Program of Study (CAS Bulletin)

European and Mediterranean Studies (2020 - 2022)

Major: General Information

With the guidance 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 European and Mediterranean societies (past and present)—their challenges and policies;
  • or an emphasis on European and Mediterranean cultures (past and present)—their ideas, values, and artistic and literary trends.

The program enables students to organize their courses around a practical or theoretical challenge in contemporary or historical European society or culture that is applicable to one or several countries. Examples of such challenges include: the changing impact of politics on culture and social cleavages; changing patterns of religious expression in Europe; literary expression and social change in Europe; the European approach to urban problems; migration and ethnicity in Europe; equality and inequality in Europe; and democratic transition in Europe. For honors track students, the challenge will serve as the basis for the senior honors thesis.

Major: Program of Study

Nine 4-point courses (36 points) beyond the introductory level that focus on Europe and the Mediterranean region must be completed with a C or better, as follows:

  • Two courses in history
  • Two courses in culture (literature, philosophy, art history, or cinema)
  • Two courses in the social sciences (politics, anthropology, sociology, or economics)
  • Two additional courses in any of the three preceding categories
  • One advanced seminar, Contemporary Europe (EURO-UA 950), taken in fall of senior year

Majors in European and Mediterranean studies must demonstrate advanced-level knowledge of a major European language other than English (such as French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Greek, Russian, or Turkish). To demonstrate this knowledge, students must successfully complete one advanced-level language course. The alternative is to 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.

Minor

All students minoring in European and Mediterranean studies must demonstrate proficiency in at least one European language above the intermediate level (such as French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Greek, Russian, or Turkish). They must also complete four 4-point courses (16 points) with a C or better as follows: one course in European history; one course in European culture (literature, philosophy, art history, or cinema); one course in social sciences (politics, anthropology, sociology, or economics); and one additional course in any of the three preceding categories. All course programs must be designed in consultation with the center's undergraduate program adviser.

Honors Program

A degree in European and Mediterranean studies with honors is awarded to students who complete the nine courses (36 points) outlined above, who maintain a GPA of 3.65 (both overall and in the major), and who successfully complete original research leading to an honors thesis. The honors thesis, which counts as the tenth course for the major (40 points total), is researched and written while registered in Independent Study (EURO-UA 998) during the spring semester of the student’s senior year under the supervision of a program faculty member. The thesis topic and the faculty adviser are first chosen in consultation with the instructor of the advanced seminar Contemporary Europe (EURO-UA 950), taken during the fall semester of the student’s senior year. The average length of the thesis is 40-60 pages. 

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 can finish the program in five years.

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. 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.

Eight graduate courses are required. For majors who completed the honors program, the master's thesis may be a revision of the senior honors thesis.