The Central and East European Studies Program is interdisciplinary. It offers courses by faculty members from a number of UM departments that explore past and present issues in the area. The Program brings together students and faculty in disciplines such as Economics, Fine Arts, German and Slavic Studies, History, Political Studies, and Religion.

The disintegration of the former Soviet Union and its satellite countries has altered the social, political, and economic environment of Central and Eastern Europe. Massive political, social, and cultural changes now regularly put the region on the front pages of major newspapers. The transformation of the countries in this region continues to reshape Europe.

Programs of Study

General Major (B.A.)

Advanced Major (B.A.)

Double Honours (B.A.)

Minor

Specific CEES course requirements can be found in the on-line Academic Catalogue and Calendar. 

Eligibility

The Program is open to students in any discipline and any year of study.

Areas of Study

 Courses investigate issues such as: 

 • state formation and democratization 
 • privatization and the creation of new market economies
 • social, political, cultural, and religious history 
 • the role of language (identity and citizenship; maintenance, shift, and endangerment)
 • security (terrorism, trafficking of women and children, organized crime syndicates)
 • demographic movement (displaced peoples, diasporic formations, refugees, guest workers)
 • education (rewriting of curricula; establishment of new institutions for higher learning)
 • popular culture and contemporary society (entertainment industry, especially music and film)
 • the arts and post-communist identity (literature, fine arts, architecture)
 • the changing position of Central and East European nations vis à vis the EU, the US, and Russia
 • the place of Islam and other religions in Europe 
 • gender, especially changing roles and images of women in society

Countries of the Region

Austria, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine.

Careers

The study of Central and Eastern Europe provides training for a wide range of professions that require skills in communication, interpretation, and research. A first-hand understanding of an area, and fluency in one of its languages, can open doors to careers in academe, journalism, business, politics, commerce, education, travel, or translation.

Talks, Films, and Meetings

Public talks, visitors from Europe and conferences, video and film showings are organized by faculty of CEES.  Notification of these events is provided on the University websites:  Arts, German & Slavic Studies, CEES and others.