European Union Studies, Undergraduate Certificate

Program Coordinator: Jeannie Grussendorf (jgrussendorf@gsu.edu)

The certificate in European Union Studies is operated under the supervision of the European Council of the University System of Georgia. The program is open to all institutions and students of the University System as well as to professionals with an undergraduate degree. The program’s purpose is to promote knowledge of the European Union (EU) and certify individuals as competent in the subject area of EU studies. Since the EU is the most important economic and political partner of the United States, this certification demonstrates valuable professional expertise to potential employers. For students in the academic track, this interdisciplinary certificate can be earned as a supplement to any conventional undergraduate degree.

To earn the EU Studies Certificate, students must complete the certificate curriculum (18 hours) and fulfill the practicum experience requirement. Students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA in curriculum courses upon completion of the program. An official certificate is awarded upon graduation, and the certificate is noted on a student’s permanent transcripts.

Admission to the Program

A certificate in European Union Studies can be earned in one of two ways. Under the academic track, a certificate is taken in tandem with an undergraduate degree program. Students from all academic majors are eligible to participate so long as they possess a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average (GPA). Under the professional track, non-degree seeking students - such as business executives - are eligible to enroll in the program upon proof of a valid undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. The minimum GPA requirement is waived.

Under either track, an application to the program cannot be made until successful completion of the following: (1) the introductory course on the European Union (POLS 4242) with a grade of “C” or better, (2) 30 semester hours of academic credit, and (3) a course in world or western civilization (HIST 1111 or HIST 1112).

Certificate Requirements

The EU Studies Certificate Curriculum (18 Hours)

Multidisciplinary Menu (12 Hours)

A student must complete four courses from an approved menu of courses dealing substantially with the EU. These courses must be distributed among at least three different discipline areas: Social Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts, Business and Economics, and Natural and Health Sciences. The program’s campus representative decides which courses qualify for the certificate and maintains an updated list of approved courses in the different discipline areas. No more than one course in this menu can be taken at the 1000-2000 level, with the exception of EU Studies online courses (see below) and study abroad courses. Students may substitute for up to two menu courses by performing an internship and/or composing a thesis.

Capstone Seminar in EU Studies (3 Hours)

Taken either as a Directed Study (POLS 4920 ) or online course, this is ideally the last course in the certificate program. It has three learning objectives: (1) to update students on EU developments and reinforce their general knowledge of the EU, (2) to provide in-depth knowledge of important EU issues, and (3) to allow students to conduct intensive research on EU-related topics.

Practicum Experience

Since it is deemed crucial that students demonstrate more than an academic knowledge of the European Union to be certified as adequately prepared in the subject, a “real-life” practicum experience pertaining to the EU must be performed either in the form of an overseas visit or an internship. The overseas option is broadly defined and can be accommodated by a wide range of activities, including study or research abroad. The same flexibility applies to the internship, which can be served domestically or internationally. A student’s specific practicum experience must be approved by the program’s campus representative.