European Union and Western European Studies
Program Overview
With their highly advanced industrial base and skilled workforce, the industrialized countries of Western Europe have long been major trading and strategic partners for the United States. But since the end of the Cold War, the European Union has received a massive transfusion of new energy and human capital: the inclusion of historic countries of Central and Eastern Europe like Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Whatever the resolution of Europe’s current – and serious – financial and political crises, the countries of Europe will continue to play a major role in the world economy, international politics and world culture. Central Connecticut State University offers a B.A. and M.S. degrees in International Studies with regional specialization in European Union and West European Studies.
Students are invited to combine a wide range of methodological approaches to the area of Western Europe and the European Union. In consultation with their adviser, students design an interdisciplinary plan of study that best fits their interests in the area. Students write theses on a wide range of topics in politics and culture.
Lecture series offered by diplomats, corporate and non-profit executives, activists, and internationally recognized scholars enrich the program. Students can participate in overseas experiences, choose the country or countries they want to study, and select their favorite foreign language(s) among French, German, Italian, or Spanish. Graduates may be able to find work with international marketing firms, international organizations, international communications, multicultural institutions, European companies or U.S.-based companies with European operations.
Coordinator
Dr. Matthew Specter
Department of History
Central Connecticut State University
1615 Stanley Street
New Britain, CT 06050
Phone: (860) 832-2867
E-mail: spectermat@ccsu.edu
European Union and Western European Studies Committee
Matthew Specter, Ph.D., History – European Union and Western European Studies Program Coordinator (spectermat@ccsu.edu)
Richard Benfield, Ph.D., Geography (benfieldr@ccsu.edu)
Mitch Charkiewicz, Economics (charkiewiczm@ccsu.edu)
Douglas Engwall, Ph.D., Psychology (engwalld@ccsu.edu)
Paloma Lapuerta, Ph.D., Modern Languages (lapuertap@ccsu.edu)
Carlos Liard-Muriente, Ph.D., Economics (liardcaf@ccsu.edu)
Angela Morales, Ph.D., Modern Languages (moralesa@ccsu.edu)
Maria Passaro, Ph.D., Modern Languages (passaro@ccsu.edu)
Carmela Pesca, Ph.D., Modern Languages (pescac@ccsu.edu)
Paul Petterson, Ph.D., Political Science (pettersonp@ccsu.edu)
Karen Ritzenhoff, Ph.D., Communication (ritzenhoffk@ccsu.edu)
Ron Todd, M.F.A., Art (todd@ccsu.edu)
Lilián Uribe, Ph.D., Modern Languages (uribe@ccsu.edu)
Louise Williams, Ph.D., History (williamsl@ccsu.edu)
Minor in European Union and Western European Studies
We do not currently offer a minor in European Union and Western European Studies.
Study Abroad Opportunities
Students in the European Union and West European Studies program can apply to study abroad at any of the institutions listed below. For more information about studying abroad and for a full list of CCSU’s partner and affiliate universities worldwide, please visit the CIE's website.
Czech Republic
University of Economics (Prague)
France
Université de Caen
Germany
Free University of Berlin (Berlin)
University of Freiburg (Freiburg)
University of Heidelburg (Heidelburg)
University of Hohenheim (Hohenheim)
University of Karlsruhe (Karlsruhe)
University of Konstanz (Konstanz)
University of Mannheim (Mannheim)
University of Stuttgart (Stuttgart)
University of Tübingen (Tübingen)
University of Ulm (Ulm)
Greece
American College of Thessaloniki
Ireland
Dublin Institute of Technology (Dublin)
Institute of Technology – Carlow (Carlow)
Trinity College (Dublin)
University of Limerick (Limerick)
Italy
Università Catolica del Sacro Cuore
Università per Stranieri di Perugia
Netherlands
Leiden University (Leiden)
Spain
Nebrija University (Madrid)
Universidad Complutense (Madrid)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Barcelona)
University of Barcelona (Barcelona)
University of Léon (Leon)
University of Salamanca (Salamanca)
University of Sevilla (Sevilla)
Sweden
Linnaeus University (Växjo)
United Kingdom
Kingston University (London, England)
Lancaster University (Lancaster, England)
Queen Mary University of London (London, England)
University of Bolton (Bolton, England)
University of Central Lancashire (Preston, England)
University of Cumbria (Lancaster, England)
University of Hertfordshire (Hatfield, England)
University of Kent (Canterbury, England)
University of Manchester (Manchester, England)
Queen Margaret University (Musselburgh, Scotland)
University of Stirling (Stirling, Scotland)
University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland)
