Bachelor of Arts Degree

Program Description - European Studies

The purpose of the curriculum in European Studies is to prepare students to pursue careers requiring an understanding of all the forces, both material and cultural, contemporary and historical, that are shaping Europe today, in the transitions involved in the post-Soviet era and the movement toward greater political, economic, and cultural integration among the various nations of Europe, West, East, North, and South. One of the main goals of the program is to equip its graduates to work with primary sources in a European language, beginning with substantive study of such sources in regular coursework and in the capstone seminar. Depending on the particular nature of their interests, students should be able to pursue European Studies either as an area concentration for its own sake or as a supplement to the development of particular expertise in a related discipline. Students also may focus, within the major, on Hellenic Studies, the European Union, or Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies. European Studies courses are offered by faculty in the following departments and programs: Architecture, Art, Classics, Communication, Comparative Literature, Comparative Religion, Drama, Economics, English, Geography, Germanics, History, International Studies, Political Science, Public Affairs, Romance Languages and Literature, Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies, Scandinavian Studies, Slavic Languages and Literature, Sociology and Women Studies.

-James R. Felak, Chair

Admission to Major

Any undergraduate admitted for study as a matriculated student in the College of Arts and Sciences may declare European Studies as a major and work toward the B.A. degree.

Degree Requirements
(for students declaring the major Winter Quarter 2009 and after)

Language
The foreign language requirement has two phases:

(1) Two years of basic language study, as a prerequisite for (2) 10 credits of approved coursework at the 300 or 400 level either taught in the foreign language or involving extensive foreign language use. Third-year language sequence courses typically are used to satisfy this requirement.

Core Sequence
A core sequence of 20 credits, to include EURO 301, Europe Today (5 credits); EURO 302, European Politics and Cultures (5); SIS 201, Making of the 21st Century (5); and a survey course on modern Europe chosen from an approved list (5).

Foreign Study/Experience
One regular academic quarter (at least 9-10 weeks, 10 credits minimum) of study in Europe, normally in the junior year.

Electives
15 credits of electives from an approved list of courses in European society and culture (literature, history, political science, geography, economics, art history, sociology, etc.). One course must focus on the pre-modern period.

Senior Research Seminar
EURO 494 (5 credits): A seminar course of varying content in which students research and write a paper of substantial length. Students learn how to formulate an interesting problem and make use of the university's resources for research.

Overlapping credits
A maximum of 15 credits that are used to fulfill minimum requirements of any other UW major can be counted in this major.

Options in European Studies

Organizing Themes: Majors may organize the major around a region, theme, or disciplinary focus, but they are not required to do so. Two regional options have more formal course patterns: Hellenic Studies and Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies. These options provide for specific course work for the language and foreign study requirements, one or more of the electives, the Senior Seminar, and certain courses in the core sequence. Details are available in the Office of Student Services.

Research-Intensive: Students also may complete an optional Research-Intensive track, in which they will demonstrate and use the knowledge gained in all previous coursework and experience and make intensive use of foreign language skills in research. Students in the track complete an additional major course, EURO 495, Thesis Seminar (5), taught in spring quarter only. In EURO 495 students write a senior thesis in which they demonstrate and use the knowledge gained in core courses, electives, study abroad, and the EURO 494 seminar.

Research-Intensive Track: Structure, Requirements, Review

Students may complete an optional Research-Intensive Track, in which they will demonstrate and use the knowledge gained in all previous coursework and experience and make intensive use of foreign language skills in research.

Track Requirements

The Research-Intensive track consists of the following

1. Completion of EURO 495, Thesis Seminar (5 cr), in addition to the 60 credits required in the major (65 credits total). EURO 495 is offered in spring quarter only
2. Completion of EURO 494, Senior Seminar (5 cr), prior to taking EURO 495

Planning for the Research-Intensive Track: Entry to the track requires a formal review. Interested students may submit proposals during the junior year, and should file no later than spring quarter of their junior year. Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis; once the spaces in the following year’s Research Intensive track are filled, new proposals will not be considered.

Proposals for the Research-Intensive track will be evaluated according to the following criteria: (a) essay; (b) grades earned in EURO 301, SIS 201, and the required European Survey; (c) grades earned in other courses counting in the major; (d) overall UW GPA. Candidates should have junior standing and are expected to have completed of at least one year of foreign language, with a second year (or beyond) in progress at the time the proposal is submitted. At least 20 credits in the major should be complete at the time of submission.

Students should consult a European Studies adviser when planning for the track. Follow this link for a proposal form for the Research-Intensive track, or obtain a copy in the Jackson School Office of Student Services, Thomson 111.

Minor Requirements

Two years of a continental European language; 15-credit core sequence (EURO 301, SIS 201, and a survey course on modern Europe); 10 credits of approved elective coursework in European society and culture.

Full Program Description (PDF file)

For a full program description including a list of electives. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).

Current Euro Studies Course Descriptions