Program of Study

Program of Study

Programs:

Major

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 problem in contemporary or historical European society or culture that is applicable to one or several countries. 

CEMS offers two major tracks: Honors Track and Non-Honors Track.

Non-Honors Major

Nine 4-point courses (36 points) beyond the introductory course 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 during the fall semester of a student’s senior year

Majors are also required to complete at least one semester of study away. 

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 course above the Intermediate two level. The alternative is to take a College of Arts and Science (CAS) placement exam and score above the intermediate level.

Honors Major

A degree in European and Mediterranean Studies in awarded with honors to students who complete 10 courses (40 points) of graded work while maintaining an overall GPA of 3.65, and who successfully complete original research leading to an honors thesis. The honors thesis 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. Independent Study (EURO-UA 998) is taken in addition to the 10 courses outlined above under the Major-Progam of Study. The thesis topic and the faculty adviser are 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 paper is 40-60 pages. 

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.

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.