Programs by Campus
Bloomington
West European Studies
College of Arts and Sciences
Departmental E-mail: west [at] indiana [dot] edu
Departmental URL: www.indiana.edu/~west
Curriculum
Academic Advising
Ballantine Hall 542, (812) 855-3280
Program Information
West European Studies (WEST) offers a Master of Arts degree in West European Studies, and two dual degree programs: a Master of Arts and a Master of Business Administration (M.A./M.B.A.) with the Kelley School of Business, and a Master of Arts and a Master of Public Affairs (M.A./M.P.A.) with the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The West European Studies master’s program offers a flexible yet rigorous approach to the study of modern Europe that combines courses in the social sciences, humanities, and languages to give students broad understanding of the politics, economics, history, and cultures of the countries of Western Europe and the European Union, while allowing the student to tailor the program to their interests. Students may focus on a particular country or region in Western Europe or on the European Union. The dual degrees add a level of professional training. M.A. graduates have in-depth knowledge about Western Europe and are prepared to work in a wide variety of positions in the public and private sector. Students may also choose to follow the master’s degree with advanced graduate studies.
WEST also offers a Graduate Certificate and a Ph.D. minor for doctoral students.
Degrees Offered
Master of Arts, Master of Arts/Master of Business Administration (jointly with the Kelley School of Business), Master of Arts/Master of Public Affairs (jointly with the School of Public and Environmental Affairs)
Special Program Requirements
(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)
Master of Arts Degree
Admission
Bachelor’s degree and completion of the Graduate Record Examination. No language proficiency is required for admission, although knowledge of at least one West European language is recommended.
Course Requirements
A total of 30 credit hours of graduate course work, consisting of W301 (3 cr.), W401 (3 cr.), W501 (3 cr.), one W605 or cross-listed equivalent social science course (3 cr.), one W605 or cross-listed equivalent humanities course (3 cr.), plus 9-12 credit hours of electives and 3-6 credit hours of thesis.
Language Requirement
Proficiency in depth of one approved West European language plus reading knowledge in another European language appropriate to the student’s program. The second language should relate to thesis research and must be approved by the advisor. Language requirements are explained in detail in the “Academic Regulations” section of this bulletin. Language proficiency exams are administered by the respective language departments.
Thesis
Required. The student must select a thesis advisory committee of at least three University Graduate School faculty members. West European Studies adheres to thesis format and printing requirements set by the University Graduate School. Master’s theses are not to exceed 100 pages.
Dual Degree: Master of Arts in West European Studies and Master of Business Administration
West European Studies and the Kelley School of Business jointly offer a three-year program that qualifies students for two master’s degrees. Study for these two degrees can be combined for a total of 66 credit hours rather than the 84 credit hours required for the two degrees taken separately. The area studies require 30 hours of credit, 6 of which, taken through the Kelley School of Business, will count towards the M.A. degree. The other 24 hours of credit must be in accordance with the respective area studies program. Dual M.A./M.B.A. students expect to pay University Graduate School tuition rates for one academic year (two semesters) and the Kelley School of Business M.B.A. flat fee for two years (four academic semesters) of the program. Both degrees must be awarded simultaneously.
Admission
To be eligible for the joint M.A./M.B.A. program, students must apply to the two master’s programs separately. A student must submit an application to and be accepted by the Kelley School of Business for study toward the Master of Business Administration and by West European Studies in the Graduate School for study toward the Master of Arts degree. See “Master of Arts Degree” for admission requirements.
West European Studies Course Requirements
Students take 24 graduate credits in West European Studies under the course requirements for the M.A., including: W301 (3 cr.), W401 (3 cr.), W501 (3 cr.), one W605 or cross-listed equivalent social science course (3 cr.), one W605 or cross-listed equivalent humanities course (3 cr.), one general elective (3 cr.), 3-6 thesis credits.
Business Course Requirements
Forty-two graduate credit hours for the M.B.A. degree under the course requirements for the M.B.A. Full information about the M.B.A. program should be obtained from the Kelley School of Business M.B.A Program Office.
Language Requirements
Proficiency in depth of one approved West European language. Language requirements are explained in detail in the “Academic Regulations” section of this bulletin. Language proficiency exams are administered by the respective language departments.
Thesis
Required. The student must select a thesis advisory committee of at least three faculty members representing both WEST and the Kelley School of Business. West European Studies adheres to thesis format and printing requirements set by the University Graduate School. Master’s theses are not to exceed 100 pages.
It is strongly advised that the student spend the first of the three-year program completing requirements for the M.A. (WEST) part of the program, and that the second year be spent in the first year of the M.B.A. program, thus allowing the third year to focus on electives and the thesis.
Dual Degree: Master of Arts in West European Studies and Master of Public Affairs
West European Studies (WEST) and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) jointly offer a three-year program that qualifies students for two master’s degrees. Study for these two degrees can be combined for a total of 60 credit hours rather than the 78 credit hours required for the two degrees taken separately.
Admission
To be eligible for the joint M.A./M.P.A. program, students must apply to the two master’s programs separately. A student must submit an application to and be accepted by the School of Public and Environmental Affairs for study toward the Master of Public Affairs degree and by West European Studies in the Graduate School for study toward the Master of Arts degree. See “Master of Arts Degree” for admissions requirements.
West European Studies Course Requirements
Students take 24 graduate credits in West European Studies under the course requirements for the M.A., including: W301 (3 cr.), W401 (3 cr.), W501 (3 cr.), one W605 or cross-listed equivalent social science course (3 cr.), one W605 or cross-listed equivalent humanities course (3 cr.), one general elective (3 cr.), 3-6 thesis credits.
Master of Public Affairs Course Requirements
Students are required to complete 36 graduate credit hours comprised of the M.P.A. core and a specialized concentration. M.P.A. Core (18 cr.): V502 Public Management (3 cr.), V506 Statistical Analysis for Policy and Management (3 cr.), V517 Public Management Economics (3 cr.), V540 Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.), V560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.), V600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.); Specialized Concentration (18 cr.): Students are required to develop a specialized concentration comprised of courses approved by School of Public and Environmental Affairs faculty advisors.
Language Requirements
Proficiency in depth of one approved West European language. Language requirements are explained in detail in the “Academic Regulations” section of this bulletin. Language proficiency exams are administered by the respective language departments.
Thesis
Required. The student must select a thesis advisory committee of at least three graduate school faculty members representing both West European Studies and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. West European Studies adheres to thesis format and printing requirements set by the University Graduate School. Master’s theses are not to exceed 100 pages.
Graduate Area Certificate in West European Studies
Area certificates can be awarded only in conjunction with a degree program and cannot be awarded prior to the completion of all requirements for the degree. Students must apply for admission and be accepted into another unit in the University Graduate School.
Course Requirements
A total of 30 credit hours, consisting of W301 (3 cr.), W401 (3 cr.), W501 (3 cr.), one W605 or cross-listed equivalent social science course (3 cr.), one W605 or cross-listed equivalent humanities course (3 cr.), plus 12 credit hours of electives that are offered through West European Studies or are approved cross-listed courses.
Language Requirement
Proficiency in depth of one approved West European language plus reading knowledge in another European language appropriate to the student’s program. The second language must be approved by the advisor. Language requirements are explained in detail in the “Academic Regulations” section of this bulletin. Language proficiency exams are administered by the respective language departments.
Ph.D. Minor in West European Studies
A Ph.D. minor in West European Studies is awarded as an outside minor to students who are pursuing a Ph.D. in another unit in the University Graduate School.
Course Requirements
A total of 12 graduate credit hours of West European area studies courses. These courses should include W301 and W401 (a waiver for either or both may be obtained from the director if the student has a knowledge of West European history and politics or if the student prefers to select another West European history or political science course), at least two W605 seminars or cross-listed equivalents. Students should select W605 seminars outside their major field. Waivers do not count toward meeting the 12 credit hour requirement. No more than 3 of the 12 credit hours may be in readings (W805) or independent research (W875).
Language Requirement
Reading knowledge of at least one approved West European language. Language requirements are explained in detail in the “Academic Regulations” section of this bulletin. Language proficiency exams are administered by the respective language departments.