European Studies

This course offers a survey of art and architecture up to the end of 17th century, with a focus primarily, although not exclusively, on the Western world. It provides an introduction to the critical analysis of artworks, including painting, mosaic, fine metalwork, manuscripts, sculpture, buildings and the built environment. The course considers such matters as the iconography of major religious and mythological subjects, issues of style and the functions of works of art and architecture. Art works are considered in the context of influential factors such as historical period, geographic location, inter-cultural influences and the prevailing social, political, and religious environments.

This course provides an analysis of key EU policies as well as contemporary issues in the EU, including the Common Agricultural Policy, Environmental Policy, Security and Defense policies, the Democratic Deficit and Euroscepticism.

This course examines the history of European cultures, with a special focus on Spain, from pre-history to the present day. The second half of the course focuses on the Mediterranean world after Islamic expansion in North Africa, the conquest of Spain, and the domination of much of the Mediterranean.

This course offers a broad understanding of present-day Spanish society -- Spanish national culture, regional identity, group consciousness -- through the study of Spanish contemporary history of the last century, as well as current events, as presented in the media, cinema, and the press.