Boston University’s European Studies Program combines a unifying regional focus with a multidisciplinary approach, enabling students to bring together courses that develop their language skills; social, historical, and cultural knowledge; and political, economic, and international relations expertise. The ten-course interdisciplinary major and six-course minor draw on the resources of the College of Arts & Sciences and on Boston University Study Abroad programs in Europe.
Majoring in European Studies
The major in European Studies requires ten 4-credit principal, non-language courses, including at least four Humanities courses, four Social Sciences courses, and a multidisciplinary capstone course, usually taken in the senior year. No more than five of the courses may be in a single discipline.
Knowledge (written and spoken) of a European language other than English through at least the sixth-semester level is required of all European Studies majors.
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For the European Studies course lists, please refer to our Undergraduate Academic Advising page under Current Course Schedules. It is recommended that students take courses covering at least two European countries.
Minoring in European Studies
Students minoring in European Studies select six principal 4-credit courses, including at least two in the Humanities, at least two in the Social Sciences, and a multidisciplinary capstone course, normally taken in the senior year. No more than three of the courses applied toward the minor may focus on a single country.
Students minoring in European Studies must complete five semesters of a European language other than English or demonstrate equivalent proficiency.
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Honors in European Studies
Honors in European Studies may be earned by completing two semesters of independent senior honors work and presenting an original research paper (thesis) in written and oral form to a committee of faculty readers. The committee will consider both the thesis and the result of the oral examination to determine whether the student will receive honors in the major. A grade of B+ or better in each semester of CAS IR 401/402 is required for the award of honors. For more information, please refer to the European Studies Bulletin.