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.

UC San Diego undergraduate students: Please use the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) for all advising questions. Use the "Meet with Advisor" page to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor.

For all others, or undergraduate students who need to submit petitions: caesar@ucsd.edu

People

Program Co-Directors

Karola Obermüller
Professor, Music

Academic Advising

UC San Diego undergraduate students: Please use the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) for all advising questions. Use the "Meet with Advisor" page to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor.

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

Grant Kester, Visual Arts

Robert Kluender, Linguistics

Lisa Lampert-Weissig, Literature

Martha Lampland, Sociology

Ping-hu Liao, Literature

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

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

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 2025

HIEU 108. Sex & Politics/Ancient World
HIEU 114. The History of the Soviet Union and Russia, 1917 to the Present
HIEU 139. Sex and Gender from the Renaissance to the French Revolution
HIEU 140. History of Women and Gender in Europe: From the French Revolution to the Present
HIEU 154. Modern Germany History: From Bismarck to Hitler
HIEU 158. Why Hitler? How Auschwitz?
HIEU 171/271. Special Topics in Twentieth-Century Europe
HISC 107. The Emergence of Modern Science
HUM 3. Renaissance, Reformation, and Early Modern Europe
LIFR 1A/1AX. French Conversation/Analysis of French
LIFR 1B/1BX. French Conversation/Analysis of French
LIFR 1D/1DX. French Conversation/Analysis of French
LIGM 1A/1AX. German Conversation/Analysis of German
LIGM 1D/1DX. German Conversation/Analysis of German
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
LTEN 21. Introduction to the Literature of the British Isles: Pre-1660
LTEN 113. Shakespeare II: The Jacobean Period
LTGM 2A. Intermediate German I
LTEU 140. Italian Literature in Translation: Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, the Great-Grandfather of fantasy
LTEU 154/LTRU 150. Russian Culture
LTFR 2A. Intermediate French I
LTFR 2B. Intermediate French II
LTFR 104. Advanced French Reading and Writing
LTGK 1. Beginning Greek
LTGK 104. Greek Prose
LTGM 2A. Intermediate German I
LTIT 2A. Intermediate Italian I
LTLA 1. Beginning Latin
LTLA 100. Introduction to Latin Literature
LTRU 1A. First-Year Russian
LTRU 2A. Second-Year Russian
LTRU 104B. Advanced Practicum in Russian: Analysis of Text and Film
LTRU 150/LTEU 154. Russian Culture
LTSP 2A. Intermediate Spanish I: Foundations
LTSP 2B. Intermediate Spanish II: Readings and Composition
LTSP 2C. Intermediate Spanish III: Cultural Topics and Composition
LTSP 100A. Advanced Spanish Reading and Writing for the Humanities and the Social Sciences
LTSP 116. Representations of Spanish Colonialism
LTWL 19A. Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans
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 110. History of Philosophy: Ancient
PHIL 166. Classics in Political Philosophy
PHIL 180. Phenomenology
POLI 110A. Citizens and Saints: Political Thought from Plato to Augustine
POLI 122D. Abuse of Power
SOCI 100. Classical Sociological Theory
TDAC 104. Classical Text
VIS 20. Introduction to Art History
VIS 113CN. History of Criticism III: Contemporary (1950–Present)
VIS 120A. Greek Art
VIS 121C. Art and the Bible in the Middle Ages: Sign and Design
VIS 129A. Seminar in Art Criticism and Theory: Moving image, in the age before film

Winter 2026

HIEU 109. Blood, Soil, Boundaries: Nationalism in Europe
HIEU 122. Ancient Greece in the Archaic Period
HIEU 137. History of Colonialism: From New Imperialism to Decolonization
HIEU 152. The Worst of Times: Everyday Life in Authoritarian and Dictatorial Societies
HIEU 164. Special Topics in Early Modern Europe
HIGL 127. Sport in the Modern World
HISC 106. The Scientific Revolution
HUM 2. Rome, Christianity, and the Middle Ages (Revelle students)
LIFR 1B/1BX. French Conversation/Analysis of French
LIFR 1C/1CX. French Conversation/Analysis of French
LIGM 1B/BX. German Conversation/Analysis of German
LIIT 1B/1BX. Italian Conversation/Analysis of Italian
LIPO 1B/1BX. Portuguese Conversation/Analysis of Portuguese
LISP 1B/1BX. Spanish Conversation/Analysis of Spanish
LISP 1C/1CX. Spanish Conversation/Analysis of Spanish
LTEN 23. Introduction to the Literature of the British Isles: 1832–Present
LTEN 110. Topics: The Renaissance: Milton's "Paradise Lost"
LTEN 142. The British Novel: 1830–1890
LTEU 111. European Realism
LTEU 141. French Literature in English Translation
LTEU 150B/LTRU 110B. Survey of Russian and Soviet Literature in Translation, 1860–1917
LTFR 2B. Intermediate French II
LTFR 2C. Intermediate French III: Composition and Cultural Contexts
LTFR 116. Themes in Intellectual and Literary History
LTGK 2. Intermediate Greek (I)
LTGM 2B. Intermediate German II
LTIT 2B. Intermediate Italian II
LTLA 2. Intermediate Latin (I)
LTLA 104. Latin Prose
LTRU 1B. First-Year Russian
LTRU 2B. Second-Year Russian
LTRU 104C. Advanced Practicum in Russian: Analysis of Text and Film
LTRU 110B/LTEU 150B. Survey of Russian and Soviet Literature in Translation, 1860–1917
LTSP 2A. Intermediate Spanish I: Foundations
LTSP 2B. Intermediate Spanish II: Readings and Composition
LTSP 2C. Intermediate Spanish III: Cultural Topics and Composition
LTWL 19B. Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans
MUS 4. Introduction to Western Music
MUS 9. Symphony
MUS 12. Opera
MUS 113. Topics in Classic, Romantic, and Modern Music
MUS 120B. History of Music in Western Culture II
PHIL 13. Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics
PHIL 31. Introduction to Ancient Philosophy
PHIL 32. Philosophy and the Rise of Modern Science
PHIL 100. Plato
PHIL 111. History of Philosophy: Early Modern
PHIL 161. Topics in the History of Ethics
POLI 110B. Sovereigns, Subjects, and the Modern State: Political Thought from Machiavelli to Rousseau
POLI 114BR. Marxist Political Thought
POLI 126AB. Politics and Economics in Eastern Europe
POLI 153. The European Union in World Politics
SOCI 20. Social Change in the Modern World
SOCI 100. Classical Sociological Theory
SOCI 106. Comparative and Historical Methods
SOCI 136E. Sociology of Mental Illness: A Historical Approach
VIS 22. Formations of Modern Art
VIS 114B: The Fragment
VIS 122B. Baroque: Painters, Sculptors, Architects

Spring 2026

LIGM 1C/CX. German Conversation/Analysis of German
LTGM 2C. Intermediate German III
LTEU 105. Medieval Studies: Giovanni Boccaccio's The Decameron: Friendship, Love, and Sex in the time of Plague
LTIT 50. Advanced Italian
*POLI 214. Marxist and Post-Marxist Political Philosophy (graduate class; open to advanced undergraduate students with instructor and departmental consent)
VIS 121B. Church and Mosque: Medieval Art and Architecture between Christianity and Islam
*VIS 261. Material Culture (graduate class; open to advanced undergraduate students with instructor and departmental consent)

Events

Please find information about upcoming events and how to subscribe to the Institute of Arts and Humanities newsletter on the Events webpage.

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

Where can I learn more information about studying abroad in Europe?

The European Studies minor program is separate from Study Abroad. You can visit the Study Abroad website to learn more about your options and their advising services. They are listed in VAC under "Study Abroad" and all Study Abroad questions should be directed to them.

If you have any questions about the minor, please reach out to "European Studies" on VAC. We encourage studying abroad and this could be a great addition to your plans!

Where can I learn more about taking a European language?

The European Studies program does not offer any languages, but you can see this webpage on language courses at UC San Diego.

Language classes can apply to the European Studies minor, so review the minor requirements and reach out to "European Studies" on VAC if you have any questions.