Major: European Studies
The CIA's World Factbook
The scope of European studies is almost as large as Europe itself. It stretches from the military history of ancient Rome to the paintings of the Renaissance to the present-day economics of the European Union and beyond. In fact, the possibilities for study can be overwhelming.
But most students find the chance to mold their own major exhilarating. Add the excitement of a semester or year spent immersed in another culture and you’ve got a valuable undergrad experience.
European studies is an interdisciplinary major that explores the history, politics, economics, and cultures of the peoples of Europe from ancient times to the present.
Did You Know?
- You might study the politics of Eastern Europe, including topics like Poland’s transition from a socialist country under the Soviet Union to a Western-style democracy.
Are You Ready To...?
- Become fluent in a second language
- Study in another country and maybe even another language
- Design your own major
- Write a thesis (long research paper) on topics like immigration law in France or the social status of the Roma people (often called gypsies)
It Helps to Be...
Independent, flexible, and open to new experiences. It also helps to be a self-starter with a wide range of interests.
College Checklist
- Is European studies a major of its own, or is it offered as a specialization within another major?
- How many professors teach only in the European studies program?
- Are professors readily available to guide you in designing your major?
- Does the program partner with a European university to offer a study-abroad program?
- Do credits earned overseas count toward the major?
- Can you fulfill the program’s foreign language requirements at an overseas university?
Did You Know?
- With the introduction of a common currency, the euro, the continent moved closer to Winston Churchill’s vision of a “United States of Europe.”
Course Spotlight
Scientists step into the laboratory and students of European studies cross the ocean. Your semester or year abroad will likely be the high point of your major. You might travel to France, for example, where you’ll talk politics over dinner with your host family, sit side-by-side with French classmates, and take weekend trips to Spain and Switzerland.
You might study the way women are portrayed in Europe’s medieval literature or what life was like in Europe between the world wars. Wherever and whatever you study, you’ll learn that there’s no substitute for being there.
