Prospectus

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North American Studies

Master

In this programme you will study U.S. history, literature and culture, as part of an integrated approach to American Studies and with a special (though not exclusive) focus on themes such as immigration, race, ethnicity, and civil rights. This approach enables you to discover connections between historical events and cultural and literary developments, but the range of elective courses also makes it possible to specialise in either U.S. history or literature.

Courses

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

First & second semester
Thesis Seminar North American Studies
MA Thesis North American Studies 20

First semester

Required course
Major Issues in American History and Culture 10

Electives
The American Civil Rights Movement 10
Working Through 9/11: Literature, Film, and Memorial Culture 10

Second semester

Required course

Students who start in February take the following course instead of Major Issues in American History and Culture
Readings in American History 10

Electives
Migration Matters: (Im)migration, Memory, and Identity in American Literature and Film 10
American Humor and Matters of Empire 10
The Rise and Decline of American Empire 10

More info

Programme information

In this programme you will study U.S. history, literature and culture, as part of an integrated approach to North American Studies and with a special (though not exclusive) focus on themes such as immigration, race, ethnicity, and civil rights. This approach enables you to discover connections between historical events and cultural and literary developments, but the range of elective courses also makes it possible to specialise in either U.S. history or literature.

The programme consists of four courses of 10 EC each and an MA thesis (20 EC), 60 EC total:

  • a required, interdisciplinary core course about Major Issues in American History and Culture (10 EC);
    students who start in February take the following course instead of Major Issues in American History and Culture: Readings in American History;

  • three elective courses, which give a deepened understanding on some of the themes that are discussed in the Major Issues core course (total elective courses: 30 EC);

    • students can opt to take one elective course outside the North American Studies programme or do an international internship (10 ects);

  • the programme will be completed with a 20 EC master’s thesis (including thesis seminar).