Minor in European Studies
College of Liberal & Creative Arts
Interim Dean: Dr. Sophie Clavier
European Studies Program
Humanities Building, Room 331
Coordinator: Scott Siegel
Program Scope
The European Studies minor is a multidisciplinary program in European history, politics, and culture designed to provide undergraduate students with a broad understanding of European ideas and institutions over time. Europe is intrinsically connected to important concepts and historical developments such as revolution, religion, imperialism, capitalism, industrialization, nationalism, democracy, communism, human rights, rationalism, expressionism, romanticism, and post-modernism. These concepts, formative for Western society, have had global significance as well. Though no longer dominant, Europe remains a complex, fascinating, and vital region of the world, and one grappling with an array of fundamental political, socioeconomic, and cultural challenges, from enlarging the European Union to determining the future of the welfare state to integrating former colonial subjects into European societies as full citizens.
This minor allows students to engage critically in the examination of Europe past and present through courses in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. It is designed to accommodate a wide range of student interests in particular time periods and specific countries. It is especially recommended for students who wish to study abroad in one of SF State’s exchange programs in Europe and for students considering careers in teaching, the arts, international politics, international business, and the foreign service. In an era of global interdependence, a Minor in European Studies demonstrates interest in and knowledge of a region outside of the United States from a multidisciplinary perspective.
Professor
Gustavo Adolfo Calderon (1989), Professor in Modern Languages and Literatures. Ph.D. University of Iowa.
William Christmas (1996), Professor in English Language and Literature. Ph.D. University of Washington.
Sophie Clavier (2003), Professor in International Relations, Dean of Graduate Studies. Ph.D. La Sorbonne, France.
Sarah Curtis (2003), Professor in History. Ph.D. Indiana University.
Sara Hackenberg (2004), Professor in English Language and Literature. Ph.D. Stanford University.
Shirin A. Khanmohamadi (2005), Professor in Comparative and World Literature. Ph.D. Columbia University.
Martha E. Klironomos (1996), Professor in English Language and Literature. Ph.D. Ohio State University.
Volker M. Langbehn (2002), Professor in Modern Languages and Literatures. Ph.D. University of Minnesota.
Kitty Millet (2004), Professor in Jewish Studies. Ph.D. University of Minnesota.
Jarbel Rodriguez (2001), Professor in History. Ph.D., Princeton University.
Andrei Tsygankov (2000), Professor in Political Science, Professor in International Relations. Ph.D. University of Southern California.
Ilona Vandergriff (1996), Professor in Modern Languages and Literatures. Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.
Nicole Watts (2003), Professor in Political Science. Ph.D. University of Washington.
Associate Professor
Olivia Albiero (2016), Associate Professor in Modern Languages and Literatures. Ph.D. University of Washington.
Michael Hammer (2003), Associate Professor in Modern Languages and Literatures. Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles.
Anne E. Linton (2012), Associate Professor in Modern Languages and Literatures. M.Phil., Ph.D. Yale University.
Laura Lisy-Wagner (2006), Associate Professor in History. Ph.D. Harvard University.
Scott N. Siegel (2014), Associate Professor in International Relations. Ph.D. Cornell University.
Alice Sowaal (2005), Associate Professor in Philosophy. Ph.D. University of California, Irvine
European Studies, Minor — 18-23 Units
All coursework used to satisfy requirements of the minor must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0.
The European Studies Minor consists of a core curriculum of 9 to 12 units, which contain material and perspectives which reach across the normal disciplinary divisions of the university and 9 to 11 units of electives. A full list of approved electives is available from the European Studies coordinator. The minor must include courses from at least three different disciplines (prefixes) and 6 units of upper-division coursework.
Core Courses (9-12 Units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select one from each area: | ||
| Historical Background | 3-4 | |
| History of Western Civilization II | ||
| Society, Culture, and Politics in Nineteenth-Century Europe | ||
| Europe since 1914 | ||
| Era of the World Wars 1918 to 1945 | ||
| International History 1814-1918 | ||
| Jewish History II: 1650 to Present | ||
| Fascism and Communism in Europe | ||
| Contemporary European Politics and Business | 3-4 | |
| Europe: Forming a More Perfect Union | ||
| Introduction to the European Union | ||
| Doing Business in Europe | ||
| Radical Right Politics: Far-Right Parties in Contemporary Europe | ||
| Culture | 3-4 | |
| Western Art History II | ||
| French Culture - GWAR | ||
| German Culture and Civilization I | ||
| Thought and Culture in Modern Europe | ||
| The Modern Revolution | ||
| Italian Culture and Civilization | ||
| European Jewish Writers | ||
| Modern Philosophy | ||
| Political Theory: Reformation to Nineteenth Century | ||
| Political Theory: The Twentieth Century | ||
| Culture and Civilization of Spain | ||
| Global Theatre History II | ||
Electives (9-11 Units)
Under advisement, students select three courses on Europe as a civilization (e.g., the formation of Europe, Europe in transition, and contemporary Europe), a section of Europe (e.g., Russia and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, the European community, etc.), or on European artistic and intellectual traditions. Elective courses are listed below.
Students may select appropriate electives in:
- Art History
- Cinema
- Comparative and World Literature
- English
- French
- German
- History
- Humanities
- International Business
- International Relations
- Italian
- Jewish Studies
- Modem Greek Studies
- Music
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Russian
- Spanish
- Theater Arts
Foreign Language Requirement
All European Studies Minors are required to demonstrate intermediate-level competency in a European language other than English, relevant to their area of focus. This requirement may be met by completing the university entrance requirement of two years of high school language study, one year of successful college-level language study, or demonstration of equivalent competency.
Study Abroad
Students completing the European Studies minor are strongly encouraged to participate in study-abroad programs. At the discretion of the European Studies coordinator, courses taken in certified SF State Study-Abroad programs may be substituted for the minor requirements.
Elective Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ARTH 201 | Western Art History I | 3 |
| ARTH 202 | Western Art History II | 3 |
| ARTH 406 | Global Renaissance and Baroque Art | 3 |
| CINE 305/JS 405 | Film and the Holocaust | 3 |
| CINE 307 | National/Regional Cinemas | 3 |
| CWL 420 | Studies in Comparative Literature | 3 |
| CWL 421 | Celtic Literature | 3 |
| CWL/HUM 423 | Going Medieval: Medieval Literature and Contemporary Adaptations | 3 |
| CWL/HUM 424 | Multicultural Middle Ages | 3 |
| ENG 501 | Age of Chaucer | 3 |
| ENG 510 | The Age of Wit | 3 |
| ENG 512 | 18th-Century British Women Writers | 3 |
| ENG 514 | Age of the Romantics | 3 |
| ENG 550 | The Rise of the Novel | 3 |
| ENG 552 | Modern British Novel | 3 |
| FR 350 | French for the Business World | 3 |
| FR 360 | Press and Social Media in French | 3 |
| FR 400GW | French Culture - GWAR | 3 |
| FR 410 | Contemporary French Civilization | 3 |
| FR/PLSI 421 | Social Movements in the Francophone World | 3 |
| FR 450 | Translating Themes: English/French | 3 |
| FR 500 | Introduction to Literary Texts | 3 |
| FR 525 | 17th and 18th Century French Theater | 3 |
| GER 401 | German Culture and Civilization I | 3 |
| GER 502 | Contemporary Germany | 3 |
| GER 600 | Mobility, Travel, and Identity in English | 3 |
| GER 613 | Weimar Literature | 3 |
| GER 617 | The Holocaust and Postwar Germany Taught in English | 3 |
| HIST/JS 317 | The Holocaust and Genocide | 3 |
| HIST 330/HUM 403 | Vikings, Caliphs, & Carolingians: Europe in the Early Middle Ages | 3 |
| HIST 334 | The Renaissance | 3 |
| HIST 336 | The Reformation | 3 |
| HIST 338 | Europe and the Wider World 1348-1768 | 3 |
| HIST 342 | French Revolution and Napoleon | 3 |
| HIST 343 | Soviet Russia, the West, and the Cold War | 3 |
| HIST 344 | Society, Culture, and Politics in Nineteenth-Century Europe | 3 |
| HIST 347 | Women in Modern Europe | 3 |
| HIST 385 | The Russian Revolution | 3 |
| HIST 390 | Era of the World Wars 1918 to 1945 | 3 |
| HIST/I R 395 | International History 1814-1918 | 3 |
| HIST 398 | History of Modern European Imperialism | 3 |
| HUM 375 | Biography of a City: United States Cities | 3 |
| HUM 404/HIST 331 | The High Middle Ages | 3 |
| HUM 407 | Romanticism and Impressionism | 3 |
| HUM 410 | The Modern Revolution | 3 |
| HUM 415 | Thinking the Present: Comparative Arts and Culture | 3 |
| HUM/PHIL 432 | Nietzsche and Postmodernism | 3 |
| I R 327 | Europe: Forming a More Perfect Union | 4 |
| I R/PLSI 328 | Domestic and Foreign Policy: Post-Communist Regions | 4 |
| IBUS 593 | Doing Business in Europe | 3 |
| ITAL 250 | Food for Thought: The Importance of Food in Italian Culture | 3 |
| ITAL 401 | Italian Culture and Civilization | 3 |
| ITAL 510 | Italian Literature: Early Period | 3 |
| ITAL 511 | Italian Literature: Late Period | 3 |
| ITAL 525 | Literature of the Risorgimento | 3 |
| ITAL 550 | The Italian Theatre | 3 |
| ITAL 560 | The Italian Novel | 3 |
| ITAL 570 | Italian Women Writers: 13th to 20th Centuries | 3 |
| ITAL 580 | Great Figures in Italian Literature | 3 |
| ITAL 581 | Divina Commedia | 3 |
| ITAL 600 | Italian Literature on Film in English | 3 |
| ITAL 600GW | Italian Literature on Film - GWAR | 3 |
| JS/HIST 332 | Ancient and Medieval Jews Among Pagans, Christians, and Muslims | 3 |
| JS/CWL 437/ENG 533 | Holocaust and Literature | 3 |
| JS/CWL 480 | European Jewish Writers | 3 |
| JS 633/HIST 335 | Jewish History II: 1650 to Present | 3 |
| MGS/ANTH 316 | Contemporary Culture of Greece: The Past in the Present | 3 |
| MGS/HIST 350 | Greece and the Balkans | 3 |
| MGS/CWL/C W 465 | Modern Greek Poetry in Comparative Perspective | 3 |
| MGS/C W 497 | Modern Greek Literature | 3 |
| MGS/CLAS 510/HIST 326 | The Byzantine Empire | 3 |
| MGS 555 | Introduction to Modern Greek Literary Texts | 3 |
| MUS 550 | Western European Music History from the Middle Ages to 1750 | 3 |
| MUS 551 | European and American Classical Music History of the 18th and 19th Century | 3 |
| PHIL 302 | Medieval Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 303 | Modern Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 365 | Science and Civilization | 3 |
| PLSI 353 | Political Theory: The Twentieth Century | 4 |
| PLSI/I R 407 | Politics of Russia | 4 |
| RUSS 260 | Russian Culture and Civilization in English | 3 |
| RUSS 511 | Russian Literature II in English | 3 |
| RUSS 610 | Dostoevsky in English Translation | 3 |
| RUSS 615 | The Russian Avant-Garde | 3 |
| SPAN 401 | Culture and Civilization of Spain | 3 |
| SPAN 521 | Spanish Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Literature | 3 |
| SPAN 523 | 19th Century Spanish Literature | 3 |
| SPAN 525 | The Contemporary Spanish Novel | 3 |
| SPAN 562 | Cervantes: The Quijote | 3 |
| TH A 401 | Global Theatre History I | 3 |
| TH A 402 | Global Theatre History II | 3 |