European Studies Program at Mount Holyoke College

Europe is rapidly becoming America's main competitor for world leadership as it reinvents democratic political and economic life. Its rich and complex cultures are rapidly evolving into a new type of international society with innovative legislative, juridical and executive structures.  Europe's new unity and distinctiveness rest upon its historic intellectual, artistic, and religious heritages and upon the dynamism of the continuing integration of those heritages with each other and with those of immigrants from around the globe.

The European Studies major and minor offer students the opportunity to develop a critical, focused understanding of European topics through interdisciplinary study. The major is useful for students who wish to pursue the study of European developments in their own right, and for students wishing to integrate work in art, literature, music, theater, or in other disciplines with studies in history and the social sciences. The major requires a specialization, competence at the 300 level in a European language other than English, and interdisciplinary coursework concerning Europe both East and West, modern and pre-modern. The minor is structured in a related fashion. Students should consult the list posted on the European Studies website for a sample of courses which count toward European Studies.

Requirements for the Major

CREDITS

• A minimum of 40 credits
• At least 20 credits at the 300 level in at least two disciplines

REQUIRED COURSES for all Majors

• History 151, Modern and Contemporary European Civilization
• European Studies 316

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

In addition to European Studies 316 and History 151

• Two courses must have substantial content in European literature, film or culture, at least one of which is taught in a European language other than English at the 300 level.
• One course must have substantial content in European thought, history, or social science
• One course must have substantial content in Eastern Europe and/or in Europe beyond the European Union’s  borders (e.g. Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Turkey)
• One course must have substantial content on Europe before 1800.

At least four courses which constitute a specialization within the major should be at the 200 level or above.  A specialization can be disciplinary, regional, topical, or historical.  The specialization must be approved by the student’s advisor. 

Requirements for the Minor

CREDITS

• A minimum of 20 credits
• At least 8 credits at the 300 level

REQUIRED COURSES

• History 151, Modern and Contemporary European Civilization
• European Studies 316
• One course with substantial content in European culture taught in a European language
• One course with substantial content in European thought, history or social science

OTHER

• Each student is expected to exceed the minimum foreign language requirement set by the College, in a modern language of Europe.
• Students are strongly encouraged to spend one or two semesters of study abroad and to undertake a senior independent project.
• Students interested mainly in medieval Europe might want to take a major in Medieval Studies.