Undergraduate Program

European Cultural Studies (ECS) is an interdisciplinary major in which students study the field of cultural analysis through an individually designed focus on a European topic. Each student will work in conjunction with an advisor and an ECS Committee to design a course of study that will best suit the student's interests and goals. The ECS major is driven in part by the belief that language is an integral part of culture and not merely a tool for the study of its literature. By the same token, the study of European history, philosophy, politics, and so forth, can only be enriched by the addition of critical perspectives developed in language and literature study.

"Cultural studies" has been for some time now one of the liveliest areas of scholarship in the humanities and social sciences. The faculty in the program come from a variety of disciplines and departments—English and European languages and literatures, history, philosophy, political theory, art and music history, communication, and sociology. They are drawn together by shared interests in European societies and cultures past and present, and, still more importantly, a scholarly dialogue about the study of cultures that spans disciplinary boundaries.

The curriculum of the major involves a team-taught proseminar to introduce students to the field; core courses chosen by the majors from appropriate language, social science, and humanities offerings; and a senior thesis. The major also allows students wide scope for individually-defined programs. 

Please visit our links at the right to learn more about the opportunities available to undergraduate students in the European Cultural Studies major.