of competences among public powers, interaction with regional and international organisations, etc. Although comparative constitutional law has traditionally focused on European constitutional models and how they have been transplanted and diffused worldwide, current developments and globalisation have also re-shaped the scope and relevance of constitutional law worldwide. This course seeks to develop the student’s ability to understand constitutional law from a comparative perspective. Therefore, the course addresses the main concepts of constitutional law, complemented by a practice-oriented component, seeking to improve comparative methodological skills applied to the main topics of this area.

Prerequisite: LAW 102G or with prior written permission from the instructor

Methods: Legal Analysis, Research and Writing   LAW 271G

What is it that (international) lawyers do? How do they think, argue and write? The course will aim at providing answers to these crucial questions, while equipping you with the methodological and practical skills necessary to navigate the world as a lawyer. In this course, you will learn how to find the resources necessary to be an effective lawyer; how to weave them together in order to produce a convincing legal argumentation; and how to engage in scholarly research on (international) law. The course will be discussing general themes relevant to every lawyer, but the focus in terms of case studies and literature used will be on international and European law.

Prerequisite: LAW 102G or with prior permission from the instructor

Legal Aspects of Migration  LAW 304G

This course provides a detailed introduction to the international and European legal frameworks relating to migration. It aims to provide students with a good understanding of the different legal frameworks that govern the phenomenon of human migration and an appreciation of how these legal frameworks are applied in practice within the European Union. The course introduces the students to the founding principles and the sources of the international law of migration, and then continues with refugee law, starting with the global standards as devised at UN level and moving on to the development of the EU’s common european asylum system. The course then covers the EU’s legal framework on EU citizenship and the free movement of persons, the Schengen area and EU instruments relating to the regular migration of third country nationals before concluding with the EU’s return policy.

Prerequisite: LAW 101G, LAW2010G and LAW222G

Competition Law   LAW 311G

Students will examine the role of competition law and policy, at both the EU and national levels and within the global economy. The different regimes of competition law will be closely analysed, including the interaction between trade and competition and the process of internationalisation of competition law and policy. Students will explore various issues related to competition law, including abuse of dominant position, anti-competitive agreements, the interface between Intellectual Property Rights and competition law and other current issues related to business strategy.

Prerequisite: BUS 101G or LAW 111G or with prior written permission from the instructor

EU Law of the Internal Market   LAW 322G

This advanced course provides a systematic analysis of the internal market and focuses on the four freedoms, namely the free movement of goods (including custom duties and taxation, quantitative restrictions and similar measures), the free movement of services (including the freedom of establishment), the freedom of movement of people and the free movement of capital. Related topics will also include consumer protection, unfair commercial practices, harmonisation of legislation and the digital single market.

Prerequisite: LAW 222G or with prior written permission from the instructor.

Capstone in International and EU Law  LAW 391G

The aim of the Capstone course is to allow students at the end of their 3-year BA studies to synthesize and draw on all their acquired knowledge and skills in order to apply them to a complex, real-life policy problem in the area of International and European Law. A core element of the learning process and format is the presence of an “external client” (normally a high-level official representing a major International Organisation) who sets the main policy-advice task for the students. To this end, course participants are required to have completed all methods courses and should apply in-depth knowledge of International and European Law as well as legal analysis to a contemporary policy problem.

Prerequisite: LAW 271G and third year standing in the Law major, or with prior written permission from the instructor.

BA Thesis in International and European Law – Seminar I    LAW 395G

This course introduces students to research skills that form the basis of any independent research assignments. The introductory nature of the course provides students with the necessary tools to undertake independent research. Seminar I for the BA Thesis in International and European Law requires students to formulate and devise a research question for their BA Thesis topic as well as to choose and apply advanced research methods specific to the field of International and European Law in order to investigate their major research topic. In this seminar, students will acquire knowledge and skills of advanced research methods and will complete their preparatory work for conducting major research on their BA topic which will serve as a foundation for finalising their thesis writing in BA Thesis Seminar II.

Prerequisite: LAW 271G and third year standing

BA Thesis in International and European Law – Seminar II   LAW 396G

After completing the BA Thesis Seminar I, students are required to complete their BA Thesis, applying advanced research methods acquired in BA Thesis Seminar I. Under the guidance of their thesis supervisor, students will finalise the writing process and have the opportunity to receive peer-to-peer feedback by presenting preliminary results in seminars and roundtable discussions.

Prerequisite: LAW 395G

Mathematics for Business and Economics    MTH 140G

Teaches the mathematical skills required for problem solving and decision making in the business world through use of mathematical models and specialised techniques. Topics include: functions as mathematical models, equation-solving techniques, differential and integral calculus, exponential growth and time-value of money and partial derivatives and their applications in economic functions.

Global Politics     POL 101G

This course is an introduction to International Relations with a focus on the ‘global’ dimension of politics. It gives an overview of the history and theory of international relations, paying attention to enduring concepts and contemporary issues of global politics. Students will study concepts and issues such as the role of the state, the nation and sovereignty in the international system; how the international relations theories conceptualise power; what are the conditions for peace and the causes of war. The knowledge of these concepts and the debates they shape in the IR field form the foundation of any understanding of past and current international affairs. The course starts with a presentation of the main theoretical approaches to the study of IR and explores the central concepts in the field. The final part of the course analyses the nature of the evolving importance of the IR discipline in global politics today. The course is designed for undergraduate students in international affairs, political science and related disciplines, who desire to develop or consolidate a solid grasp of the IR discipline.

Introduction to Comparative Regional Studies   POL 111G

This course aims to provide students with an understanding of different regions and the political challenges they are facing, as well as the emergence of regional political and economic cooperation and integration in response to some of these challenges. Grounded in both comparative politics and regionalist studies, the course examines what constitutes regions as well as why and how states within regions choose to cooperate with each other. In doing so, it takes Europe and European integration as a starting point before moving to the transatlantic region, the post-Soviet space, sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab world. The objective is to both understand why different regions have chosen different paths with regards to how far they are willing to engage in cooperation as well as what types of challenges they are facing more generally in political terms.

Comparative Political Systems   POL 201G

This course offers foundations for studying comparative politics, “the study of politics predominantly within countries,” at an advanced level. In addition to substantive knowledge about major themes in the field, the course provides students with analytical and methodological tools to study the state of the art in comparative politics. Students will be exposed to methods such as game theory, experiments, and statistical analysis. Rather than focusing on increasing students’ knowledge about specific countries, the course will train students to critically examine problems in comparative politics. Topics covered in the course include conceptualisation and measurement of democracy and dictatorship, economic and cultural determinants of democracy and dictatorship, group decision making, parliamentary, presidential, and semi-presidential democracies, electoral systems, social cleavages and party systems.

Prerequisite: POL 101G or POL 111G

Theories of International Relations  POL 212G

The course introduces and explores core concepts, approaches and arguments of International Relations Theories. Students will engage with key debates and controversies in world politics from a distinctly theoretical perspective. By engaging with central theoretical paradigms and key authors (ranging from the realism/liberalism/constructivism paradigms and its ‘neo’- variants to more critical and more recent perspectives) students will acquire a nuanced understanding of debates and controversies in International Relations scholarship. On the practical level, the course also focuses on strengthening students’ research, team-work and public speaking skills through essay-writing, presentations and seminar-leading exercises.

Prerequisite: POL 101G

Western Democracy in Crisis: Post-Truth Politics and the Rise of Populism   POL 214G

This course will examine one of the defining political puzzles of our time: from the EU referendum in the United Kingdom to the presidential election in the United States and the rise of populist forces everywhere in Europe, there is a growing realization that truth may no longer be relevant to politics. ‘Post-truth’ politics – the Oxford Dictionaries word of the year – threatens to turn Western liberal democracy upside-down. The public scorns at politicians, technocrats and experts; conspiracies and viral hoaxes run rampart in social media; objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief. We will use an interdisciplinary approach – with lectures, group activities and assignments – to examine the philosophical underpinnings, the evolution and the effects of populism. In the course of seven weeks we will consider a range of questions such as: is populism a crisis of democracy or a legitimate revolt of the masses against their shrinking political importance? To what extent can populism be considered as a descendant of 18th Century Romanticism? What are the ‘post-truth’ challenges to the European Union, the transatlantic security and the liberal world order?

Prerequisite: POL 101G or HIS 101G

Understanding Contemporary Conflicts in the Euro-Mediterranean Region  POL 222G

Formerly known as ‘Understanding Contemporary Conflict in Europe and Beyond’, this is an EPSS course on the history and the politics of contemporary conflicts, with a specific focus on the Mediterranean region and the impact that its dynamics have had on European security. It will provide an understanding of the historical roots, conceptual foundations, and current developments characterising the conflicts of this area. The course is divided into three parts: the first part will be focused on understanding the historical developments and changes in warfare and the tools to analyse and manage conflicts. The second part of the course will deal specifically with the most important historical developments that have created the conditions for the current conflicts in the region. The role of Europe in the formation of the contemporary Middle East will be highlighted. The third part will focus on current crises in the Middle East, dealing with four specific case studies: the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Syrian civil war, sectarianism in the Middle East and the rivalry between the Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda in the Jihadist camp.

Prerequisite: POL 101G or HIS 101G

Ethnic Conflict, Reconciliation and Post-war Reconstruction   POL 223G

This interdisciplinary course is aimed at students interested in the study of peace and conflict resolution, international relations, political science, sociology and history. It combines a historical overview of the breakup of Yugoslavia and the wars of 1990 with a theoretical discussion on peace and conflict resolution. The course consists of a series of lectures and presentations during which students look at the main events and causes that led to the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s as well as the impact the conflict has had on the security, economic, demographic, and religious situation in the region. No background in Yugoslav history or politics is required. The role of nationalist ideology and organisation in the breakdown and building of state structures is a key element of this course, as is (often violent) conflict surrounding the implementation of state-building projects. A final element of major significance is the impact of international intervention or world geopolitics, particularly the interests of Great Powers and their attempts to shape state-building projects of local actors. The course assists students in identifying and analysing the causes of the Yugoslavian conflict, and more importantly, learning how to anticipate such conflicts in the future.

Prerequisite: POL 101G or HIS 101G

Global Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism and (De-)Radicalisation  POL 225G

This course seeks to enhance students’ understanding of ideological, strategic, and operational characteristics of global terrorism and radicalisation in the 21st Century. Students will critically assess and define terms associated with politically motivated non-state violence, and explore the development, motives, and strategies of terrorist groups and examine radicalisation processes and tactics. The focus of this course will be on terrorist groups operating in and from the Middle East, Africa, and South-East Asia. Emphasis is placed on the global debate about the threat of terrorism and the role of the media in terrorist attacks. We will also evaluate the methods used by national and international state and non-state actors to control terrorism and radicalisation and assess the consequences and success of these responses. This course introduces students to policy debates, theoretical literature as well as statements produced by perpetrators such as jihadists to create a comprehensive understanding of terrorism. This course places heavy emphasis on the professional writing, analysis, briefing, conduct, and other skills needed for careers in anti-terrorism and security.

Prerequisite: POL 101G

Security, Migration and Cultural Diversity in Europe   POL 227G

Recent events from the terrorist attacks in France and Belgium to the US presidential election through the Brexit referendum in the UK have highlighted the saliency of migration and cultural diversity in industrialised societies and the frequent linkages being made between ‘migrants’ (or ‘culturally others’) and security in its broadest sense. The main aim of this EPSS course is to equip students with the knowledge and analytical skills necessary to explain how migrants and minorities have come to be seen as threatening and the public policies that have been developed in that respect, as well as evaluating the consequences for those at the receiving end of these discourses and policies and for industrialised societies more broadly.

Prerequisite: POL 101G

Emerging Technologies and Global Security   POL 228G

Blockchain currencies, Artificial Intelligence, Internet-Of-Things, and drones have become part of everyday vocabulary.  Dual use capabilities of these technologies prompt the question about the implications of these technologies for the European security. This course provides theoretical foundations for understanding how emerging technologies can change the balance of power between state and non-state actors and between large and small states, and how the technological changes impact international relations. The course then applies these insights to the question of arms control and non-proliferation, hybrid and cyber warfare, maritime security, border security, and conventional warfare.

Prerequisites: HUM 101G and POL 101G

European Union Politics: Introduction to the European Union  POL 231G

This course focuses on the European Union’s integration, institutions, decision making processes and major policies and on the theoretical approaches to studying European integration. The course is divided into 4 major parts. Part one provides a historical overview and analyses evolving treaty framework in the European Union. Part two details the organisation and functioning of the European Union institutions including the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the European Council as well as the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice. Part three deals with policy processes and the making of legislation in the European Union and focuses on selected policy areas. The final part of the course focuses on the major theoretical approaches to studying European integration including neofunctionalism, intergovernmentalism, neo-institutionalism and constructivism(s).

Prerequisite: POL 101G

The EU’s Approach to Democratisation and Human Rights   POL 233G

This course examines the historical evolution, policies and overall track-record of major European countries and the European Union itself in the field of democratisation and the promotion of human rights. The first part of the course provides a comprehensive overview of the main conceptualisations, debates and core issues related to human rights and democracy promotion. The second part of the course consists of a critical analysis of both the internal and external human rights policies and democratisation efforts of the European Union and major European states.

Prerequisite: POL 101G

International Organisations and Global Governance   POL 243G

This course provides an analysis of the historical evolution, policies and impact of core International Organisations in the field of Global Governance. Students examine and evaluate the policy-making processes, successes and failures of major International Organisations in addressing core global challenges, such as global peace and security, global economic governance, development and the global fight against hunger, climate change and environmental governance, the global rule of law, human rights and democratisation.

Prerequisite: POL 101G or HIS 101G

The United Nations and Global Governance  POL 244G

This course introduces and explores the history, institutions, core policies and impact of the United Nations in the context of ‘contemporary global governance’. Emphasis is placed on assessing the UN’s core institutions (Security Council, General Assembly, ECOSOC, UN Secretariat and Secretary-General) and the UN’s policies in the fields of peace and security, human rights and (sustainable) development. Particular emphasis is placed on UN Peacekeeping. Students are encouraged to critically assess the UN’s effectiveness and options for reform, whilst appreciating the persistent challenges of global governance in the context of a multiplicity of actors without formal, overall coordination. The course also provides students with an opportunity for critical in-depth (tutorial) discussion, group work and in-depth research into the role, function and performance of the United Nations in the policy fields discussed in the course.

Prerequisite: POL 101G or HIS 101G

History and Politics of the Modern Middle East   POL 261G

This is an introductory course to Modern Middle Eastern Studies. The course introduces students to some of the major historical, political and cultural events that have affected the Middle Eastern region since the fall of the Ottoman Empire. It is an interdisciplinary course that examines key historical and political milestones that have shaped, defined and redefined the Modern Middle East since the beginning of the 20th Century: modernity, colonialism, nationalism, ethnicity, identity and religion, state formation, democratisation, wars and geography as well as the impact of external influences on the region. The course also touches upon recent events in the region, in particular the Arab uprising and the on-going Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Given the complex history of the region, current events cannot be dissected from the Middle East’s history alone. This introductory course will provide students with basic building blocks that will enable them to better understand and analyse today’s events and conflicts in the greater context of the region’s historical, political and cultural developments over the past 100 years. The course includes film viewings as well as guest-lectures by experienced practitioners and policy-makers.

Prerequisite: POL 101G or HIS 101G

US Foreign Policy  POL 262G

This course examines the evolution and pursuit of US interests by the United States Government internationally over the 20th Century through to today. It investigates the evolution of US foreign policy in the context of conflicting regional nationalisms, sub-regional poles of power, competition with the Soviet Union, and the post-9/11 era. This course draws upon readings, lecture, class discussion, and crisis simulation to foster an understanding of the history of U.S. foreign policy and help students develop an analytic framework for understanding current policy debates.

Prerequisite: POL 101G or HIS 101G

Russian Foreign Policy   POL 263G

This course introduces students to the key developments in Russia’s foreign and defence policy. It closely examines the drivers, policy tools and constraints Russia faces when seeking to achieve its foreign policy objectives. Students also learn to apply major theories of international relations to the analysis of specific countries’ foreign policy decisions and to the development of policy recommendations for emerging security challenges.

Prerequisite: POL 101G or HIS 101G

Advanced Theories of International Relations   POL 303G

This course takes an in-depth look into international relations theory and places them in the context of contemporary politics. The course provides an overview and critical analysis of the important scholarly debates. Students learn to think critically about different theoretical assumptions and practice applying them to real cases from global politics. In addition to contemporary politics, students draw on their history knowledge to contextualise different theories and their origins. The format of the course includes some lectures paired with seminars where students analyse readings of the core theoretical texts and analyse their own views on the merits and limitations of different theoretical approaches. Thus, class discussions and seminar presentations are among the core activities of this course which is designed to equip students with the theoretical knowledge they need to carry out rigorous research for their BA thesis.

Prerequisite: POL 212G

International Political Economy  POL 311G

This course studies the interactions among political, economic, and social institutions and processes and how they affect international relations. It describes mercantilist, neoliberal, radical, and contemporary approaches to international political economy. Students analyse the structures of trade, finance, security, and knowledge and compare change, transition, and development in different regions.   Furthermore, this course analyses global problems, including energy, migration, and environment.

Prerequisites: ECN 101G and POL 101G

NATO and Transatlantic Approaches to Security  POL 321G

This EPSS course explores the history, track record and major political and policy challenges related to both the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and wider US-Europe transatlantic relations more generally. Students examine the waxing and waning of US-EU relations in the field of security and assess the evolution, institutions, policy-making processes and impact of NATO’s core security policies. The final part of the course invites students to explore emerging and future challenges NATO and US- EU relations will face.

Prerequisite: POL 101G

Military Approaches to Security   POL 322G

This EPSS course provides an in-depth analysis of core actors, as well as key dimensions and approaches to promoting security through military means. Particular emphasis will be placed on the so-called ‘comprehensive approach’. The course provides a conceptual and theoretical introduction to military security by focusing on the concepts of threat, risk, security and conflict and explains their evolution. It discusses the changing nature of war and the complexity of today’s conflicts and analyses the role of the military in security issues such as deterrence; arms control and disarmament; proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, small arms and light weapons; and failed states. The course will also explore how the role of the military is influenced by the privatisation of international security and the evolution of military equipment. Finally, students study the role of the military in state-building, the specificity of the military in crisis management, and the main approaches to peace support operations and military crisis management in the UN, EU and NATO frameworks.

Prerequisite: POL 101G

International Approaches to State-Building, Reform and Good Governance  POL 324G

This interdisciplinary course is aimed to engage students in debates on the origins, development and deterioration of states. Approaches to promoting good governance and state-building as part of post- Soviet transition, African studies, development studies, security studies, post-conflict reconstruction, have been the subject of numerous academic and policy debates. Students learn about these different approaches as well as how they are interlinked with democracy assistance and security sector reform initiatives. Students review the indicators for state capacity and good governance, assess issues critical for the development of states in transition and will discuss models of state-society relationship. While this course primarily focuses on the role of the international actors in state-building efforts, it also focuses on issues linked to the concept of nation, national movements and civil society. The course consists of lectures, seminar discussions and includes guest speakers as well as interactive exercises.

Prerequisite: POL 101G

Policies in the European Union    POL 333G

This course aims to familiarise students with institutions, actors and policy patterns of EU policy domains (agriculture, regional development, environmental policy, social policy and foreign/security policy), as well as with public policy approaches and concepts used to analyse EU policies. It addresses some of the challenges of EU policy-making: asymmetry, path dependency, complexity, accountability, legitimacy, public participation, implementation and monitoring deficits, hierarchical authority, enlargement, etc. This course refers extensively to policy cases and domains to clarify theories and concepts, which are juxtaposed to highlight explanatory advantages and weaknesses.

Prerequisite: POL 231G

The European Union in the World   POL 334G

This course explores the changing role of the European Union (EU) on the global stage. It examines the evolution of the EU’s global influence through an analysis of several key areas of influence, including enlargement, trade and economic policy and the development of defence policy.

Prerequisite: POL 101G

Emerging Powers in the Global Order   POL 342G

The course analyses the challenges of Global Governance and the role played by emerging countries (BRICS+) in the new global order. It analyses the key drivers and challenges to the emergence of these countries, their major foreign policy priorities, the rationale behind their engagement in international multilateral organisations/institutions and the ways in which they try to change the balance in the global system. Firstly therefore, this course presents and studies the key concepts that continuously shape its content and reviews the various strategies that global powers can use to ‘emerge’. Second, it looks specifically at the power structures of a number of emerging countries and at their external strategies. The country case studies focus on Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and a few others (BRICS+). Third, students look at the ways in which these states engage into the international governance structures, the tools they use and the efforts they make to influence or redesign current structures. To do this, the course discusses certain international issues such as the global economy, development cooperation, climate negotiations and global security. Finally, students explore the strategies developed by established powers (the US and the EU) to confront these new powers and look at possible scenarios for future global structures.

Prerequisite: HIS 101G or POL 101G

Global Economic Governance   POL 343G

This course provides an overview of the evolving architecture, functions and outcomes of global economic governance. It assesses the establishment and the role of international institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation and their capacity to deal with global challenges. The course also examines the role of international rules, norms, practices and institutions that have been challenged in the recent financial crisis. Students analyse how international institutions facilitate cooperation and mitigate conflict in the world economy. Students also take a look at issues such as the role international trade, finance and development through the prism of international politics.

Capstone in International Affairs    POL 391G

The International Affairs Capstone course provides students with an opportunity to integrate their knowledge and apply the skills acquired throughout their studies to a concrete policy problem. As the final, summative and integrative course of the IA programme, students apply their knowledge and skills in a highly independent, theory-driven, but policy-oriented manner. For the duration of the Capstone course, students work on a real-life problem and act as policy advisers or policy analysts for a ‘client’ (policy-maker from Brussels-based organisations, such as the European Union or NATO). By calling for the integration and application of their multi-disciplinary knowledge, the Capstone course seeks to prepare students both for independent research at the graduate level and to bridge the gap between academic studies and the professional realm of policy-oriented analysis.

Prerequisite: Third year standing

BA Thesis in International Affairs – Seminar I   POL 395G

The first part of seminar for the BA Thesis in International Affairs requires students to formulate and devise their research question for their BA Thesis topic as well as to choose and apply advanced research methods specific to the field of International Affairs in order to tackle and investigate their major research topic. In this seminar, students will acquire knowledge and skills of advanced research methods and will complete their preparatory work for conducting major research on their BA topic which will serve as a foundation for finalising their thesis writing in BA Thesis Seminar II.

Prerequisite: Third year standing

BA Thesis in International Affairs – Seminar II     POL 396G

After completing the BA Thesis Seminar I, students are required to complete writing their BA thesis, based on the research design proposed in BA Thesis Seminar I. Under the guidance of their thesis supervisor, students finalise the writing process and present intermittent results in senior seminars and round-tables. The final oral defence/presentation of the thesis’ results will take place in the context of the College’s public ‘undergraduate research day’.

Prerequisite: POL 395G

Introduction to Psychology    PSY 101G

This course is aimed to provide students with an introduction into the research field of psychology. Students get acquainted to core concepts and existing domains within Psychology. Psychology as a scientific discipline and the interconnection between sub domains in Psychology are central issues in this course. Topics that will be treated include: what is psychology, biology of behaviour, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, learning and adaptation, motivation and emotion, development over the life span, personality, adjusting to life (stress, coping and health), psychological disorders, social thinking and behaviour, etc. Theory will be supported by demos, class experiments, exercises and film fragments.

Intermediate Qualitative Research Methods      SSC 271G

This course will give an overview of key qualitative methodologies relevant for Business, Communications, International Affairs, and International and European Law majors. The students will learn how to frame a research question, to collect and analyse qualitative data in order to address an important policy or social science issue. Teamwork and interactive exercises will prepare students to pursue an independent research project.

Prerequisite: HUM 101G

Intermediate Quantitative Research Methods      SSC272G

This course exposes students to the main quantitative research methods required for analysis in the Social Sciences. Students learn the main methodological approaches from the field of Business and Economics, Communications and International Affairs studies. The course also provides essential skills required for analysing and tackling major research issues.

Prerequisite: STA 101G

Introduction to Statistics    STA 101G

Statistics is the art of using data to make numerical conjectures about problems. Descriptive statistics is the art of summarizing data. Topics include: histograms, the average, the standard deviation, the normal curve, correlation. Much statistical reasoning depends on the theory of probability. Topics include: chance models, expected value, standard error, probability histograms, convergence to the normal curve. Statistical inference is the art of making valid generalisations from samples. Topics include: estimation, measurement error, tests of statistical significance.