Masters Program: West European Studies (WEST): Indiana University Bloomington

The Master of Arts in West European Studies is a highly individualized degree. Students entering the program have the flexibility to tailor their course of study to their individual interests. MA graduates have in-depth knowledge about Western Europe, the European Union, and countries in the region and are prepared to work in a wide variety of positions. The MA is sometimes considered a "stepping stone" for students who go on to PhD programs, pursue Law degrees, or make other academic choices after completing the program.

Master's degree requirements are outlined in the Graduate School bulletin. Requirements include:

Required Courses

Master's candidates must take all of the following for a total of 15 credit hours:

The WEST Director can approve substitutions from the Schedule of Classes or waive any of these courses for appropriate reasons.

Credit Hours

Master's candidates must successfully complete 30 hours of graduate credit. Fifteen hours are satisfied by the required courses. An additional 15 hours must be satisfied with elective courses selected from approved cross-listed graduate courses in WEST or affiliated departments.

Language Requirements

Master's candidates must demonstrate oral/aural knowledge of one West European language and reading knowledge of another language appropriate to the student's program. The Director must approve the student's second language if it is not a language spoken in Western Europe.

The Master's Thesis

After the second semester of coursework, the Master's candidate must establish a thesis committee of 3 faculty members, appropriate to the student's interests, who will oversee the Master's thesis. West European Studies adheres to thesis format and printing requirements set by the University Graduate School. Master's theses should be no more than 100 pages long, typically ranging in length from 50 to 75 pages. A list of WEST MA Thesis topics are available here.

Time Requirements

In principle, a full-time student can complete the Master's degree requirements in a year and a half, though a two-year tenure is not uncommon. Part-time students may take longer. In any case, the College policy requires that all Master's degree requirements be completed within five consecutive years of matriculation.

Coordination

Students are ultimately responsible for verifying that they have indeed fulfilled all degree requirements. Candidates are advised to regularly meet with the Director and Advisor to verify course schedules before registering and to confirm that all the necessary signatures and documents are on file.