Minor in Modern European Studies
in Conjunction with Semester in Florence

The minor in Modern European Studies provides an interdisciplinary understanding of social dynamics in Europe from the Enlightenment (18th century) through the present. All Modern European Studies minors must attain proficiency in French, German, Italian, Spanish, or another European Union language at or above the intermediate level (FL 232 or above).

The minor requires students to complete 18 credit hours in addition to the language requirement. These 18 credits must include 6 core credits and 12 elective credits. The 12 elective credits must be distributed as follows: 6 elective credits must cover culture and thought, and 6 elective credits must cover history and society. The minor's 18 credits must be distributed across at least three disciplines and must include at least one history course.

Core Courses

All students in the minor will have to take two core courses. Students may use some combination of the following courses to fulfill core requirements: HIST 202, HIST 382, POSC 344, POSC 345, and POSC 346.

The Semester in Florence program offers two of the core courses – HIST 382 and POSC 344 – in Florence every summer, fall, and spring.

Upper-Level Electives

MES minors will also have to take four upper-level electives, a number of which will be available in the Semester in Florence program.

In Summer 2009, Fall 2009, and Spring 2010, the following courses that can count as upper-level electives will be offered:

  • HIST 382 - Europe in the 20th Century (if students do not use this course as part of the core, they can use it as an elective)
  • POSC 344 - Politics of the European Union (if students do not use this course as part of the core, they can use it as an elective)
  • ECON 373F - Economics of European Integration
  • ARTH 313 - Masterpieces in Italian Renaissance Art (students may double count this toward the minor and GenEd Cluster Two)
  • ITAL 490F/HTM 298F - Wine and Culture in Italy

In Fall 2009, in addition to the electives numbered 1 through 5 above, the following elective course will be offered:

  • POSC 371F/ITAL 490F - European Culture and Identity

In Spring 2010, in addition to the electives numbered 1 through 5 above, the following elective course will be offered:

  • POSC 332F/JUST 332F - Human Rights in European Perspective

All fall and spring students take either 3 or 6 credits of Italian, and all summer students take at least 3 credits of Italian. These credits could count toward the minor's "language-through-the-232-level" requirement.

For further details, contact Dr. John Scherpereel, Coordinator, at 540-568-3933 or scherpja@jmu.edu.