Modern European Studies

Modern European Studies (MEST) is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program administered by the Department of Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies (CENES). The MEST program allows students to take a wide range of Arts-based courses and develop their own research focus on particular languages, regions, themes or historical periods. MEST emphasizes Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity and foregrounds critical perspectives on Europe and European phenomena in both local and global contexts.

Major in Modern European Studies

The MEST program offers a Major which builds foundational knowledge and skills in Modern European Studies while promoting research diversity. As a MEST Major you can work across disciplines, in a multilingual environment, and become familiar with aspects of European history, journalism, law, international relations as well as cultural and literary studies. In consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, students identify a research concentration of their choice.

View Major requirements

Program Features

Broadly based concentration in European Studies
Thematic, regional and linguistic research focus of choice
Inter- and cross-disciplinary work mentorship
Impactful experiential learning

MEST is ideal for developing an understanding for the rich, complex and nuanced culture of Europe. It is multi-faceted, dynamic and adaptable, and pairs well with other areas of study such as political science, economics, history, and international relations. If you have questions, there are great professors and students in the program who can give you advice and guide you along the way.

Caleb Clarke

Major in Modern European Studies

Major Requirements for Modern European Studies

100- and 200-level courses

6 credits from the list of approved courses

300- and 400-level courses

30 credits from the list of approved courses

Language Requirement

12 credits of a European language (broadly conceived) other than English. Literature or Cultural Studies courses taught in the student’s chosen European language count as equivalent, as do European language courses taken to fulfill other programs’ requirements.

CENES Language Programs

CENES offers a variety of language courses for UBC students, including Danish, German, Polish, Russian, Swedish, Ukrainian and new in 2024, Yiddish.

CENES Languages

Yiddish

Approved Courses to Fulfill Major Requirements

100- and 200-level

Arts One

ARTS 001A: Arts One

Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies (CENS)

CENS 201: Contrasts and Conflicts: The Cultures of Central, Eastern and Northern Europe
CENS 202:Great Works of Literature from Central, Eastern and Northern Europe

Cinema Studies (CINS)

CINE 210: Early Cinema

German Studies (GMST)

GMST 229: Exile, Flight and Migration
GMST 274: The Frankfurt School

History (HIST)

HIST 220A: History of Europe

Political Science (POLI)

POLI 110: Investigating Politics: An Introduction to Scientific Political Analysis
POLI 260: Introduction to Global Politics

Romance Studies (RMST)

RMST 202: Introduction to Literatures and Cultures of the Romance World II: Modern to Post-Modern

Slavic Studies (SLAV)

SLAV 105: Introduction to Russian and Slavic Culture

300- and 400-level

Anthropology (ANTH)

ANTH 303D: Ethnography of Special Areas - CELT FRING&DIASP

Art History (ARTH)

ARTH 339:19th-Century Art and Social Space
ARTH 340: 20th Century Art and Culture: The Triumph and Demise of Modernism
ARTH 341: 20th Century Art and Culture: The Postmodern
ARTH 347: Architecture in Europe: Modern Paradigms of Design (1837-present)

Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies (CENS)

CENS 303: Representations of the Holocaust: Ghetto
CENS 304: Representations of the Holocaust: Auschwitz
CENS 308: Comics and Graphic Novels in Central, Eastern and Northern Europe
CENS 404: Gender and Nation: Women's State in Modern Central, Eastern and Northern European Literatures and Cultures