Academic Program

The European Union Policy Studies provides students with:

• Mastery of the European Union’s history, institutions and policy-making processes
• Understanding of the ways that global, continental, national and sub-national processes interact to affect public policy
• Insights into the patterns of interaction among Europe’s political, economic, ideological, and cultural interests
• A firm grasp of the tools of policy analysis
• Appreciation of the EU’s evolving roles within transatlantic and broader global relationships
• Insights into the most pressing contemporary European policy issues, including international security, immigration, environmental protection, market regulation, economic and monetary union, and human welfare
• Analytic and linguistic skills (including competence in Italian), skills in written and oral expression, the ability to formulate and execute a final project
• Broad intercultural competence.

EUPS students with Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament

The program is composed of a one-year, 33-credit curriculum and is based wholly in Florence. Students earn a Master of Arts in Political Science from James Madison University. They pursue a comprehensive and integrated course of study that includes coursework, academic study tours in Florence, Brussels, Rome and other European cities, intensive language training, engagement with political and educational institutions in and around Florence, and an internship/practicum experience or intensive research project.

The program is entirely unique among American master’s programs. It is intensive, taught entirely in Europe, and involves an applied policy focus. It is cross-disciplinary and innovative in design. The program allows students to specialize in one of two policy foci: economic and social policy (including the single market, economic and monetary union, competition policy, social policy, agricultural policy, environmental policy, and energy policy) or foreign policy and internal security (including the EU’s foreign policy, security and defense policy, human rights promotion, development assistance, anti-terrorism policy, immigration and asylum policies, and efforts against organized crime).

The program’s students graduate with a thorough understanding of the European Union and a particularly firm grasp of key EU policy areas. Graduates are prepared to work in professional positions that require broad and practical knowledge of the EU and broader European affairs. Specifically, they are trained for productive careers in government and politics (including diplomatic service), international business, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and media outlets. The program also prepares students for further graduate study in political science, for related law degrees, and for teaching and research on the European Union.

For a description of recent program activities and program-sponsored events, click here.