Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Group Studies > Western European Studies

Western European Studies

Those who study Western Europe—which includes the British Isles, Ireland, France, the Low Countries, the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, the Western Mediterranean, and the surrounding island groups and borders—do so to learn more about the past, present, and future of one or more of the peoples who have called this region home. Western European Studies delves into the historical and contemporary influences that have molded the continent of Europe. Students who major in Western European Studies are better prepared for jobs that require knowledge of Europe's history and the European Union. Western European Studies encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including the humanities, languages, and social sciences. Europe's political and economic problems, from antiquity to the present, can be studied, and the continent's rich cultural history can be uncovered. Students major in Western European Studies because it prepares them for a wide variety of jobs in fields like diplomacy, international business, government, teaching, journalism, and cultural work.