American Studies (Bachelor of Arts, B.A.)
The American Studies program offers you a wide-ranging curriculum covering US literature, culture, and society—with topics such as diversity, gender, media, and transatlantic relations. Humboldt University places particular emphasis on the interactions between culture and society.
Please choose
- Major Field
- Minor Field
Table of Contents
At a glance
Course structure and content
It is a broad course, encompassing American literature as well as numerous cultural areas (popular culture, film, the electronic media, etc.). The course is oriented towards fields of American Studies where the Humboldt-Universit?t has particular expertise: the interaction between literature, culture and society; cultural diversity (ethnicity, gender/sexuality, class, age, religion); the interdependency between Europe and America; and the role of the media.
American Studies as Core Subject with 120 CP
Mandatory modules (80 CP):
Module 01: American Literary and Cultural History I (8 CP)
Module 02: Literary Theory (7 CP)
Module 03: American Literary and Cultural History II (6 CP)
Module 04: Culture in Context (7 CP)
Module 05: Language (10 CP)
Module 06: Paradigms of American Literature and Culture (12 CP)
Module 07: Literature, Culture and Media in American Society (10 CP)
Module 08: Research, Practice and Writing (10 CP)
Module 09: Bachelor's thesis (10 CP)
Mandatory elective modules (20 CP):
Module 10: In-depth module - Priority area (10 CP)
Module 11: Practical Orientation or
Module 12: Internship (each 10 CP)
General elective modules (20 CP)
In addition to specialised study, Students acquire subject-specific, non-specialist and interdisciplinary key qualifications of 20 CP. The general elective modules can be chosen from the module catalogues of other subjects or central institutions (see: http://agnes.hu-berlin.de/).
American Studies as Secondary Subject with 60 CP
Modules 1 to 7 as for American Studies core subject (see above)
General elective course offerings for Students coming from other courses of studies
Module 13: Introduction to American Studies (5 CP)
Special features
Evidence of the English language skills required (level B2) should be submitted in one of the following four formats:
- School certificates: Performance level averaging at least 5 points over the last four semesters of the university admission qualification (Abitur) (qualification stage) on the English advanced course or
- Cambridge First Certificate in English (B-C) or
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Certificate (min. 5.0) or
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL, www.ets.org/toefl/): internet-based test with min. 87 points, paper-based test with min. 560 points or
- UNIcert? II-Zertifikat: 3,0.
Students play an important role in American Studies activities (student projects and conferences, lectures by international academics in lecture series and symposia). The department has close contacts with universities and colleges in the US. Students receive unfailing support from highly motivated American Studies teachers and experience education at a traditional university, combined with the benefits of studying in an international, multi-cultural city like Berlin.
- Excellent English and German language skills
- An interest in critically analysing, considering and assessing texts and other cultural practices
- A desire to read widely, discuss, and play with language and cultural forms
- A readiness to collaborate on student projects
- A particular interest in movement with other cultures and in inter-cultural exchange
Subject-specific admission and enrolment rules
Career opportunities & prospects
You can apply for the American Studies master’s course at HU. For other possible master’s courses, please see ‘Course catalogue’.
Course Advisory Service & Recognition of credits
Dr. phil. Dorothea L?bbermann
Department of English and American Studies
Institutsgeb?ude, Dorotheenstra?e 28, 10117 Berlin