West European Certificate

The undergraduate West European Studies Certificate is crafted to allow students in any major – from sciences and professional disciplines to languages and other liberal arts – to enhance their program of study without extra tuition cost and usually with no increase in their overall course load. Many certificate requirements can even be met with classes that also fulfill general education requirements. The certificate integrates language study with study of the region where the language is spoken. This program is for students who want to internationalize their academic plan and also show potential graduate schools or employers that they have expertise in the history, policies and culture of Europe.

Academic Requirements 

Certificate requirements have three components: Language proficiency, West European Studies courses, and an electronic portfolio.

  1. Language Proficiency
    A student must complete two years of study (four semesters) in an official European language (excluding English). Languages currently available include: Spanish, German, French, Italian, Swedish, Modern Greek, Irish Gaelic, Portuguese, Hungarian, Polish and Slovak. Students may request placement tests through the language department
     
  2. West European Studies Courses
    A minimum of five (15 credits) West European Studies content courses is required. Two of the courses may overlap with the student’s major or other credentials. The remaining courses must be from at least two departments outside the student’s major. Two of the courses must be at the 1000 level and students must earn a C or better in classes counting towards the certificate. Courses must be thematically relevant to each other.

 View the approved courses.
     
  3. Digital Portfolio
    Students will develop a brief digital portfolio where they can reflect on their studies, explain the connection between the classes used to complete the requirements, and present examples of their work. Students may include papers or projects developed as class assignments, observations from study abroad, insights gained from pre-professional experiences such as work internships, extra curricular activities, and exceptional coursework to highlight their expertise in West European Studies. The portfolio can also serve as part of an online resumé, highlighting a student’s experiences, skills and interests.

Certificate Advising
In order to obtain maximum benefit from the program, students should meet regularly with the Assistant Director, Steve Lund. Mr. Lund advises on the completion of requirements, and opportunities that complement classroom learning, such as internships and research opportunities. 

Certificate Courses That Also Count for General Education Requirements
The following list includes courses that also count towards the EU certificate and general Education Requirements at the same time:

Sample Courses of Study

Students have self-design their theme and group courses as they wish as long as the academic advisor approves. The theme may be created around a country, or it may be about an interdisciplinary topic. Here are some examples of course pairings and themes.

British Studies
HIST 1123 20th Century British History
ENGLIT 0580 Intro to Shakespeare
ENGLIT 0625 Detective Fiction
ENGLIT 1199 Historical Background of English Lit
HAA 0030 Intro to Modern Art

Spanish Studies
HIST 0700 World History
HIST 1141 Spain & Portugal in the 20th Century
SPAN 1250 Hispanic Civilizations
SPAN 1801 Don Quijote And The Novel
PS 0300 Comparative Politics

European Humanities
ENGLIT 0300 Intro to Literature
ENGLIT 1325 Modernism
HAA 0010 Intro to World Art
PHIL 0332 Political Philosophy
PHIL 1180 19TH Century Philosophy

Representations of Cultural Conflicts in 20th Century Western Europe
FR 0080 Modern French Novel
FR 1090 Intro to Translation Studies
Art in War and Peace (Course available through study abroad)
HIST 1040 World War I – Comparative Perspectives
ENGLIT 0610 Women and Literature