Major

Objectives for the ECS major

♦ Introduce students to the major contours of European history, politics, languages and arts.

♦ Introduce students to the social, political, economic, and cultural developments of the new unifying Europe.

♦ The cultural studies component of the major highlights the contentious nature of this "unifying Europe." Thus the major prepares students for work in fields related to Europe and European/American relations. More generally it  encourages a more nuanced perception of cultural differences, which in turn affects students' perceptions of themselves and others as participants in an uneasily shared world.

♦ Cultural studies skills facilitate and enable students to consider the past not just as an academic subject but as an unfolding inherited tradition.

♦ A B.A. in European Cultural Studies is a preparatory degree for graduate study in numerous fields from international relations to the humanities.

Major requirements 

The major consists of 40 credits to be distributed in the following way:

1. Course on Europe (ECS 400). Course on European topics, covering art, literature, history, political science or other domains. (4 credits)

2. Course on Cultural Studies (ECS 500). Introduction to the field of Cultural Studies as applied to the study of Europe. (4 credits)

3. Foundation Courses. The foundation requirement is designed to give students an introduction to European languages, European social and political institutions, and the European arts and humanities. Each student must take two such courses. (8 credits.)

    a. Languages

504 or equivalent (intermediate level) in a European language, or an approved alternative

    b. Arts/Humanities or Social Sciences (one course from the following):

ARTS 480 (Introduction to Art History)
ENGL 651 or 652, when inclusive of European literatures (Comparative Literatures)
Humanities 501, 502, 503 (when focused on European topics)
Music 402 (Survey of Music History)
ECON 630 (Comparative Study of Economic Systems)
HIST 435 or 436 (Western Civilization)
HIST 565 (Women in European History)
HIST 650 (European Socialism)
HIST 656 (20th Century Europe)
POLT 550 (Major Foreign Governments)
POLT 552 (Contemporary European Politics)

4. Focus Courses. The focus of the major consists of an individually designed grouping of four courses that will allow students to pursue their interests and will give coherence to the major. Students will discuss their focus with an ECS advisor and submit a proposal to the ECS Steering Committee. Possible foci include: European Art and Identity, Politics and Culture in Modern Europe, History of European Science and Philosophy, Focus by nation. At least 2 courses for the focus must be at the 600-level or higher. (16 credits)

5. Critical Methods in Cultural Studies (ECS 550). Course on Critical Methods in Cultural Studies prepares student for research and writing techniques needed to complete the senior thesis. (4 credits)

6. Senior Thesis (ECS 798/799). Students will work together with their advisors to formulate their topic, consider appropriate approaches, locate relevant resources and write a thesis. At the end of the semester, students present their work to a committee of 3 ECS faculty members. (4 credits) 

Students must complete coursework for the major with a grade of C or better.