2023-24 Edition

European Studies, Minor

The European Studies program focuses on the study of Europe from the vantage points of several disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. Because Europe is both a geographical place and an idea that changes throughout history, it has had different meanings at different times and in different places. The study of Europe thus requires an open, pluralistic, and interdisciplinary curriculum that takes a critical approach to the idea (or ideas) of Europe.

The program provides a multidisciplinary view of Europe as a whole and of its historical, political, and cultural formation and global implications and encounters with the non-European world. It also provides a focus on a specific area of European experience that cuts across traditional disciplinary and national boundaries. Participation in the UC Education Abroad Program in a European country is strongly recommended for all European Studies majors.

A. Select two of the following:
Topics in Europe in the Middle Ages
Topics in Historical Foundations (1500-1800)
Historical Foundations: Europe and the Foundations of the Modern World
Issues and Institutions in Modern Europe (1789-1945)
Europe's Futures: 1755-Present
What is the Origin of Language?
Topics in Contemporary Europe (1945 – Today)
B. Select two of the following:
Topics in European Literatures and Visual Cultures
Topics in European Identities: Race, Nation, Religion, Migration
Topics in European Thought, Culture, and Society
C. Select three of the following:
One course from C (above)
Topics in Early European History and Culture: Pre-1789
Topics in Modern European History and Culture: Post-1789
Topics in French Literature and Culture
German Literature and Culture in Translation
Topics in Italian Literature and Culture
Topics in Russian Literature
Other upper-division courses in European Studies, French, German, Italian, and Russian may be substituted for courses listed in requirement C. Courses on relevant topics from other departments may be substituted with approval by petition.

Residence Requirement for the Minor: At least four upper-division courses required for the minor must be completed successfully at UCI. By petition, two of the four may be taken through the UC Education Abroad Program, provided course content is approved by the appropriate department Undergraduate Director.