Designed for students who seek to broaden their understanding of European societies and to prepare for international careers or advanced study, the Program in European Studies (EUS) offers disciplinary breadth as well as expertise in a specialty of students' choosing. Most EUS majors also participate in an approved study abroad program in Europe.
In consultation with an adviser in European Studies, students choose a focus and specific courses that will fulfill the requirements for the major. This focus can consist of a thematic or comparative topic (such as Central European literature or Law and Economics in the European Union) or the culture and society of a particular nation (such as France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain). In addition to the core requirements, majors take relevant courses in history, social sciences, and the humanities, as well as a foreign language of the student's choice.
The Program in European Studies sponsors special activities including a visiting lecture series, international symposia, and informal faculty-student luncheon seminars.
Required Core Courses (12 credit hours)
- EUS 2201, European Society and Culture or EUS 2203, The Idea of Europe (3 credit hours)
- EUS 4960, Senior Tutorial (3 credit hours) to write a senior thesis
- 6 credit hours in European Studies courses or equivalent approved by major adviser
Foreign Language Requirement (6 credit hours)
The foreign language requirement is to be satisfied in one of the following ways:
- 6 credit hours of course work at the intermediate level in one European language;
- course work through the beginner level in two European languages;
- demonstration of proficiency equivalent to either of the preceding options; or
- participation in one of the Vanderbilt intensive-language programs in Europe (students participating in the Vanderbilt's predominantly English-language program in Europe must complete course work through the intermediate level in one European language, or demonstrate equivalent proficiency).
European languages recognized for the major include Albanian, Bulgarian, Czech, Croatian/Bosnian/Serbian, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romani, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukranian and Yiddish. Other languages may be approved by the major adviser.
Electives (12–18 credit hours)
The remainder of the 30 credit hours required for the major may be selected from the list of courses below or from among approved courses taken abroad. Students majoring in EUS are advised to select courses from the social sciences and humanities that complement their areas of special interest and their thematic focus.
Other Issues Relating to the Major
Normally, no more than 6 credit hours of work in 1000-level courses may be counted toward the major. However, students who have fulfilled their language requirements by demonstrating equivalent proficiency or through participation in a Vanderbilt approved study program in Europe may count up to two 1000- and/or 2000-level language courses in a European language toward their major.