Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in European Studies
Program Learning Outcomes for the BA Degree with a Major in European Studies
Upon completing the BA degree with a major in European Studies, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a synthetic understanding of European history and identity over a wide period, from antiquity to the modern era.
- Identify, contextualize, and analyze key aspects of European history and identity—e.g., texts, artifacts, institutions, ideas, events, personalities, and places.
- Demonstrate successful command of research skills and methodologies appropriate to the major.
- Communicate in clear, informed, and critical terms about European history and identity.
Requirements for the BA Degree with a Major in European Studies
For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing the BA degree with a major in European Studies must complete:
- A minimum of 10 courses (30 credit hours) to satisfy major requirements.
- A minimum of 120 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 6 courses (18 credit hours) taken at the 300-level or above.
- A maximum of 4 courses (12 credit hours) from study abroad or transfer credit. For additional departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
- A Capstone Requirement.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the major’s academic advisor, or where applicable, the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in European Studies | 30 | |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the BA Degree with a Major in European Studies | 120 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements 1 | ||
| EURO 101 | INTRODUCTION TO EUROPEAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE I | 3 |
| EURO 102 | INTRODUCTION TO EUROPEAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE II | 3 |
| Elective Requirements 1 | ||
| Elective Group A | ||
| Select 3 elective courses from Elective Group A course offerings (see course list below) | 9 | |
| Elective Group B | ||
| Select 4 elective courses from Elective Group B course offerings (see course list below) | 12 | |
| Capstone Requirement 1 | ||
| EURO 401 | CONSTRUCTING EUROPE: CONTESTED IDENTITIES | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours Required for the Major in European Studies | 30 | |
| Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements * | 59 | |
| University Graduation Requirements * | 31 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| * | Note: University Graduation Requirements include 31 credit hours, comprised of Distribution Requirements (Groups I, II, and III), FWIS, and LPAP coursework. In some instances, courses satisfying FWIS or distribution requirements may additionally meet other requirements, such as the Analyzing Diversity (AD) requirement, or some of the student’s declared major, minor, or certificate requirements. Additional Credit Hours to Complete Degree Requirements include general electives, coursework completed as upper-level, residency (hours taken at Rice), and/or any other additional academic program requirements. |
| 1 | A minimum of 6 courses (18 credit hours), including the Core Requirements (EURO 101 and EURO 102) and the Capstone Requirement (EURO 401), must be taken at Rice. |
Course Lists to Satisfy Requirements
Elective Requirements
Students must complete a total of 7 courses (21 credit hours), of which 5 courses (15 credit hours) must be at the 300-level or above. Student must take 3 elective courses (9 credit hours) from Elective Group A. Students must take 4 elective courses (12 credit hours) from Elective Group B. Within Elective Group B, a maximum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) can come from any one subject code.
Elective Group A Course List
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 3 courses from the following: | ||
| Classical Studies | ||
| CLAS 316 / PLST 316 | DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL THEORY IN ANCIENT GREECE | 3 |
| PHIL 381 | ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY | 3 |
| French Studies | ||
| FREN 307 | THE MANY FACETS OF FRENCH CULTURAL IDENTITY | 3 |
| FREN 311 | MAJOR LITERARY WORKS AND ARTIFACTS OF PRE-REVOLUTIONARY FRANCE | 3 |
| FREN 312 | MAJOR LITERARY WORKS AND ARTIFACTS OF POST-REVOLUTIONARY FRANCE | 3 |
| FREN 313 | MAJOR LITERARY WORKS AND ARTIFACTS OF THE FRANCOPHONE WORLD | 3 |
| FREN 324 / POLI 324 / RELI 476 | FROM DECOLONIZATION TO GLOBALIZATION | 3 |
| FREN 350 | PARIS | 3,4 |
| FREN 355 / ENGL 355 | MODERN SHORT STORY: TOWARDS AN ETHICS OF FICTION | 3 |
| FREN 370 | WOMEN IN TALES OF THE FANTASTIC | 3 |
| FREN 402 | GLOBAL FRENCH CINEMA (IN ENGLISH) | 3 |
| FREN 407 | CINEMA IN FRENCH | 3 |
| FREN 416 / MDEM 436 | LITERATURE AND CULTURE OF THE MIDDLE AGES: KING ARTHUR | 3 |
| FREN 424 / SWGS 424 | WOMEN IN FRANCE | 3 |
| FREN 450 | POETRY AND POETICS IN THE 19TH CENTURY | 3 |
| FREN 453 | IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP IN CONTEMPORARY FRANCE | 3 |
| FREN 495 | THE FRENCH AVANT-GARDE: SYMBOLISM, DADAISM, SURREALISM, CONTEMPORARY CINEMA | 3 |
| German Studies | ||
| GERM 307 | FOLK AND FAIRY TALE IN GERMAN: TRADITION, STRUCTURE, ARTISTRY | 3 |
| GERM 309 | GERMAN POETRY | 3 |
| GERM 311 | BERLIN: PAST AND PRESENT | 3 |
| GERM 322 / HUMA 322 | MARX, FREUD, EINSTEIN: FOREBEARERS OF MODERNITY | 3 |
| GERM 324 / HUMA 324 | BERLIN: RESIDENCE, METROPOLIS, CAPITAL | 3 |
| GERM 325 / HUMA 325 | MODERN GERMAN WRITERS: KAFKA | 3 |
| GERM 326 / HUMA 372 | THE GERMAN FAIRY TALE: OLD AND NEW | 3 |
| GERM 327 | GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM IN EUROPEAN CONTEXT: HISTORY, LITERATURE AND FINE ARTS | 3 |
| GERM 329 / HUMA 329 | LITERATURE OF THE HOLOCAUST AND EXILE | 3 |
| GERM 333 | NIETZSCHE: PHILOSOPHY, POLITICS, HISTORY | 3 |
| GERM 334 | NATIONALISM AND CITIZENSHIP | 3 |
| GERM 338 / HUMA 373/ SWGS 361 | NEW GERMAN FILM: HITLER'S CINEMATIC CHILDREN | 3 |
| GERM 339 / HART 398 | FROM EXPRESSIONISM TO FASCISM: ART AND FILM IN GERMANY | 3 |
| GERM 340 / HUMA 340 | WALTER BENJAMIN: AESTHETICS, HISTORY AND POLITICS | 3 |
| GERM 345 / HIST 355 | FROM DEMOCRACY TO DICTATORSHIP: GERMAN HISTORY, 1890-1945 | 3 |
| GERM 352 | POLITICS OF THE FLESH IN GERMAN LITERATURE, THOUGHT AND FILM | 3 |
| GERM 363 | THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC, 1919-1933 | 3 |
| GERM 401 | TOPICS IN GERMAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE | 1-3 |
| GERM 420 | GERMAN POLITICS/CULTURE AFTER 1945 | 3 |
| GERM 430 | GERMAN INTELLECTUAL HISTORY | 3 |
| Latin | ||
| LATI 316 | READINGS IN VIRGIL'S AENEID | 3 |
| LATI 318 | READINGS IN CICERO | 3 |
| Politics, Law, and Social Thought | ||
| PLST 301 | MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT: MACHIAVELLI TO RAWLS | 3 |
| PLST 302 | CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL THEORY: RESISTANCE AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION | 3 |
Elective Group B Course List
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 courses from the following: 1 | ||
| English | ||
| ENGL 314 / MDEM 319 | MEDIEVAL ROMANCE | 3 |
| ENGL 317 / MDEM 317 / SWGS 301 | ARTHURIAN LITERATURE | 3 |
| ENGL 321 | SHAKESPEARE | 3 |
| ENGL 323 | RENAISSANCE DRAMA | 3 |
| ENGL 328 | JOHN MILTON: RADICAL THOUGHT THEN AND NOW | 3 |
| ENGL 332 | LITERATURE OF THE BRITISH ENLIGHTENMENT | 3 |
| ENGL 333 | 18TH CENTURY BRITISH FICTION | 3 |
| ENGL 338 | BRITISH ROMANTICISM | 3 |
| ENGL 341 | VICTORIAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE | 3 |
| ENGL 343 / SWGS 343 | JANE AUSTEN'S WORLDS | 3 |
| ENGL 346 | THE MODERN NOVEL IN BRITAIN | 3 |
| ENGL 356 | MODERNISMS | 3 |
| Art History | ||
| HART 330 / MDEM 330 | EARLY MEDIEVAL ART | 3 |
| HART 332 / MDEM 332 | ART OF THE COURTS | 3 |
| HART 340 / MDEM 340 | NORTHERN RENAISSANCE ART | 3 |
| HART 341 | EARLY RENAISSANCE ART IN ITALY | 3 |
| HART 342 | THE HIGH RENAISSANCE AND MANNERISM IN ITALY | 3 |
| HART 344 | CAPITALISM AND CULTURE | 3 |
| HART 354 | AGE OF ROMANTICISM IN EUROPE | 3 |
| HART 358 | IMPRESSIONISM AND POST-IMPRESSIONISM | 3 |
| HART 365 | ART BETWEEN THE WARS: EUROPEAN MODERNISM, 1918-1940 | 3 |
| HART 378 / MDEM 378 | DUTCH ART IN THE AGE OF REMBRANDT | 3 |
| HART 434 / MDEM 434 / SWGS 434 | SEEING SEX IN EUROPEAN ART, 1400-1700 | 3 |
| HART 435 / HIST 443 / MDEM 435 | MULTICULTURAL EUROPE, 1400-1700 | 3 |
| HART 452 | MANET(S) AND MODERNISM(S) | 3 |
| History | ||
| HIST 307 | IMPERIAL ROME FROM CAESAR TO DIOCLETIAN | 3 |
| HIST 308 / MDEM 308 | THE WORLD OF LATE ANTIQUITY | 3 |
| HIST 324 / MDEM 324 | CONFLICT AND COEXISTENCE IN MEDIEVAL SPAIN | 3 |
| HIST 340 / SWGS 345 | HISTORY OF FEMINISM | 3 |
| HIST 356 | AFTER NAZISM: GERMAN HISTORY, 1945 - PRESENT | 3 |
| HIST 357 / MDEM 357 | JEWS AND CHRISTIANS IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE | 3 |
| HIST 370 | EUROPEAN INTELLECTUAL HISTORY: BACON TO HEGEL | 3 |
| HIST 373 | SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THOUGHT IN 19TH CENTURY EUROPE | 3 |
| HIST 375 | EUROPEAN ROMANTICISM, 1750-1850 | 3 |
| HIST 392 | PRE-MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT FROM CICERO TO LOCKE | 3 |
| HIST 409 | MUSLIMS, JEWS, CHRISTIANS, HERETICS, AND PAGANS IN THE AGE OF THE CRUSADES | 3 |
| HIST 434 | MUSLIMS, AMERICA, AND ISLAMOPHOBIA | 3 |
| HIST 457 | FOUR MODERN REVOLUTIONS: 1776, 1789, 1917, 1989 | 3 |
| HIST 459 | NAZISM AND THE HOLOCAUST | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 362 | HISTORY OF ETHICS | 3 |
| PHIL 372 | HISTORY OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY | 3 |
| PHIL 383 | MODERN PHILOSOPHY | 3 |
| PHIL 386 | CONTINENTAL PHILOSOPHY | 3 |
| Religion | ||
| RELI 363 | JEWISH PHILOSOPHY: GREAT THINKERS AND THEMES IN JEWISH THOUGHT | 3 |
| RELI 384 | PILGRIMAGE AND CRUSADE | 3 |
| RELI 406 | CHRISTIANITY AND LATE ANTIQUITY | 3 |
| RELI 449 | SECOND CENTURY CHRISTIANITIES | 3 |
| Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American and Latinx Studies | ||
| SPAN 347 | INTRODUCTION TO MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN SPANISH LITERATURE AND CULTURE | 3 |
| SPAN 369 | SPANISH CINEMA | 3 |
| SPAN 375 | THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR | 3 |
| SPAN 381 | SOCIAL ISSUES IN SPAIN | 3 |
| SPAN 412 | DON QUIJOTE | 3 |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| 1 | A maximum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) can come from any one subject code in the Elective Group B course list. |
Additional Information
Honors Thesis
Majors in European Studies may fulfill 2 of their elective courses (6 credit hours) by writing an honor thesis in their final year of study. This Honors Thesis course will be a 3 credit hour course that can be repeated in two semesters, Fall and Spring.
European Languages
The major in European Studies does not include a language requirement. Students are strongly encouraged to pursue the study of at least one European language (up to and) at an advanced level. Majors with an interest in a European language, however, may take up to two elective courses in that language at the 300-level or above that will count toward the major. These courses constitute two of the elective courses required for the major. These courses do not include FREN 301, FREN 302 or GERM 301, GERM 302.
Policies for the BA Degree with a Major in European Studies
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s transfer credit advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the major in European Studies should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guidelines:
- No more than 4 courses (12 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing may apply towards the major.
- Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director (and/or the program’s official transfer credit advisor) on an individual case-by-case basis.
Distribution Credit Information
The determination of distribution credit eligibility is done initially as part of the new course creation process. Additionally, as part of an annual roll call coordinated each Spring by the Office of the Registrar, course distribution credit eligibility is routinely reviewed and reaffirmed by the Dean’s Offices of each of the academic schools.
Faculty and leadership in the academic schools are responsible for ensuring that the courses identified as distribution-credit-eligible meet the criteria as set in the General Announcements. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet graduation requirements by completing coursework designated as distribution-credit-eligible at the time of course registration.
Distribution courses from the Department of Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures are broad in theme and scope and provide students with a substantial inquiry into literature, art, media, history, thought, and/or politics, including specific national traditions, linguistic contexts, and historical periods. Such courses involve a broad and often interdisciplinary spectrum of knowledge, providing students with the tools for thinking critically about the formation of modern culture, its colonial past, and its national and linguistic traditions from antiquity to the present.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures website: https://cultures.rice.edu
Opportunities for the BA Degree with a Major in European Studies
Academic Honors
The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures website: https://cultures.rice.edu
See https://humanities.rice.edu/student-life for tables of fellowships, prizes, and internships/practica that may be relevant to this major.