European Thought and Culture, M.A. (4+1)
The M.A. in European Thought and Culture draws on expertise from faculty in the Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences in order to take an interdisciplinary approach to this area of study. The degree provides students with a rigorous course of study in the foundational philosophical texts and cultural products in literature and the arts produced in Europe from the Middle Ages to the present, locating them in their historical contexts. The Program also emphasizes both the complex legacies of Europe's destructive colonial and imperialist projects and the racial, religious, and cultural diversity represented within European societies.
Students may enter the program from two different tracks: the 4+1 B.A./M.A. program for current UCI undergraduates and the stand-alone M.A. track for students from outside UCI.
The M.A. program in European Thought and Culture has two tracks for admission, the UCI 4+1 B.A./M.A. and the stand-alone M.A. Standards of admissibility are specific to each track and are as follows:
4+1 B.A./M.A. Track
- Completed graduate application
- Official transcript
- One letter of recommendation from an ETC faculty member or faculty member in a related field
- Writing sample
- Current UCI undergraduate student status
- Cumulative 3.0 GPA
- Cumulative 3.3 GPA in major
- Completion of EURO ST 200A, EURO ST 200B, and EURO ST 200C with a grade of B or higher
- Completion of two additional European Studies courses as defined by the European Studies Generally Approved Courses and/or the Quarterly Approved Courses list.
- Demonstrated reading knowledge in one European language other than English. See Language Requirement.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis during the final year of undergraduate study.
Stand-Alone M.A. Track
- Completed graduate application
- Official transcript
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty in related fields
- Writing sample
- Cumulative 3.0 GPA
- Cumulative 3.3 GPA in B.A. major
- Completion of one European language other than English. See Language Requirement.
Applications are accepted for fall admission only.
Course Requirement
All M.A. students must complete a total of nine courses (36 units) for the degree:
| A. Complete: | |
| EURO ST 200A | Core Seminar I: Foundations of European Thought and Culture |
| EURO ST 200B | Core Seminar II: Theorizing Periods and Movements in European Thought and Culture |
| EURO ST 200C | Core Seminar III: European Thought and Culture Beyond Europe |
| EURO ST 201 | Topics in European Studies (four courses) |
| EURO ST 299 | Independent Research (two courses) |
Language Requirement
Students are required to demonstrate reading knowledge in one European language other than English. For all students, this prerequisite requirement is expected to be completed by the time they receive their B.A. through completion of two years of a European language (2C level or equivalent).
Degree Conferral
All M.A. students must complete one of the following options as their degree capstone:
Plan I – Thesis
The thesis, approximately 25 pages in length, is a piece of independent research reviewed and approved by the faculty advisor and thesis committee.
Plan II – Comprehensive Exam
In this examination, students will have a 48-hour period to answer and submit a total of three essays; one 10-page essay on a specialized topic of research, and two five-page essays related to topics covered throughout degree coursework.
Time to Degree
Students are expected to complete all degree requirements and the Master’s thesis/comprehensive exam within one year (three quarters). Maximum time to degree is two years.