IR215 EU System
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Hamza Preljević
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course introduces the European Union, its historical development, main institutions, and key policy processes. Students will explore theoretical approaches to European integration, analyse the EU’s decision-making, and critically examine contemporary challenges, including democratic legitimacy, foreign and security policy, justice and home affairs, and enlargement.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
McCormick, J. (2022). Understanding the European Union: A concise introduction (8th ed.). Bloomsbury Academic. (Original work published 1999); Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022). European Union Politics. Oxford University Press. 7th edition; Nugent, N. (2017). The government and politics of the European Union (8th ed.). Palgrave.
Additional Literature
Selected articles and official documents.Teaching Methods
Lecturing
Powerpoint presentations
Seminars and discussions
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction | |
| 2 | Understanding integration | McCormick, J. (2022): CH 1-2 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 1 |
| 3 | What is European Union? | McCormick, J. (2022): CH 1-2 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 1 |
| 4 | Historical evolution of the EU (Part I) | McCormick, J. (2022): CH 3 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 2-3 |
| 5 | Historical evolution of the EU (Part II) | McCormick, J. (2022): CH 3 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 2-3 |
| 6 | European Commission | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 9 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 10 |
| 7 | The European Council and the Council of the EU | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 10-11 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 11 |
| 8 | Midterm exam | See detailed reading list |
| 9 | European Parliament | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 12 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 12 |
| 10 | Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 13 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 13 |
| 11 | European Union Specialized Agencies | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 14 |
| 12 | Parties and Interest Groups | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 15 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 14-15 |
| 13 | The European Union Policy Process | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 18 |
| 14 | Elections and referendums | McCormick, J. (2022): CH 5 |
| 15 | European Union and the World | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 22 /McCormick, J. (2022): CH 3 |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR215.1 | Course | Thursday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F1.8 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 12:00 | B F1.31 | |
| Friday | 09:00 - 11:00 | B F1.31 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4
Active participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Individual Learning
65 hours ⏳ (13 week × 5 h)
Presentation
7 hours ⏳ (1 week × 7 h)
Midterm Exam Study
15 hours ⏳ (3 week × 5 h)
Final Exam Study
18 hours ⏳ (3 week × 6 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IR215] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IR215 | EU System | 3 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | IR101 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Hamza Preljević | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Wednesday: 9:00-12:00 Friday: 9:00-11:00 |
|||||||
| hpreljevic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course introduces the European Union, its historical development, main institutions, and key policy processes. Students will explore theoretical approaches to European integration, analyse the EU’s decision-making, and critically examine contemporary challenges, including democratic legitimacy, foreign and security policy, justice and home affairs, and enlargement. | |||||||||
| Textbook | McCormick, J. (2022). Understanding the European Union: A concise introduction (8th ed.). Bloomsbury Academic. (Original work published 1999); Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022). European Union Politics. Oxford University Press. 7th edition; Nugent, N. (2017). The government and politics of the European Union (8th ed.). Palgrave. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
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| Teaching Methods | Lecturing, powerpoint presentations, seminars and discussions | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course Introduction | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Understanding integration | McCormick, J. (2022): CH 1-2 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | What is European Union? | McCormick, J. (2022): CH 1-2 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 1 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Historical evolution of the EU (Part I) | McCormick, J. (2022): CH 3 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 2-3 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Historical evolution of the EU (Part II) | McCormick, J. (2022): CH 3 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 2-3 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | European Commission | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 9 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 10 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | The European Council and the Council of the EU | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 10-11 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 11 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam | See detailed reading list | ||||||||
| Week 9 | European Parliament | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 12 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 12 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 13 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 13 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | European Union Specialized Agencies | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 14 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Parties and Interest Groups | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 15 / Cini, M. & Borragán, N.P-S. (2022): CH 14-15 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | The European Union Policy Process | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 18 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Elections and referendums | McCormick, J. (2022): CH 5 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | European Union and the World | Nugent, N. (2017): CH 22 /McCormick, J. (2022): CH 3 | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 1 | 20 | 3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Active participation | 1 | 10 | 4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Individual Learning | 5 | 13 | 65 | |||
| Presentation | 7 | 1 | 7 | Midterm Exam Study | 5 | 3 | 15 | |||
| Final Exam Study | 6 | 3 | 18 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||