European and Mediterranean Studies (BA)

Department Website

Program Description

The European and Mediterranean Studies major and minor offer a dynamic, interdisciplinary approach to exploring Europe’s politics, culture, and society. This program provides flexibility, allowing students to tailor their studies to their passions and academic interests by gaining an understanding of contemporary issues in the region, examining historical developments and how they have shaped contemporary Europe, and deepening their language proficiency in a European language. European and Mediterranean Studies majors and minors are encouraged to take courses at CEMS and in other departments where topics may focus on contemporary history, political science, international relations, cultural studies, regional studies focusing on the EU, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and more.

All European and Mediterranean Studies majors are required to acquire fluency above the intermediate level in a major European language other than English and to study abroad, usually through one of NYU’s European sites, to ensure a deeper understanding of a particular country in Europe or the Mediterranean region. The minor is especially well-suited to students majoring in European languages, the humanities, and/or social sciences, though students from all disciplines with an interest in Europe are welcome.

Both the major and minor are designed for students seeking preprofessional training for careers in public service, nonprofit organizations both at the international and regional levels, cultural institutions, international business and law, media, and education. The major and minor also provide a strong foundation for students interested in pursuing graduate studies.

Honors Program

To earn a degree in European and Mediterranean Studies with honors, students must complete ten courses (40 credits) and write a thesis paper. Students must complete the following steps:

• complete/be in progress to complete nine courses (36 credits) toward the major;
• maintain a GPA of 3.65 (both overall and in the major);
• consult with the EURO-UA 950 Contemporary Europe instructor to identify a thesis topic and faculty adviser, then notify the department program administrator to verify eligibility; and
• once honors eligibility is confirmed, enroll in EURO-UA 998 Independent Study (4 credits), which is the required tenth course for the honors program, and successfully complete original research leading to an honors thesis of approximately 40-60 pages in length. Students enroll in the independent study during the spring semester of their fourth year and are supervised by a program faculty member.

Admissions

New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply. 

Program Requirements

European and Mediterranean Studies is an interdisciplinary major. Students are encouraged to choose courses from across the College and University as they plan their program of study; however, they must always consult with a department adviser to confirm that courses will count toward this major.  Nine 4-credit courses (36 credits) beyond the introductory level that focus on Europe and the Mediterranean region must be completed with a C or better as outlined below:

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
General Education Requirements
First-Year Seminar		4
EXPOS-UA 1	Writing as Inquiry	4
Foreign Language See "note" below.		16
Quantitative Reasoning		4
Physical Science		4
Life Science		4
Texts and Ideas		4
Cultures and Contexts		4
Societies and the Social Sciences		4
Major Requirements
Two courses in European history		8
Two courses in European culture (literature, philosophy, art history, or cinema)		8
Two courses in the European social sciences (politics, anthropology, sociology, or economics)		8
Two additional courses on Europe in any of the three preceding categories		8
EURO-UA 950	Contemporary Europe (taken in the fall of senior year)	4
Electives
Other Elective Credits		44
Total Credits		128

Note: Majors in European and Mediterranean Studies must take one course above the intermediate level in a major European language other than English (such as French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Greek, Russian, or Turkish). As an alternative, students may take a College of Arts and Science (CAS) placement exam and demonstrate proficiency above the intermediate level. Majors are also required to complete at least one semester of study away.

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid

1st Semester/Term		Credits
Major Elective in European History (1 of 2)		4
Foreign Language I		4
First-Year Seminar		4
Texts and Ideas		4
	Credits	16
2nd Semester/Term
Major Elective in European Culture (1 of 2) 1		4
Foreign Language II		4
EXPOS-UA 1	Writing as Inquiry	4
Cultures and Contexts		4
	Credits	16
3rd Semester/Term
Major Elective in European Social Science (1 of 2) 2		4
Foreign Language III		4
Quantitative Reasoning		4
Other Elective Credits		4
	Credits	16
4th Semester/Term
Major Elective in European History (2 of 2)		4
Foreign Language IV		4
Societies and the Social Sciences 3		4
Other Elective Credits		4
	Credits	16
5th Semester/Term
Major Elective in European Culture (2 of 2)		4
Major Elective in European Social Science (2 of 2)		4
Foreign Language V (one post-intermediate language course is required for the major)		4
Other Elective Credits		4
	Credits	16
6th Semester/Term
Additional Major Elective (in European History, Culture, and/or Social Science) (1 of 2)		4
Additional Major Elective (in European History, Culture, and/or Social Science) (2 of 2)		4
Other Elective Credits		4
Other Elective Credits		4
	Credits	16
7th Semester/Term
EURO-UA 950	Contemporary Europe	4
Physical Science		4
Other Elective Credits		4
Other Elective Credits		4
	Credits	16
8th Semester/Term
Life Science		4
Other Elective Credits		4
Other Elective Credits		4
Other Elective Credits		4
	Credits	16
	Total Credits	128

¹

Culture electives typically drawn from art history, cinema studies, literature, and philosophy.

²

Social science electives typically drawn from anthropology, economics, politics, and sociology.

³

Students may choose a social science major elective that is also approved to satisfy Societies and the Social Sciences.

Note: Semesters/Terms 5 and 6 are suggested for the one required semester of study abroad.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of program requirements, students are expected to have developed:

1. The ability to conduct research, including the use of library resources, archives, and relevant technologies.
2. Effective written and oral presentation skills.
3. The ability to analyze European issues through the perspectives of multiple disciplines, including but not limited to history, politics, political theory, international relations, sociology, anthropology, and the arts.
4. An understanding of the current circumstances of the European Union and European politics.
5. Knowledge and an understanding of a particular European region, including but not limited to the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe, Western Europe, the British Isles, and Iberia.

Policies

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

College of Arts and Science Policies

A full list of relevant academic policies can be found on the CAS Academic Policies page.