European Studies Minor

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The European Studies Minor offers students the opportunity to engage in an interdisciplinary program of study of a European region or a single country.

The program emphasizes a social science approach to the study of modern European history, politics, society, and culture with options to include foreign language and study abroad components towards completion of the Minor. For the purposes of this minor, Europe is defined first and foremost as a geographic entity running from the Atlantic to the Urals and from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and the Caucasus Mountains. Courses that transcend these boundaries should include the study of Europe in a prominent way to count toward the minor.

All required courses for the major must be passed with a grade of C or better. A course cannot simultaneously fulfill more than one major requirement.

Course Requirements (18 Hours)

If your primary major is in the College of Arts and Sciences, at least twelve (12) credit hours must be exclusive to the minor and not counted towards fulfilling major requirements. To count towards the minor, all courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or better.

Gateway Course (3 Credit Hours)

All European Studies Minor students must complete one of two required Gateway courses, either:

INST 2280 - Introduction to European Studies Credits: 3 (COM2)
OR
POLS 2200 - Politics of Europe Credits: 3 (COM2)
OR
INST 2200 - Politics of Europe Credits: 3 (COM 2)

European Studies Area Courses (15 Credit Hours)

European Studies Minor students must complete a minimum of fifteen (15) additional credit hours from the following list of approved European Studies Area Courses. A minimum of nine (9) of these credit hours must be taken at the upper-division (3000+) level. In addition to the approved courses on this list, topics courses, Honors courses, or other special course offerings may count towards fulfilling Area Course requirements based on the approval of the student’s designated minor advisor. Students are strongly encouraged to review the International Studies Newsletter each semester to see what European Studies Area courses are currently being offered.

Approved European Studies Area Courses

A&S 2200 - British Life and Culture
FREN 2130 - Contemporary French Culture Credits: 3
FREN 3110 - Contemporary French Civilization Credits: 3
FREN 4085 - Studies in French Culture
GERM 3006 - 20th Century German Culture and Civilization Credits: 3
GERM 3150 - German History and Culture Credits: 3
GERM 4265 - Divided Nation: Politics and Culture in Germany 1945 - 1990
GERM 4285 - 20th/21st Century German Film Credits: 3
HIST 2080 - Holocaust Credits: 3
HIST 2240 - The History of Russia Since 1855 Credits: 3
HIST 3110 - Modern Germany Credits: 3
HIST 4170 - Europe in the Nineteenth Century Credits: 3
HIST 4180 - Europe in the 20th Century Credits: 3
HIST 4190 - Europe: 1930 - Present
HIST 4195 - European Economic History
HIST 4270 - France: Old Regime and Revolution Credits: 3
HIST 4280 - France Since 1814
HIST 4290 - History of the Soviet Union Credits: 3
HIST 4310 - World War II in Europe Credits: 3
HIST 4315 - History, Politics and Memory of the Holocaust in Europe Credits: 3
HIST 4320 - Memory and National Identity in Twentieth Century Europe Credits: 3
INST 2280 - Introduction to European Studies Credits: 3
INST 4330 - American Foreign Relations Credits: 3
OR
POLS 4330 - American Foreign Relations Credits: 3
OR
SOC 4330 - The World System
INST 4380 - International History of Human Rights Credits: 3
INST 4881 - International Social Welfare and Social Development Credits: 3
POLS 2200 - Politics of Europe Credits: 3
POLS 3220 - Government and Politics of Russia and FSU Credits: 3
POLS 4215 - European Union Credits: 3
RELI 4150 - Christianity, Jews and Muslims in Iberia
SPAN 3220 - Spanish-American Cultures in Context Credits: 3

Optional European Study Abroad Component

European Studies Minor students are also strongly encouraged to participate in a relevant study abroad program in the region of Europe to supplement their coursework at UW. Accordingly, up to six (6) hours of relevant study abroad credit may be counted towards fulfillment of the European Studies Area Course requirement on the approval of the student’s designated minor advisor.

Optional European Foreign Language Component

European Studies Minor students are also strongly encouraged to learn an European foreign language (other than English) as part of their progression towards completion of the Minor. Accordingly, up to eight (8) lower division (1000-2000) credit hours of an European foreign language may be counted towards fulfillment of the European Studies Area Course requirement. ‘European’ languages at UW include French, German, and Spanish. However, European Studies Minor students need not necessarily be limited to the three languages currently taught at UW. On the approval of the student’s designated minor advisor these optional language credit hours may be fulfilled by other European language instruction at UW, other relevant in-country summer intensive programs, or language-focused study abroad programs.