TES Concentration

The Concentration in Transnational European Studies (TES) in the Keough School of Global Affairs is open to students with a supplemental major in Global Affairs, and is designed for students seeking to understand the interplay between the political, economic, and cultural forces in Europe and beyond.

TES is a course of study that takes Europe in a traditional sense seriously but pays particular attention to the dynamic flows of people, politics, commerce, and cultures that are so characteristic of Europe today. This concentration focuses on contemporary European issues but emphasizes the importance of understanding their historical, linguistic, and cultural dimensions.

Students in the Concentration in Transnational European Studies will graduate with proficiency in a European language and develop a robust understanding of contemporary European affairs in a global context. Students can explore policy realms such as the European Union, climate change, and migration through the Institute&rsquos EURO courses.

As integral members of the Nanovic Institute, students in the Concentration in Transnational European Studies are afforded priority consideration for grant opportunities, research assistantships, and access to the Nanovic network on campus and in Europe. TES students can expect enhanced opportunities for European travel, research, and service beyond the classroom, to connect with European experts, such as diplomats, scholars, and policymakers, and to cultivate interdisciplinary skills valuable in a far range of fields, including the arts, economics and finance, foreign service, law and politics, and mission-oriented non-governmental organizations.

Requirements

• 3.0 credits of EURO “Gateway” courses: Students begin their journey into European studies by taking three of the Institute’s 1.0 credit gateway courses. These rotating courses investigate Europe through film, geography, diplomacy, and much more. Gateway courses can be taken at any point during a student’s academic career, but first-years and sophomores are highly encouraged to enroll.
• 3.0 credits of advanced European language study: Students in the concentration become proficient in a European language by completing coursework at the Intermediate II level or beyond in one of the following languages: French, German, Greek, Irish, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish.
• 6.0 credits of EURO electives: Students will take two 3.0 credit EURO electives that allow them to engage deeply with a single issue, time, or place, in Europe. EURO electives encourage students to think interdisciplinarily and respond to the world today.
• 3.0 credits of Capstone Essay: All students completing the Concentration in Transnational European Studies must take the Capstone Seminar and complete a capstone essay. The capstone essay is the culmination of students’ coursework and research in transnational European studies. Students will select an area or topic of interest to them and work with a faculty advisor to identify a research question and complete a 15-20 page essay on the question of their choice. The Capstone Seminar is primarily intended to achieve three objectives: (1) give students an opportunity to conduct independent research; (2) provide students with guidance and support in completing their capstone research project; and (3) bring student research into dialogue with trends in the field of Global Affairs. Although each student will work on their own project, the course will move through the normal stages of a project and will allow students to contribute to each other’s work in meaningful ways.