The University of British Columbia

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM IN MODERN EUROPEAN STUDIES - GENERAL INFORMATION

Numerous factors are contributing to the increasing prominence of and interest in Europe in the world today -- among them, the political and economic growth of the European Union, the emergence of new states, and the at times turbulent process of re-adjustment of the economic and political systems of post-communist countries, including Russia.

Despite regional difficulties and conflicts of re-emergent nationalism, the general trend is towards a greater integration of Europe as a whole and of increasing economic dynamics and power of most of the region. The perceived need to teach young Canadians (and Americans) about the new Europe is reflected in the recent establishment of many Institutes, Centres and Programs of European Studies at Canadian and US universities.

Modern European Studies at UBC is an interdepartmental undergraduate program of the Faculty of Arts. It offers students the opportunity to combine European languages, history, art, music, literature, philosophy, geography, sociology, anthropology, politics and economics in a broadly based concentration that will extend and deepen their knowledge of European issues.

The program will be particularly valuable for students planning to enter such careers as journalism, business, teaching and the Foreign Service.There is no department of Modern European Studies. The program is administered by a representative steering committee of the Faculty of Arts. Advice is available from the Chair and from steering committee members.

Through its Education Abroad Program, UBC has active student exchange agreements with numerous European universities (12 at present). It is expected that additional exchange agreements with European universities in other countries will be signed in coming years. Students are encouraged to participate in such exchanges for the enhancement of their Modern European Studies programs.

Graduate Studies in the European Studies area can now be pursued at the new graduate Institute of European Studies at UBC, as well as at a number of universities in North America and Europe.