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Minor in European Studies

In today’s globalised economy, expertise in specific professional fields is not enough…

The Minor in European Studies programme is designed to empower you to function effectively in a globalised world where business operates at an accelerated pace and markets are increasingly integrated.
Learning more about Europe’s rich cultural heritage through its history, literature, politics and social movements will better prepare you for professional opportunities that require cross-cultural communication skills.

EuropeanStudies- image_left
 
EuropeanStudies- image_right

 

Our programme will help you to:

  • develop your awareness of and insights into cultures and identities in Europe as a means to understanding the world from a global perspective;
  • understand and appreciate different forms of European art, such as film, literature (including both the traditional “canon” and more popular developments such as comics), painting, fashion and design;
  • develop your awareness of the key elements involved in successful communication;
  • deepen your understanding of language and culture through the study of modern European languages; and
  • heighten your awareness of the process of globalisation and the development of business contexts in Europe.
  • Courses offered in the programme will emphasise an interdisciplinary perspective.
  • Cultural events such as film shows and talks by invited guests on topics including politics, economics and the arts are offered regularly to ensure that students stay up-to-date with current international affairs and cultural trends.
Subject Code  Subject Title  Subject Offering Department/Faculty  Level  Credit Value 
ENGL2008/
ENGL2012/
ENGL2014/
ENGL2009/
ENGL2013/
ENGL2015/
ENGL3016/
ENGL3032/
ENGL3034/
ENGL3017/
ENGL3033/
ENGL3035/
ENGL4023/
ENGL4024/
ENGL4025
A Contemporary European Language (chosen from Elementary Spanish I / Elementary French I / Elementary German I / Elementary Spanish II / Elementary French II / Elementary German II / Intermediate Spanish I / Intermediate French I / Intermediate German I / Intermediate Spanish II / Intermediate French II / Intermediate German II / Advanced Spanish I / Advanced French I or Advanced German I) ENGL 2/3/4 3
ENGL3020 or
ENGL3039
Aspects of European Public Discourse or
European Sociolinguistics
ENGL 3

Subject Code Subject Title  Subject Offering Department/Faculty  Level  Credit
Value 
 -- Work Integrated Education (WIE) ^ ENGL/other departments 2/3/4  3

^ Students can apply to count the WIE as an elective for fulfilling the credit requirements, if carried out in an European country or context. Completed application form AR147(a) should be submitted to the Minor-offering department (Minor Department) for approval no later than your applying for graduation. In addition:

  • Only credit-bearing WIE (with a subject code) will be accepted.
  • The WIE duration should be a minimum of 60 working hours.
  • Only students who have already passed the WIE and meet all the specified criteria can apply to count the WIE as an elective.
  • A maximum of one WIE can be counted towards the Minor.
  • A maximum of 3 WIE credits will be counted towards the Minor.
  • The Minor will follow the WIE level indicated by the Major department.
  • The grade of WIE (regardless of whether it is a Merit/Pass/Fail or a letter grade) will not be counted towards the calculation of the Minor GPA, despite the double-counting of the credits.

History and Culture

Subject Code Subject Title  Subject Offering Department/Faculty  Level  Credit
Value 
APSS1A02 Introduction to Western Theories of Human Nature APSS 1  3
CBS1A11P/N
Cultural Identities and Representations
CBS 1 3
ENGL1B04/ENGL1BN04
Language and Society in Europe  ENGL 3
ENGL1C06/ENGL1CN06
Languages in a Globalizing World ENGL 3
ENGL1C22/ENGL1CN22 Around Europe in Thirteen Weeks: A Critical Review of European Culture through its Films ENGL 1 3
#GEC1C46 Aspects of Western Philosophy
(old subject code & title: GEC1C40 Invitation to Western Philosophical Thinking)
GEC 3
CC2C08 Mutual Impressions of China and the West CC 3
#ENGL3030 Introduction to the History of Europe: a Trade Perspective
(old subject code & title: ENGL3021 Understanding European Trade and Cultural Expansionism)
ENGL 3 3
ENGL3040  Language Matters: Navigating Social Issues through Linguistic Inquiry  ENGL 
ENGL3041  Travelling in Europe through Signs and Space  ENGL   3
ENGL4017 Critical Language and Cultural Studies ENGL 4 3


Literature

Subject Code Subject Title  Subject Offering Department/Faculty  Level  Credit
Value 
ENGL3014 Literature in English: An Introduction ENGL 2 3
ENGL3027  Anglophone and Francophone (Post) Colonial Literature ENGL 3 3
ENGL4014 Literature in English: An Advanced Course ENGL 3


Cultural/Creative Industry

Subject Code Subject Title  Subject Offering Department/Faculty  Level  Credit
Value 
ENGL3023 Introduction to European Visual Art ENGL 3 3
ENGL3028 Language Policy and Planning: Local and Global Perspectives ENGL  3
GEC1C43 Understanding Western Music and Performances GEC
ITC1C02 Fashion and Culture ITC 1 3


Contemporary European Languages

Subject Code Subject Title  Subject Offering Department/Faculty  Level  Credit
Value 
ENGL2008 Elementary Spanish I ENGL 2 3
ENGL2009 Elementary Spanish II ENGL 2 3
ENGL2012 Elementary French I ENGL 2 3
ENGL2013 Elementary French II ENGL 2 3
ENGL2014 Elementary German I ENGL 2 3
ENGL2015 Elementary German II ENGL 2 3
ENGL3016 Intermediate Spanish I ENGL 3 3
ENGL3017 Intermediate Spanish II ENGL 3 3
ENGL3032 Intermediate French I ENGL 3 3
ENGL3033 Intermediate French II ENGL 3 3
ENGL3034 Intermediate German I ENGL 3 3
ENGL3035 Intermediate German II ENGL 3 3
ENGL4023 Advanced Spanish I ENGL 4 3
ENGL4024 Advanced French I ENGL 4 3
ENGL4025 Advanced German I ENGL 4  3

#GEC1C40 Invitation to Western Philosophical Thinking, has been changed in title and subject code, with the approval of the CoGUR, as GEC1C46 Aspects of Western Philosophy.
#ENGL3021 Understanding European Trade and Cultural Expansionism, has been changed in title and subject code, with the approval of the WG, as ENGL3030 Introduction to the History of Europe: a Trade Perspective.
Remarks: ENGL1C09 Understanding Comics: Culture and Art is deleted from the minor list with effect from the academic year 2019-20. ENGL2A08 To love, or not to love – Understanding human relationships through literary texts is deleted from the minor list with effect from the academic year 2020-21. Students who have already taken and passed these subjects can still fulfill the minor requirement.


For detailed syllabus and subject pre-requisite/co-requisite/exclusion requirement, please visit the following AR subject registration website:
Location: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/student > Subject Registration > Subject Information

For students admitted from 2013-14 onwards

Attained 18 credits from the subjects listed above, of which at least 9 credits are at level 3 or above.

A maximum of three Contemporary European language subjects (9 credits) can be taken in total for the fulfilment of the minor award requirement.

Quota: 23

The application for the Minor will be processed in two rounds (October [1st round] and November [2nd round] in semester one). Students should submit applications for Minor study (Application Form: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/ar/web/en/for-polyu-students/application-forms/index.html) together with hardcopies of their cumulative subject result and subject registration record to the Major Programme Offering Department. Documents in support of having met the additional admission requirements of the Minor Programme, if applicable, should also be attached.

Please click here.
 

 


Comments from students

I can still remember the moment when I needed to choose a minor. The most important question that immediately popped into my mind was: how can it help my future career?
… I have experienced the essence of European Studies. Different elective subjects in European Studies have helped me to be a better problem-solver. They have equipped me with the ability to deconstruct different things in our daily lives efficiently through learning about European news, advertisements, painting... and even a European language! What I have learned can be applied to different fields, situations, and contexts.

CHENG Wing Chi

BA in Chinese and Bilingual Studies

As a business major student, I have gained more than just learning the European languages I love by taking this minor programme.  Two of the subjects — Critical Language and Cultural Studies and Aspects of European Public Discourse — have given me completely new insights into how society functions, how political speeches are constructed, how the media work, and how persuasion is achieved.  I believe the knowledge and insights that I have gained would be of lifetime value to me, and I am glad that I have the chance to become a well-rounded person by being exposed to different kinds of knowledge during my university study, not just in my business major.

YIP Wing Tak Natalie

BBA in Global Supply Chain Management
This programme is a great opportunity for me to have an authentic experience to explore European languages and cultures with teachers from different European countries.

 

NG Hei Haang Jeffrey

BA in English Studies for the Professions

Enquiries

Dr Renia Lopez

Programme Leader of the Minor in European Studies

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