Our faculty’s teaching and research interests in European Politics are broadly concerned with the extraordinary changes that the region has undergone in the last two decades. Faculty interests include identity politics, representation, political parties, elections and voting behavior, and public administration.
European Politics: the Undergraduate Level
Undergraduate course offerings are broad and students can learn a great deal about Europe, both east and west. Many majors pursue certificates in West European Studies, European Union Studies, Transatlantic Studies and Russian and East European Studies. There is also a Related Concentration in European and Eurasian Studies. Students have the opportunity to participate in Model European Union (EU), present research papers at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, assist faculty with research and accompany faculty on research trips to Europe.
European Politics: the Graduate Level
The University of Pittsburgh’s offerings in European politics are distinctive in that they provide both historical and contextual depth and methodological rigor. Our department focuses particularly in the areas of representation, institutions and international organizations.
Although students will specialize in what excites them most, it is expected that they will become familiar with the politics of Europe broadly defined. Departmental resources are significantly augmented by the European Studies Center and the Center for Russian and East European Studies within the University Center for International Studies. Additionally, the European Union Studies Association (EUSA) is headquartered at Pitt. The Centers host lectures, symposia and conferences which involve participants from across the US, Europe and Russia. They also offer a myriad of funding opportunities for graduate students to conduct their own research, to participate in conferences and to improve their language skills. Students are also encouraged to pursue certificates in West European Studies, European Union Studies or Russian and East European Studies.
The collections in Hillman Library benefit from two bibliographers – one specializing in European Union Studies and another in Russian and East European Studies. They serve as the depository library for both the EU and the United Nations. The library is also home to the Barbara Sloan European Union Document Collection. The Virtual Library Web sites for both West Europe and Russia and East Europe are also at Pitt, as is the Archive of European Integration. These resources attract scholars from the US and Europe to study European politics within the department.
The relatively small size of our program provides students many opportunities to work closely with faculty. Our faculty co-author with graduate students and mentor them in a way that encourages professional development.
Students interested in studying European politics in a challenging but warm intellectual environment will find our program to be a good match. The small size of the program, the accessibility of faculty, the resources of two internationally recognized centers, a library distinguished by both its quality and its user-friendliness, and the attractions of Pittsburgh as a city all help students carry out excellent research in the field of European politics.