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. A maximum of 9 credit hours beyond SPPAIS-prefixed courses (that is, INST- or POLS-prefixed courses) can count toward the minor. To count towards the minor, all courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or better.

Students who have completed upper-division courses as part of the university’s established “London Semester” or “Rome Semester” programs may apply all such coursework towards the European Studies minor.

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

HIST 2080 - Holocaust Credits: 3
POLS 2200 - Politics of Europe Credits: 3
HIST 2240 - The History of Russia Since 1855 Credits: 3
INST 2280 - Introduction to European Studies Credits: 3
GERM 3006 - 20th Century German Culture and Civilization Credits: 3
HIST 3110 - Modern Germany Credits: 3
FREN 3110 - Contemporary French Civilization Credits: 3
FREN 4085 - Studies in French Culture
GERM 3150 - German History and Culture Credits: 3
GERM 4265 - Divided Nation: Politics and Culture in Germany 1945 - 1990
POLS 3220 - Government and Politics of Russia and FSU Credits: 3
SPAN 3220 - Spanish-American Cultures in Context Credits: 3
INST 3400 - Politics and Society of Turkey Credits: 3
HIST 4170 - Europe in the Nineteenth Century Credits: 3
INST 4215 - European Union Credits: 3
HIST 4270 - France: Old Regime and Revolution Credits: 3
HIST 4280 - France Since 1814
GERM 4285 - 20th/21st Century German Film Credits: 3
HIST 4290 - History of the Soviet Union Credits: 3
HIST 4310 - World War II in Europe Credits: 3
SOC 4330 - The World System
INST 4380 - International History of Human Rights Credits: 3
INST 4881 - International Social Welfare and Social Development 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.

Students who complete upper-division courses as part of the university’s established “London Semester” or “Rome Semester” programs may apply all such coursework towards the European Studies minor.