European Studies

Professor Duina (Sociology); Associate Professors Balladur (French and Francophone Studies), Cernahoschi (German and Russian Studies), George (Hispanic Studies), Kazecki (German and Russian Studies), and Shaw (History); Visiting Lecturer Moodie (Politics and European Studies)

The Program in European Studies contributes to the College’s mission to engage students in intellectual discovery and informed global citizenship. European Studies is a multifaceted interdisciplinary program that broadens students’ understanding of the region and encourages them to question assumptions about Europe’s role in the world.

European Studies is an interdisciplinary program that brings together the methods and questions of the humanities and social sciences to better understand the people, languages, traditions, and cultures of Europe, as well as to examine European interactions with the wider world. Our curriculum recognizes that the idea of Europe means different things to different people. The program enables students to appreciate this diversity by studying individual societies and events and how they are represented, while situating them within a wider European context. It encourages students to make connections between past and present, politics and culture, ideas and actions.

The establishment of the European Union and the intricate processes of negotiating national identities are recent and contentious steps toward greater political, economic, and cultural collaboration. At the same time, national politics, cultures, histories, sports and entertainment, arts, economies, and languages continue to play a role in defining what Europe is today and what it will become in the future.

The contemporary complexities of European history, society, politics, and languages can only be fully understood by transcending disciplinary boundaries. Courses offered by a variety of departments and programs provide a rich resource for European studies and ensure an interdisciplinary approach to texts and contexts.

More information is available on the European Studies program website.