Graduate Certificate in European Studies

The Graduate Certificate in European Studies enriches the disciplinary and professional training of students with a focused multidisciplinary curriculum of courses. The certificate is available to graduate students in all participating schools and departments who fulfill the following requirements within an existing degree program. CAS/GRS departments likely to participate would include Anthropology, History of Art & Architecture, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Romance Studies, World Languages & Literatures, and Sociology. Other schools for which the certificate would be appropriate include the College of Communication, College of Fine Arts, School of Law, Questrom School of Business, School of Theology, and Wheelock College of Education & Human Development.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate advanced knowledge of European studies (whether history, culture, literature, politics, law, economy, culture, or society) and do so from an interdisciplinary perspective.
• Students will demonstrate understanding of the multiple strands of traditions that comprise “Europe” (not only geographically but economically and politically) as well as the cultural and societal differences within Europe. We have an expansive understanding of “European studies” that accounts for Europe’s sphere of influence as well as the contested geography of the continent.
• Students will demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and oral comprehension of at least one European language.

Requirements

• Students must successfully complete at least 16 units of coursework (four standard courses) primarily focused on Europe, with a minimum grade of B in each course.
• Concentration requirement: At least two of the four courses must focus on a single European country, sub-region, or substantive area.
• No more than 4 units can be in directed study or research, except with written permission of the director of the Center for the Study of Europe.
• Students must complete a piece of significant research such as an MA or MFA thesis, a doctoral dissertation, or two substantial research papers in graduate-level seminars. We expect this requirement will be met in whole or part by the coursework for the certificate or via directed study. In other words, we expect the research component of the certificate to be met through coursework or other degree requirements. It is not an additional requirement.
• Students must demonstrate a high level of competence in a European language, including the capability to read, write, and speak the language with sufficient proficiency to understand and be understood. Competence in the foreign language of the student’s choosing will be determined by examination. In lieu of examination, proficiency may be demonstrated by an undergraduate or other degree from a university where the language of instruction was a European language other than English or a transcript showing six terms of instruction in the European language.
• Students must receive approval of completion from the Center for the Study of Europe director and the student’s departmental academic advisor. Students are expected to consult with the Center for the Study of Europe director at the beginning of their studies in order to ensure that their planned courses will fulfill the goals of the certificate program.