Program Overview

Introduction to the B.A. Integrated European Studies Program

The B.A. Integrated European Studies program is an interdisciplinary course of study that focuses on the diversity of European states and societies. This program deals with the diversity of Europe from the perspectives of two academic disciplines: cultural science and political science.

Diversity and Interdisciplinarity

Europe is characterized by the diversity of European states and societies, expressed through differences in languages, cultures, and politics. The B.A. Integrated European Studies program addresses this diversity, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of European cultures and identities.

European Culture(s)

The cultural science lectures focus on questions relating to European cultures and identities, such as:

• What does it mean to be European?
• How do creative practices, like literature, art, film, music, museums, and protest cultures, contribute to debates about what it means to be European?

European Politics

The political science lectures analyze the areas in which EU member states cooperate and the role played by the Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council. Additionally, the politics in individual European states are examined, including:

• How politics are organized in these states
• Which actors play a central political role

IES-Languages

To enable students to experience European diversity firsthand, they learn one of the following languages during their studies:

• French
• Polish
• Russian
• Spanish These language courses are free of charge for IES students.

Integrated Semester Abroad

IES students spend one semester at one of the numerous partner universities of the Institute of European Studies in or outside of Europe.

Program Structure

The program includes:

• Study plan
• Admission
• Semester abroad
• IES languages
• Internship
• Career prospects
• Master's degree
• Career

An Interdisciplinary Program

The lectures and seminars in cultural studies focus on questions concerning European sites of memory in Europe in the 20th century. Using examples of literary texts, films, and monuments, the program discusses how collective and cultural memory are created and which media and actors shape them.

Research Areas

The program covers various research areas, including:

• Organized interests and legal mobilization in the European courts network
• European diversity and its effect on the policies of the European Union
• Cultural memory of Europe, including how European countries and societies remember the great catastrophes and events of the 20th century

Faculty and Courses

The program is taught by a diverse faculty, including:

• Prof. Dr. Arndt Wonka, who teaches courses on the EU from a political science perspective
• Prof. Dr. Wolfgang S. Kissel, who focuses on the cultural memory of Europe
• JProf. Dr. Simon Lewis, who offers alternative ways of studying European culture, with a focus on Poland, Belarus, and Russia, as well as Europe's colonialisms, difficult histories of violence, and diverse memory cultures.