Georg August University Gottingen

Course Details

American Studies (B.A.) (2 subjects)

Course Description

Language requirements before beginning studies (with certificate) Please follow the link in the right column to learn about the language requirements. Applicants should provide the certificate of language proficiency already during the enrolment process. Alternatively, students may take a language test during the first year; each winter semester, the department offers a preparation course for the TOEFL test, which can be taken at the Central Office for Languages and Key Qualifications (ZESS). Subject Matter/curriculum/objectives Students of the Bachelor’s Program in American Studies will acquire independent academic working skills and extensive knowledge in literature, culture, history and the language of North America. They will engage with fundamental subject-specific terms, theories and methods of cultural, literary and media studies and learn to apply them. The program conveys a historical overview of North American literature and culture and the skills to analyze and interpret literary texts, cultural documents and medial representations from different periods of American cultural history. The curriculum of the undergraduate degree also includes extensive coursework in the field of media studies, covering diverse topics such as popular culture, (American) media history and theory, material culture, and visual culture. Structure of the program Students need to complete 66 credits in American Studies. The core curriculum conveys the basic methodologies and the fundamental theoretical tenets of American studies in the form of modules. The subject matter of these modules comprises analytical and interpretation techniques, history of literature and culture as well as the theory of literature, culture and media. Some of these modules are interdisciplinary. Building on these basic modules, the B.A. program also introduces the fields of film and media studies. Students acquire the fundamentals of scholarly media analysis and apply these methods in the context of topical seminars. A subsequent advanced module provides research-oriented and subject-specific knowledge based on the training and competencies already obtained and prepares students for the Bachelor thesis (with 66 credits). Students can also specialize in American Studies, allowing them to acquire a total of 84 credits. These students will complete an additional module in the “in-depth” profile of the optional area to further pursue their individual research interests. The other additional modules include courses on the theory of literature and culture and provide advice and tutoring for a research-oriented Bachelor thesis. Subject combinations The subjects American Studies and English Philology can only be combined if no modules or courses pertaining to American Studies are taken in English Philology. Possible/recommended profiles Profiles that can be studied: occupational; subject-specific in-depth knowledge; General Studies

Course Duration

NumberDuration
6semester

Career outcomes

American Studies with a focus on media studies: Students of the two-subject B.A. can already complete an academically established course of studies in North American Studies at the Bachelor level. The curriculum provides essential knowledge about the literature, culture and media as well as a comprehensive overview of North American culture from its first colonial contacts up until the 21st century. This degree qualifies the student for a consecutive Master's degree programme.




American Studies (B.A.) (2 subjects) Georg August University Gottingen