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European Studies

European Studies is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the politics, culture, economy, society and history of Europe, and on Europe’s place in the world. It puts you on the threshold of a world at the forefront of dynamic change -- social, cultural, political, and economic -- as well as a world of rich and resonant traditions in literature, philosophy, science, art and architecture. There are faculty in various departments at UC San Diego affiliated with the European Studies Minor, whose courses form our curriculum. Students may choose from among these, with any emphasis that they desire. The European Studies Minor is a very useful credential to have on your degree, especially if you are interested in a career that has a global dimension. It also indicates an approach to the world that is attractive to law, medical and business schools.

Here are some of the issues your studies for the Minor could open up:

  • Brexit: what are the implications of the UK leaving the EU?
  • The Euro: how does an international currency function?
  • Immigration: how can the movement of peoples be conducted?   
  • Heritage: how can the past be preserved for the future?
  • Privacy: what are the rights of citizens and the obligations of the state to individual privacy in the digital age?
  • Social Justice: how can inequality be addressed?

Students choosing to minor in European Studies may design their coursework to focus on their own interests by drawing from multiple disciplines including communications, economics, history, political science, literature, sociology, philosophy, the arts and more. The program also encourages students to complete some of their coursework through study abroad in Europe.

Questions regarding major or minor requirements may be directed toward the Program Coordinator via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC). Other questions can be directed to caesar@ucsd.edu.

People

Program Directors

Frank Biess, Co-Director
Professor, History

Ulrike Strasser, Co-Director
Professor, History

Academic Advising

UC San Diego undergraduate students: please use the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) for all advising questions.

Email for advising appointments: caesar@ucsd.edu 

Faculty

Eric Bakovic, Linguistics

Ryan Bessett, Literature

Frank Biess, History

John D. Blanco, Literature

David Brink, Philosophy

Alain Cohen, Literature

Thomas Csordas, Anthropology

Adriana de Marchi Gherini, Literature

Thomas Gallant, History

Cathy Gere, History

Clark Gibson, Political Science

Amelia Glaser, Literature

Harvey Goldman, Sociology

Mark G. Hanna, History

Michael Hardimon, Philosophy

Matthew Herbst
Director, Making of the Modern World

Deborah Hertz, History

Germaine Hoston, Political Science

Monte Johnson, Philosophy

Dayna Kalleres, Literature

Grant Kester, Visual Arts

Robert Kluender, Linguistics

Lisa Lampert-Weissig, Literature

Martha Lampland, Sociology

Ping-hu Liao, Literature

Babette Mangolte, Visual Arts

Luis Martin-Cabrera, Literature

Karola Obermüller, Music

Patrick Patterson, History

Catherine Ploye, Literature

Michael Provence, History

Pamela B. Radcliff, History

Babak Rahimi, Literature

Samuel Rickless, Philosophy

Philip Roeder, Political Science

Akos Rona-Tas, Sociology

Jordan Rose, Visual Arts

Christina Schneider, Political Science

Gershon Shafir, Sociology

Kaare Strom, Political Science

Ulrike Strasser, History

Charles Thorpe, Sociology

Clinton Tolley, Philosophy

William Tronzo, Visual Arts

Eric Watkins, Philosophy

John Welchman, Visual Arts

Alena Williams, Visual Arts

Oumelbanine Zhiri, Literature

Minor

European Studies Minor

To receive a minor in European Studies, a student must complete seven four-unit courses (twenty-eight units), at least five of which must be upper division and taken in at least two different departments. Language courses are not required for this minor, but please note that some upper-division courses may have prerequisites.

Up to two four-unit courses in foreign language can be included in the seven courses required for the minor. These may be lower-division courses.

All courses applied to the minor must receive a letter grade of C– or better.

Upper-division courses may include up to two 198 and 199 courses and up to three courses from Study Abroad Programs with the approval of the program director.

Minors in European Studies are encouraged to study abroad in Europe. Students should consult with the program director before going abroad to determine which courses will be approved for minor credit.

Resources:

 

Resources

UC San Diego Undergraduate Student Resources

Course Offerings

Course Offerings

Refer to the official UC San Diego General Catalog for a complete list of approved courses that will count toward a minor in European Studies.

Course offerings are constantly changing. Please refer to the Schedule of Classes for the most up-to-date listing.

(*) Indicates course may be petitioned for credit. Instructions on How to Petition Courses.


Fall 2024

  • HIEU 171. Special Topics in Twentieth-Century Europe: Berlin and the 20th Century
  • LIFR 1A/1AX. French Conversation/Analysis of French
  • LIFR 1B/1BX. French Conversation/Analysis of French
  • LIFR 1C/1CX. French Conversation/Analysis of French
  • LIFR 1D/1DX. French Conversation/Analysis of French
  • LIIT 1A/1AX. Italian Conversation/Analysis of Italian
  • LIPO 1A/1AX. Portuguese Conversation/Analysis of Portuguese
  • LIPO 1D/1DX. Portuguese Conversation/Analysis of Portuguese
  • LISP 1A/1AX. Spanish Conversation/Analysis of Spanish
  • LISP 1B/1BX. Spanish Conversation/Analysis of Spanish
  • LISP 1D/1DX. Spanish Conversation/Analysis of Spanish
  • LTFR 2A. Intermediate French I
  • LTFR 2B. Intermediate French II
  • LTIT 2A. Intermediate Italian I
  • LTSP 2A. Intermediate Spanish I
  • LTSP 2B. Intermediate Spanish II
  • LTSP 2C. Intermediate Spanish III
  • LTTH 115. Introduction to Critical Theory
  • MUS 4. Introduction to Western Music
  • MUS 113. Topics in Classic, Romantic, and Modern Music
  • MUS 120A. History of Music in Western Culture I
  • PHIL 13. Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics
  • PHIL 14. Introduction to Philosophy: The Nature of Reality
  • PHIL 31. Introduction to Ancient Philosophy
  • *POLI 120H. European Integration
  • VIS 122B. Baroque: Painters, Sculptors, Architects

Winter 2025

  • HIEU 147. Europe and the World I, 1808–1918
  • LTEU 105. Medieval Studies: Dante's Inferno
  • LTIT 2B. Intermediate Italian II
  • MUS 113. Topics in Classical, Romantic, and Modern Music: Moondrunk: German Expressionism Through Music, Art, and Literature
  • PHIL 107. Hegel
  • PHIL 32. Philosophy and the Rise of Modern Science
  • LTEN 23. Introduction to the Literature of the British Isles: 1832–Present
  • LTEN 140. The British Novel: 1790–1830
  • LTEN 142. The British Novel: 1830–1890
  • LTEN 189. Twentieth-Century Postcolonial Literatures: Legacies of British Imperialism
  • LTEU 141. French Literature in English Translation
  • LTFR 2B. Intermediate French II
  • LTFR 2C. Intermediate French III: Composition and Cultural Contexts
  • LTFR 104. Advanced French Reading and Writing
  • LTGM 2B. Intermediate German II
  • LTIT 2B. Intermediate Italian II
  • LTSP 2A. Intermediate Spanish I
  • LTSP 2B. Intermediate Spanish II
  • LTSP 2C. Intermediate Spanish III
  • LTSP 2F. Spanish for Heritage Learners II
  • LTSP 3F. Spanish for Heritage Learners III
  • LTSP 100F. Advanced Spanish Language and Culture for Heritage Learners
  • LTSP 116. Representations of Spanish Colonialism
  • LTSP 123. Topics in Modern Spanish Culture
  • *POLI 120G. British Politics 

Spring 2025

  • HIEU 146. Fascism, Communism, and the Crisis of Liberal Democracy: Europe 1919–1945
  • HIEU 148. Europe and the World II, 1918–Present
  • LTEU 105. Medieval Studies: Dante's Purgatory and Paradise
  • LTIT 50. Advanced Italian
  • PHIL 102. Hellenistic Philosophy
  • PHIL 33. Philosophy between Reason and Despair
  • VIS 121AN. Art and Experience in the Middle Ages
  • VIS 128A. Topics in Premodern Art History: “Clash of Gods”: Late Antique Art and Architecture

Events

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for responses to commonly asked questions. If you have further questions, please contact the European Studies program through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).

Who should minor in European Studies?

The European Studies Minor is ideal for students who:

  • plan to study in Europe on an EAP or OAP program (or are returning from study abroad in Europe)
  • have strong European interests and/or are already proficient in an European language
  • are thinking about working in Europe
  • seek to complement their major with the study of Europe as a political, cultural, and economic entity
  • are entertaining a career in foreign service, international non-governmental organizations, law, biomedical research, medicine, or business

Can I take courses P/NP for the European Studies minor?

No, P/NP courses cannot be used toward the minor. Courses must be taken for a letter grade and be passed with a grade of C– or better.

I took a course not listed on the course catalog. Can I count it toward my minor?

You will need to petition the course to see if it will apply towards your European Studies minor.

Instructions on How to Petition Courses