This course will offer you the opportunity to step into history. This historical journey, which illuminates Europe from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century, will help you to understand the many social, historical, religious and cultural factors that came to shape modern Europe. This course provides an overview of the political, socio-economic, and cultural developments that shaped Europe throughout the 20th century and the first decades of the 21th century. This will mainly be done by looking through the prism of European integration and the evolution and current challenges of the European Union across different policy fields.
Many deeply impacting developments occurred over the course of the 20th century: Two World Wars were fought, the birth of the European Union and the fall of Communism, just to name a few. Being such a crucial city in Europe’s history in the 20th and 21th century, Berlin is the most logical location for this course. Special emphasis will also be given to Germany's role in the middle of the continent. The city of Berlin, with all its tangible historical remains, will be dealt with as a city of former crisis with great promises for a better future.
In this course we will try to identify the democratic values that have shaped the rebirth of Europe and discuss the challenges with which present-day Europe is faced. The course will reflect on Europe's place in the global, multi-polar world of the 21st century. Several excursions will be organized in which you will visit some key historic sites as well as prominent EU and German institutions based in Berlin.
NB: You can combine this course in one of our tracks, for example with a course in the Netherlands or even visit Rome & Utrecht next to Berlin.
Target audience
This course is open to all students from different fields of study with an interest in culture, society and politics. Further, the course requires a minimum language proficiency of B2 in English.
Aim of the course
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Describe and evaluate different theories and conceptualisations of the historic development of Europe, with specific attention for Germany;
- Show an understanding of various historic monuments and their relation to historic developments;
- Demonstrate an understanding of political, socio-economic and cultural aspects of the European developments;
- Demonstrate this critical knowledge and understanding in written and verbal form.
Study load
48 contact hours (6 per day) Students must attend classes, actively engage in class discussions, and regularly contribute ideas to the class to successfully complete this course. There will also be a midcourse exam and a final exam.
Costs
Additional information
Housing is available from the Saturday before the start of the course until the last Saturday (29-07-2023 to 12-08-2023).
Application
Students may apply for the Berlin course until June 24. Applications made between June 1 and June 24 are final and choices regarding housing cannot be changed.
Contact details
Utrecht Summer School | E: info@utrechtsummerschool.nl
or FUBiS | fubis@fubis.org | + 49 (0)30 838 73472