EU flag outside building in europe

© European Union 2016 - European Parliament 

Certificate in European Union Studies (CEUS)

The Certificate in European Union Studies (CEUS) allows CU-Boulder undergraduates in a range of social science and humanities programs to gain skills and understanding around the European Union (EU). The CEUS documents a student’s expertise in European Union Studies, opening opportunities for further study, internships and careers in public, private, or nonprofit sectors.

CEUS is housed in the International Affairs Program (IAFS) in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the certificate curriculum is intentionally interdisciplinary. Students admitted into the program will complete coursework with EU content going beyond what they can obtain by completing any single major. They will also participate in co-curricular activities to augment their understanding of the development, focus, functioning and future of the EU. Upon completion of this program, students will have a demonstrated understanding of the European Union; its politics, history, institutions, economics, policies, member states, relations with the US, role in the world, and much more.

Students earn the Certificate in European Union Studies upon verification by IAFS that they have completed all requirements and a series of curricular and co-curricular requirements.

A total of 19 hours of coursework is required to complete the Certificate in European Union Studies. These are distributed among

  • lower division core requirements (7 credit hours)
  • upper division core requirements (3 credit hours)
  • upper division electives (9 credit hours)

All credit hours must be completed with grades of C- or better and an overall GPA of 3.00. None of the required hours may be taken pass/fail.

All students in the CEUS program begin with a common framework for the analysis of international institutions and relations as a background for the upper division coursework in EU studies. All students must complete the following lower division requirements:

  1. PSCI 2012: Introduction to Comparative Politics, 3 credits
  2. IAFS 1000: Introduction to International Affairs, 4 credits

PSCI 4302-3 European Union Politics (Prereqs: PSCI 2012)

Students must complete at least 9 hours of relevant upper-division course work, including at least 6 credit hours from outside their major department, selected from the list below. Courses not listed here, but with a focus on EU issues may be applied to this elective requirement with permission from the program. This includes courses taken on authorized study abroad program in EU countries, which are encouraged.

Eligible Upper Division Elective Courses

  • ECON 4514: Economic History of Europe
    • Prereqs: ECON 3070 or 3080
  • FNCE 4060: London Summer in International Management (course attached to CU Study Abroad Program in London)
    • Prereqs: vary depending upon course offering
  • GEOG 4892: Geography of Western Europe
    • Prereqs: none
  • GEOG 4892: Geography of Western Europe
    • Prereqs: none
  • GRMN 3150: Issues in German Politics and Literature
    • Prereqs: GRMN 2020 and GRMN 2030, or equivalent
  • GRMN/WMST 4301: Gender, Race, and Immigration in Germany and Europe
    • Prereqs: none
  • HIST 4212: Early Modern Europe
    • Prereqs: none
  • HIST 4053: Britain and the Empire, 1688-1964
    • Prereqs: none
  • HIST 4233: History of France since 1815
    • Prereqs: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits
  • HIST 4423: German History since 1849
    • Prereqs: HIST 1020
  • HIST 4424: European Intellectual History, 1870 to the Present
    • Prereqs: none
  • HIST 4442: Europe since 1945
    • Prereqs: HIST 1020, or 1040, or 4412, or PSCI 2012
  • IAFS 3500/HIST 4190: French Connections: Contemporary France and America in Historical Context (course attached to the CU Study Abroad Program in Bordeaux)
    • Pereqs: none
  • ITAL 4250/HIST 4313: History of Italy
    • Prereqs: none
  • PSCI 3143: Problems in IR
      • Prereqs: PSCI 2223​
    • PSCI 3172: Democracy and Its Citizens in the US and EU​
      • Prereqs: none
    • PSCI 4002: Western European Politics
      • Prereqs: none
    • PSCI 4062: The Emerging Democracies of Central and Eastern Europe
      • Prereqs: PSCI 2012 or IAFS 1000
    • PSCI 4173: International Organization
      • Prereqs: PSCI 2223
    • PSCI 4183: International Law
      • Prereqs: PSCI 2223
    • PSCI 4193: International Political Economy
      • Prereqs: PSCI 2223
    • PSCI 4213-3: Europe in the International System
      • Prereqs: PSCI 2223
    • SPAN 3200: Spanish Culture
      • Prereqs: SPAN 3000
    • SPAN 3240: Catalan Culture 1
      • Prereqs: SPAN 3000
    • SPAN 3250: Catalan Culture 2
      • Prereqs: SPAN 3000
    • SPAN 3230: Discovering Barcelona: Culture and Heritage
      • Prereqs: SPAN 3000
    • SPAN 3270: Barcelona: Understanding Local and Immigrant
      • Prereqs: SPAN 3000

    In addition to their course work, CEUS students will attend at least four EU-related lectures and events and they will submit a brief write-up of the main themes or discussion points with their CEUS Completion form. These events can be on or off campus, or as part of a study abroad program. See the following links for relevant events:

    CEUCE - The Colorado European Union Center of Excellence at the University of Colorado Boulder
    This organization aims to foster links between the United States Mountain West and the European Union by promoting mutual understanding and engagement among students, educators, researchers, policymakers, business and legal practitioners, and the general public. CEUCE returned to the University of Colorado Boulder in 2018 after a three-year run at a partner institution, the Korbel School of International Education, University of Denver. Visit the website 'events' tab to see events you can attend. 

    World Trade Center Facebook Page
    The World Trade Center Denver facilitates international trade by educating, serving and connecting businesses in the Rocky Mountain region to our global network of 330 World Trade Center in 100 countries. They will post on their Facebook events page when they have events and guest speakers that are student-friendly.

    UNABC - Boulder County Chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States of America
    This Boulder organization works to inform the community about the work of the UN. There is an annual UN Day, quarterly dinner lectures, monthly talks with Q&A, and monthly discussion groups where you can listen, learn, and put forth your own points of view. 

    CU Center for Western Civilization, Thought & Policy 
    The Center promotes critical reflection on the distinctive traditions and political perspectives that characterize Western Civilization.

    General CU Events Page
    A comprehensive list of all the events going on at CU. 

    If you are unsure if an event is EU-related, contact the host organization of the event to obtain further details. 

    To apply: 

    Fill out this application form and then email iafs@colorado.edu with your unofficial transcript (if you are a transfer student, include your previous institution's unofficial transcript). CU Boulder unofficial transcripts are available at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/transcripts.

    Students from related social science and humanities majors – including International Affairs, Political Science, History, Geography, Sociology, Women and Gender Studies, Economics, and European languages – are eligible to apply, provided they have completed at least 30 hours of coursework with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, and have completed at least six hours of coursework from the program requirements (above), also with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.

    When you have completed all CEUS requirements, please submit this CEUS Certificate Completion form to iafs@colorado.edu. Please submit your write-up of co-curricular events and an unofficial transcript with your completion form. CU Boulder unofficial transcripts are available at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/transcripts.

    Students earn the CEUS once all requirements are verified. We will notify the Registrar’s office that you have completed the CEUS. Please note: certificates will not appear on student transcripts until the diploma is posted.