Global and Regional Studies: Europe Concentration, BA

Global and Regional Studies: Europe Concentration, BA

The Europe Concentration is a multidisciplinary program that supplies students with the skills and knowledge base to tackle challenges and make connections in the region of their interest. 

Our seasoned, approachable faculty will guide you through a diverse set of global topics, including world history, macroeconomics, cultural geography, and world politics, with an emphasis on the culture and customs of Europe. From there, you have the opportunity to craft your educational trajectory, with multiple study abroad opportunities, a required minor in the subject of your choice, and course offerings in everything from archaeology to literature. Your studies will culminate with an original contribution to the field of Global Studies research. 

You will leave this program with greater language proficiency, cultural literacy, and communication and critical thinking skills, all valuable assets in any future career.

Learn More About Our Program

Get to know our well-respected faculty and their academic specialties. Or explore scholarship opportunities and an array of study abroad possibilities.

 

Global and Regional Studies: Europe Concentration, BA

BA

Learning Outcomes

  • Define their place as citizens in global society.
  • Understanding of the political, economic, cultural interconnectedness that constitutes our world today.
  • Ability to communicate at a basic functional level of proficiency in a language, other than English, specific to the geographical region of study.
  • Ability to analyze specific social aspects of a geographical region employing in a competent and creative way the appropriate conceptual and theoretical tools of the following disciplines: anthropology, economics, history, literature and art, and politics.
  • Ability to investigate the increasing interdependent nature and complexity of cultural, economic, environmental, political, and social processes that constitute the global experience, and to examine those processes from a global justice perspective.

Requirements

Language Study

  • The interdisciplinary and language courses taken by students will prepare them for critically engaged learning experience.
  • For the major, students must reach the equivalent of intermediate level proficiency (appropriate to the region if selected). Language study should correspond with the country where students wish to spend their study abroad. Students can meet the requirement by taking and successfully passing a proficiency exam or taking and successfully passing one of the following courses:
  • Intermediate French (4 units)
  • Intermediate Italian (4 units)
  • Intermediate Japanese (4 units)
  • Intermediate Spanish (4 units)
  • Students who place into a higher level of language can fulfill this requirement by taking an appropriate language course.

Lower Division

  • The following lower-division course is required for all GRS majors
  • Introduction to Global & Regional Studies (4 units)

Lower Division Elective

  • Take two from the following lower division courses:
  • Intro to Social & Cultural Anthropology (4 units)
  • Macroeconomic Principles and Applications (or ECON 102 for students with transfer or AP credit) (4 units)
  • Global History to 1500 (4 units)
  • Global History Since 1500 (4 units)
  • Note: Only one of HIST 111 or 112 may be used
  • Introduction to Comparative Politics (4 units)

Upper Division

  • All GRS majors take the following UD courses:
  • Cultural Geography & Global Societies (4 units)
  • Interdisciplinary Issues in Global Studies (3 units)
  • Global Perspectives on Literature & Art (3 units)
  • Senior Research Capstone (4 units)

Concentration: Europe

  • Within their concentration students take three courses covering the region selected, from three of the four interdisciplinary areas: History, Anthropology, Politics, and Literature and Art. Students MUST take 8 upper-division units within the concentration.

Anthropology

  • World Cultures: Central/ Eastern Europe (4 units)
  • World Cultures: Northern Europe (4 units)
  • World Cultures: Southern Europe (4 units)
  • World Cultures: Western Europe (4 units)

History

  • Explorations in Modern European History (3 units)
  • Women in Modern European History (3 units)
  • Health and Welfare in Modern European History (3 units)
  • Special Topics in 20th Cent European History (4 units)
  • German History: Heretics, Dictators, Land of Ideas (4 units)
  • Global Citizens and Subjects in the British Empire (4 units)
  • Cold War Europe in Global Perspective (4 units)

Literature and Art

  • British Literature Before 1800 (4 units)
  • British Literature 1800-Present (4 units)
  • 19th Century Literature (4 units)
  • Development of English Fiction (4 units)
  • French Literature: Middle Ages to the Renaissance (4 units)
  • 17-18th Century Literature (4 units)
  • 19-20th Century Literature (4 units)
  • Exploration of a Single Author or Genre (4 units)
  • Culture and Civilization: France (3 units)
  • Culture and Civilization: Spain (3 units)
  • Spanish Literature: Middle Ages-18th Century (4 units)
  • Spanish Literature: 18th-Mid-20th Cen (4 units)
  • Contemporary Peninsular Literature (4 units)
  • Culture/Civilization of Italy (3 units)

Politics

  • West European Politics (4 units)

Earn an Global and Regional Studies: Europe, BA and a Single-Subject Teaching Credential at Saint Mary's in just four years through our Single Subject Teaching Credential Integrated Pathway!

Learn More

  • Intro:Global&Regional Studies (4 units)
  • Cultural Geography&Glbl Soc (4 units)
  • Interdisciplinary Issues GS (3 units)
  • Glbl Perspectives on Lit & Art (3 units)
  • Internships for Social Justice (1-4 units)
  • Senior Research Capstone (4 units)
  • Independent Study (1-4 units)

What can you do with a degree in Global and Regional Studies: Europe?

Mastery of European histories, institutions, and cultures, paired with intermediate language proficiency, opens paths in diplomacy, trade and market analysis, policy research, education, and NGO work.
(*Some roles may require certification or graduate study).

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Danijela Concion '26 in physics lab at a computer

Foreign Service / Diplomatic Officer (Entry-Level)
Support reporting, cultural outreach, and policy briefs on European political and economic developments.

International Trade & Market Analyst
Assess tariffs, regulations, and consumer trends across EU/UK markets to guide entry and pricing strategy.

Cultural Affairs / Program Officer
Design exchanges, grants, and public-diplomacy events that strengthen transatlantic cultural ties.

NGO Program Coordinator 
Manage partnerships, grant compliance, and impact tracking for humanitarian or civil-society initiatives.

Intelligence / Risk Analyst (Junior)
Synthesize open-source and field data to evaluate geopolitical, regulatory, and security risks in Europe.

Localization & Content Specialist (EU Markets)
Adapt products and communications to local languages and norms; maintain terminology and QA workflows.

Study Abroad / International Programs Advisor
Place students in Europe programs, handle visas and risk protocols, and deliver intercultural preparation.

EU Public Policy / Regulatory Assistant
Monitor directives and consultations, draft summaries, and brief stakeholders on impending compliance changes.

Saint Mary's Testimonials

“The education I received from St. Mary’s has helped me enormously. I would not have this job without the Spanish I learned. Cultural competency is also extremely important when working with people from different cultures.” 

Rachel Kane, Class of 2016

School and Department Information