Prospectus

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American Studies

Minor

The interdisciplinary minor American Studies (30 EC) offers a survey of U.S. history from the establishment of the first colonies on the North American continent in the early seventeenth century to the two-term presidency of Barack Obama. We will also read a number of classics in American literature, including Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, Moby-Dick, stories by Edgar Allen Poe’s and the antislavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The courses in the second semester aim to deepen and broaden the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired in the first semester: you can choose to specialize in American history (track 1) or American literature and culture (track 2). Upon completion of this minor, you will have acquired basic knowledge of and research skills in U.S. history, culture and literature. Students who have successfully completed the minor in American Studies (30 EC) are in principle admissible to the MA programme in North American Studies in Leiden.

Maximum number of students: 25
Prospectus number: 5000MAMN
Number study activity: 1487
Language: English

Track I: American History

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

First semester
Literature 3A: The American Renaissance, American Literature, 1620-1865 5
Form Bradford to Obama: An Introduction to American Studies (Minor) 10

Second semester
Politics North America 5

Choose one of the following two courses:
Africans in America: Slavery and Emancipation in the United States, 1619-1877 10
Global Perspectives on the American Civil War: "We Will Wrap the World in Fire” 10

Track II: American Literature and Culture

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2

First semester
Literature 3A: The American Renaissance, American Literature, 1620-1865 5
Form Bradford to Obama: An Introduction to American Studies (Minor) 10

Second semester
Literature 4A: The Age of Realism: American Literature, 1865-1917 5

Choose one of the following two courses:
Slavery and Memory in the Black Atlantic 10

Keuzeruimte

Since in some departments there is room for only a 15 EC in elective courses, it is also possible to take this minor for 15 EC, half of the number of ECs required for a complete minor. You can find more information about this option in the E-Prospectus. Note, however, that this is not the same as completing a minor and therefore it is not called a minor. Students who wish to take this option in semester 1 take the following courses:

  • From Bradford to Obama: An Introduction to American Studies (10 EC)

  • Literature 3A: American Literature, 1620-1865: The American Renaissance (5 EC)
    In semester 2, you can take any 5 EC course and any 10 EC course listed under track 1 or 2 of the minor in American Studies.
    Anyone is free, however, to take more than the required minimum of courses and thus earn more ECs than the 180 EC required for receiving a bachelor’s degree. Therefore, you can take a 30 EC minor if you are willing to earn 15 EC more than you need to have to complete the requirements for your bachelor’s degree. For more information about electives, go to Keuzeruimte.

More info

Minor: voor Leidse studenten geen toestemming examencommissie vereist
Omvang: 30 ec
Bedoeld voor: studenten uit alle disciplines
Voertaal: Nederlands en Engels
Voor meer informatie: Keuzeruimte en Minors in English
Coördinator: mw. dr. J.C. Kardux
Informatie: j.c.kardux of 071 527 2236 / 2146
Aanmelding: via uSis NB: Men dient zich, na aanmelding voor de minor, ook voor de afzonderlijke cursussen aan te melden.

Since in some departments there is only room for a 15 EC in elective courses, it is also possible to take this minor for 15 EC, half of the number of ECs required for a complete minor. You can find more information about this option in the E-Prospectus. Note, however, that this is not the same as completing a minor and therefore it is not called a minor. Students who wish to take this option take the following courses in semester 1:

  • From Bradford to Obama: An Introduction to American Studies (10 EC)

  • Literature 3A: American Literature, 1620-1865: The American Renaissance (5 EC)
    Anyone is free, however, to take more than the required minimum of courses and thus earn more ECs than the 180 EC required for receiving a bachelor’s degree. Therefore, you can take a 30 EC minor if you are willing to earn 15 EC more than you need to have to complete the requirements for your bachelor’s degree. For more information about electives, go to Keuzeruimte.