MAJOR

With the help of the European and Mediterranean Studies adviser, students prepare a preliminary program outline at the time they declare their major. Although there are no formal tracks, courses are normally organized around the interests of a student in one of two ways: an emphasis on contemporary European societies—their problems and policies; or an emphasis on contemporary European cultures—their ideas, values, and artistic and literary trends. The program enables students to organize their courses around a practical or theoretical problem in contemporary European society or culture that is applicable to one or several countries. A typical problem might include such subjects as the changing impact of politics on culture and social cleavages; changing patterns of religious expression in Europe; literary expression and changing society in Europe; the European approach to urban problems; migration and ethnicity in Europe; equality and inequality in Europe; and democratic transition in Europe. The problem, for which the tools of several academic disciplines should be applicable, will be the basis for the major research project.

Majors in European and Mediterranean Studies must have or attain advanced-level knowledge of a major European language other than English (e.g., French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Russian). In order to prove this knowledge, students must successfully complete an advanced level language course. The alternative to this is to pass the CAS proficiency exam prior to graduation. Ten courses that deal with Europe are required: two in history (beyond the introductory level); two in literature (preferably in the language of specialization); two in the social sciences; two in philosophy, fine arts, or cinema studies; one senior honors seminar in European studies; and one independent study during the final semester, through which a grade is earned for the senior thesis. A sequence of courses might begin with two advanced history courses and two literature courses in the sophomore and/or junior years, followed by two social science and two philosophy, fine arts, and/or cinema studies courses. The interdisciplinary senior honors seminar should be taken during the first semester of the senior year. Majors are also required to complete at least one semester of study abroad. Students may petition the director of the center for exemption from this requirement.

Students who fulfill the requirements of the major with an overall grade point average of at least 3.65 and at least 3.65 in European and Mediterranean Studies will receive the B.A. degree with honors in European and Mediterranean Studies. The honors designation recognizes the work beyond the normal course work required of students in the senior seminar and in the major research project.

MINOR

All students minoring in European andMediterranean studies must demonstrate proficiency in at least one European language above the intermediate level (e.g., French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish). They must also fulfill the following course requirements: one course in modern European history; one course in European politics, anthropology, or economics (V53.0150, V14.0111, or V31.0224); and three additional courses in at least two of the following areas: modern European history; politics; anthropology; sociology; economics; Hebrew and Judaic studies; and Italian, French, German, or Spanish civilization. No more than two of these courses may focus on any one specific country. All course programs must be designed in consultation with the center’s undergraduate program adviser.

B.A./M.A. PROGRAM

This program offers qualifying majors in European and Mediterranean Studies the opportunity to earn both the B.A. and the M.A. degrees at reduced tuition cost. By completing some of their graduate requirements while still undergraduates, students finish the program in a maximum of five years. In the graduate portion of the program, students receive a fellowship that covers up to half of the tuition for the courses required for the M.A.

European and Mediterranean Studies majors may apply for admission to the program after they have completed at least 48 points in the College, but not more than 96 credits or six semesters, whichever comes first. Students apply for admission to the B.A./M.A. program through the CAS Advising Center. Applications are reviewed by the Graduate Admission Committee of the Center for European and Mediterranean Studies, using the normal criteria for the M.A. program, except that applicants are not required to take the GRE. The committee bases its decision on students’ undergraduate records and recommendations of NYU instructors.

A working knowledge at an advanced level of a European language (other than English) is required to complete the program, and knowledge of a second European language is encouraged. Students must spend at least one semester in an approved academic program in Europe, normally during their junior year. Students are also required to write a senior honors thesis and a master’s thesis or special project (see below) to earn the two degrees.

The program requires a total of 18 courses: ten undergraduate courses and eight graduate courses. For the first four years, students focus their work on a “problem area” that will eventually become the subject of their master’s thesis, should they choose this option. The senior honors thesis is an integrative project within the problem area developed by the student and his or her adviser. It may be an expansion of a research paper written for an undergraduate course.

The graduate portion of the degree comprises three tracks—European Politics and Policy, European Culture and Society, and Mediterranean Studies—and students must choose one of these by the beginning of their fifth year. Of the eight graduate courses, two are required (a graduate introductory course, What Is Europe?, and a graduate research seminar or an independent study in European and Mediterranean Studies). Students select six additional graduate courses in their chosen track. A four-credit internship, approved by the center, is recommended.

Each student’s program is organized with his or her adviser at the time that he or she enters the program. The first draft of the thesis is developed in the undergraduate Seminar on European and Mediterranean Studies (V42.0300), taken in the fall semester of the fourth year. The master’s thesis is a revision of this project and is further developed in the graduate Research Seminar (G42.3000), taken in the fall semester of the fifth year. The M.A. thesis or special project will be defended at an oral examination during the spring semester of the fifth year.

EUROSIM

EUROSIM is an annual model European Union simulation designed to enhance students’ classroom knowledge of the workings of a politically and economically integrated Europe. The simulation exercise models the legislative procedure of the European Union from the introduction of a draft resolution by the European Commission to the acceptance (or rejection) of an amended document by the European Council.

Each year, New York State colleges and universities send a delegation of undergraduate students to EUROSIM to represent one of the member states of the European Union and the European Commission. The legislation on which delegates work is focused on one main theme chosen for its relevance to current European issues. Students individually play the roles of real-life government ministers, members of the European Parliament, and members of the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

EUROSIM is held in alternating years in the United States and in Europe. In addition, several European universities send students to be part of their respective member state delegations alongside the American students. In this way, U.S. students receive a “home-grown” perspective of the issues that they are debating.