Franklin University Switzerland is a private, nonprofit and accredited, liberal arts university in Lugano, Switzerland. Founded in 1969, Franklin is one of the oldest American institutions of higher education in Europe and the first to be established in Switzerland. Franklin offers Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees accredited in both the United States and Switzerland.
Franklin’s curriculum promotes international awareness and critical thinking, and emphasizes an interdisciplinary and liberal arts perspective. The majority of courses are taught in English, with the exception of language courses, including upper-level language courses on film, culture and literature. Students must achieve proficiency in Italian, French, Spanish, or German, through fulfilling a three-year language course sequence.
In addition to the language requirement, a core curriculum consisting of Intercultural Competencies (humanities and arts), International Engagement (political science, history and economics) and Social Responsibility (sciences and cultural studies) is at the forefront. A full year’s worth of study in these three categories is a requirement. Courses in mathematics and writing are required as well.
The most popular majors at Franklin are International Management, International Relations, Environmental Studies, Communications and Media Studies and International Economics, respectively.
The average class size at Franklin is 16, with no class exceeding 30 students.
The university offers an internationally focused interdisciplinary curriculum, with 17 majors and 21 minors in its undergraduate program, along with courses covering a wide variety of other subjects including Art History and Visual Culture, Environmental Science, Mathematics, International Relations, and various languages including French, Italian, and German.
- Art History and Visual Culture
- Communication and Media Studies
- Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies
- Environmental Sciences and Studies
- Fashion Studies
- Finance
- French Studies
- History
- International Economics
- International Management
- International Marketing Management
- International Relations
- Italian Studies
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Social Justice and Sustainability
- Visual Communication Arts
The university allows for a combined-major program, in which a student chooses two of the above to earn one degree, as opposed to a double-major.
Franklin University Switzerland’s graduate programs take advantage of its cross-cultural environment and central location in Europe to provide internationally-focused Master’s degree programs.
- MSc in International Management (3 emphases)
- Responsible Management in Climate Action
- Digital Transformation
- Sustainable Food Systems
- M.A. in Responsible Arts Management and Cultural Heritage