European studies is a field of study offered by many academic colleges and universities that focuses on current developments in European integration.
Some programmes offer a social science or public administration curriculum focusing on developments in the European Union. These programmes usually include a combination of political science, EU public policy, European history, European law, economics and sociology. Other universities approach the subject in a broader manner, including topics like European culture, European literature and European languages. While all programmes focus on the study of the European Union, they often cover national topics (in a comparative perspective) as well.
The subject combines humanities and social sciences. Disciplines that are involved in European studies include:
While European studies departments are obviously more common in Europe than elsewhere, there are departments dedicated to its study further afield, including in North America, Asia and Australasia.