Programs in Western European studies teach people about the cultures of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and neighboring countries. Students learn different angles at which to examine geographical regions, including language, economy, and politics. They also study Western European history and the role of this region in international relations.

Consider the size of Western European countries in terms of the size of states in the U.S. Luxembourg, the smallest country in Western Europe, is smaller than Rhode Island, and France, the largest country in Western Europe, is about four-fifths the size of Texas.

In one day, you could have breakfast in London, lunch in Paris, and dinner in Barcelona, all without ever having to hop a plane! And this is in spite of the English Channel separating the United Kingdom from continental Western Europe.

When you look at the region in this way, you can begin to imagine how closely connected its countries are to one another. Besides the wars fought against and alongside each other, even cultural movements in music, art, and philosophy have crossed borders. And nowadays, people in each country speak more than one Western European language.

Europe in general is defined in two ways, as a region and as a union of European governments. Not all nations in the region are members of the European Union. However, the EU adds more member nations from time to time. As a region, Europe includes nearly 50 countries. While Europe and the United States are both considered modern and "Western" in politics, technology, and culture, Europe is also quite different from America. For one thing, the history of Europe as a whole is over a thousand years old! On a practical level, Western Europe is more integrated (now sharing a common currency, the Euro) and employs a more liberal welfare system. In addition, most Western European countries have socialized healthcare. This means that healthcare is available to everyone, with or without private insurance.

In Western European studies programs, you learn all about the culture and subcultures of Western European society. You take courses from different fields of study, such as art, sociology, and especially economics and history. You study historical conflicts, including revolutions and World Wars I and II, and ongoing conflicts such as the division between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. You read original literature and folklore as well as view and critique European films. You also study different religions and philosophic movements, especially as they differ by geography and ethnic groups. This includes Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

In addition, you study how countries in this region relate to other countries, including those in the Middle East and the U.S. Many programs also require you to learn at least one second language, including Spanish, French, German, and Dutch. Some programs may offer courses in Danish, Swedish, or Norwegian. Overall, your courses will teach you how to analyze information and how to ask different questions about contemporary problems and issues. You also learn how to write persuasive papers and how to debate. You may focus on a specific region, such as Scandinavia. Or, you could focus on just one country in the region.

Just as studying Western Europe is a broad endeavor, it also prepares you for a wide range of careers. You could work in journalism, museology, diplomatic affairs, or hospitality and tourism, to name a few examples.

Many colleges and universities offer programs in Western European studies. You can earn a bachelor's, a master's, or a doctoral degree in this program. In some cases, these programs are offered as part of a larger program in European studies or international relations.

You can also sometimes earn a graduate certificate in Western European studies while pursuing a graduate degree in another program such as law. The idea is that the other program will complement the aspect of Western European studies in which you're most interested.

A bachelor's degree typically takes about four years of full-time study after high school. After a bachelor's degree, a master's degree usually takes about one to two additional years. And after a master's degree, a doctoral degree generally takes between four and five years.

Students in this major may be able to choose concentrations such as:

• Customs and Culture
• Dance and Music
• Economics
• Folklore and Myth
• History
• Languages
• Literature
• Politics
• Religion