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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 close to 70 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.

People

Program Directors

Frank Biess, Co-Director
Professor, History

Ulrike Strasser, Co-Director
Professor, History

Program Coordinator and Academic Advisor

Jennifer Dieli
Program Coordinator and Academic Advisor
Ridge Walk Academic Complex - Arts and Humanities Building, 6th Floor, Room 655

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

Faculty

Eric Bakovic, Linguistics

Frank Biess, History

John D. Blanco, Literature

David Brink, Philosophy

Nancy A. Caciola, History

Alain Cohen, Literature

Thomas Csordas, Anthropology

Adriana de Marchi Gherini, Literature

Page duBois, Literature

Thomas Gallant, History

Cathy Gere, History

Clark Gibson, Political Science

Amelia Glaser, Literature

Harvey Goldman, Sociology

Daniel Hallin, Communication

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

Hasan Kayali, History

Grant Kester, Visual Arts

Robert Kluender, Linguistics

Todd Kontje, Literature

Lisa Lampert-Weissig, Literature

Martha Lampland, Sociology

Ping-hu Liao, Literature

Margaret Loose, Literature

Gerald Mackie, Political Science

Victor Magagna, Political Science

Babette Mangolte, Visual Arts

Isaac Martin, Sociology

Luis Martin-Cabrera, Literature

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

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

The European Studies minor is for students with strong European interests or who plan to study in Europe on an EAP or OAP program, but also those who seek to complement their major with the study of Europe as a political, cultural, and economic entity.

A minor in European Studies consists of completing 7 courses (twenty-eight units) that focus on Europe from two different departments. At least 5 of the courses must be upper division. Two of these courses can be replaced with language courses.

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 2022

  • HIEU 128. Europe Since 1945
  • LTWL 180 - Film Studies and Literature: Film History: German Film 
  • *LTFR 104 Advanced French Reading and Writing: le Poétique
  • PHIL 13. Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics
  • POLI 110A. Citizens and Saints: Political Thought from Plato to Augustine
  • *POLI 120E: Scandinavian Politics. Kaare Strom (Also SS2)
  • MUS 4. Introduction to Western Music
  • *MUS 114. Music of the Twentieth Century
  • MUS 120A. History of Music in Western Culture I

Winter 2023

  • HIEU 111.  Europe in the Middle Ages
  • HIEU 146. Fascism, Communism, and the Crisis of Liberal Democracy: Europe 1919–1945
  • HISC 107. The Emergence of Modern Science
  • LIFR 1B/1BX. French Conversation/Analysis of French
  • LIGM 1B/1BX. German Conversation/German Conversation
  • *LIGN 141 Language Structures
  • LTFR 2B. Intermediate French II
  • LTFR 2C. Intermediate French III
  • LTGM 2B. Intermediate German II
  • LTIT 2B. Intermediate Italian II
  • LTSP 2B. Intermediate Spanish II: Readings and Composition
  • MUS 4. Introduction to Western Music
  • MUS 113. Topics in Classic, Romantic, and Modern Music
  • PHIL 14. Introduction to Philosophy: The Nature of Reality
  • PHIL 32. Philosophy and the Rise of Modern Science
  • PHIL 181. Existentialism
  • POLI 110B. Sovereigns, Subjects, and the Modern State
  • *RELI 188. Special Topics in Religion
  • SOCI 100. Classical Sociological Theory
  • VIS 22. Formations of Modern Art
  • VIS 113BN. History of Criticism II: Early Twentieth Century (1900–1950)

Spring 2023

  • *VIS 122B. Baroque: Painters, Sculptors, Architects 
  • *LTWL 172. Special Topics in Literature
  • 144 Topics in European History
  • *HIEU 144. Topics in European History
  • LTFR 2A. Intermediate French I
  • LTFR 2C. Intermediate French III
  • LTIT 50. Advanced Italian
  • LTSP 2A. Intermediate Spanish I: Foundations
  • LTSP 2C. Intermediate Spanish III: Cultural Topics and Composition
  • MUS 4. Introduction to Western Music
  • MUS 120C. History of Music in Western Culture
  • PHIL 13. Introduction to Philosophy: Ethics
  • PHIL 15. Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Its Limits
  • PHIL 33. Philosophy between Reason and Despair
  • PHIL 102. Hellenistic Philosophy
  • PHIL 161. Topics in the History of Ethics
  • PHIL 167. Contemporary Political Philosophy
  • *PHIL 170. Philosophy and Race
  • PHIL 175. Aesthetics
  • PHIL 183. Topics in Continental Philosophy
  • POLI 110C. Revolution and Reaction: Political Thought from Kant to Nietzsche
  • *RELI 189. Seminar in Religion
  • SOCI 100. Classical Sociological Theory
  • *TDHT 101. Topics in Dramatic Literature and Theatre History
  • VIS 84. History of Film

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