American Studies (Master of Arts)

Overview
Conditions of admission
Applications


Overview

Course content and focus areas 

The two-year Master's program in American Studies offers a comprehensive range of courses on US-American literature, history, and cultural and media studies. Conceptually, the program combines current research and teaching as well as diverse forms of self-study and academic training. The program aims at fostering the skills relevant to both academic and professional life.
The program offers three complementary areas of study and research. “American Literature and Literary Criticism” covers American literature in the broadest sense and the practice of critical analysis. It deals with the reading and being-read of the United States through diverse types of text. “American Culture and Cultural Studies” examines media such as films or images in terms of their cultural significance. The program’s third area, “American History and Society”, looks at transitions in American society and politics with the examination and evaluation of historical sources.
Combined, these research fields facilitate a critical approach towards the nation, the cultural sphere, and the aestheticized and mediatized conceptualizations of what is known as the “USA”.
Graduates develop a comprehensive understanding of the terminologies, peculiarities, frontiers and academic discourses of American Studies. Dynamic educational concepts such as “learning and teaching through research” encourage and enable students to engage in autonomous and creative scholarships. Thus the MA American Studies program prepares not only for a Ph. D. and an academic career but also enables graduates to pursue occupations in areas such as publishing, media, politics and public relations.

Detailed information

Information from the department
Study regulations

Degree Master of Arts in American Studies 
Duration The standard length of study for the Master of Arts is 4 semesters.
Languages of instruction English 
Start of the programme The study programme starts at the beginning of the wintersemester.
Student advisory service

Dr. Magda Majewska
Institut für England- und Amerikastudien
Nobert-Wollheim-Platz 1
60323 Frankfurt am Main
Terminvergabe (Sekretariat): 069/798-32358
Email: ta.thomas@em.uni-frankfurt.de


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Conditions of admission

Admission requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in American Studies or related subject (e.g. English, Cultural Studies, history)

  • If applicants do not hold a bachelor’s degree in American Studies, they are required to have 
    a) successfully completed at least 4 courses that focused on the literature, culture, and/or history of the United States. If applicants' transcripts do not indicate which courses concentrated on the United States, they should enclose copies of relevant course syllabi
    and 
    b) considerable knowledge of major methodological approaches utilized in literary and cultural studies. Applicants are advised to enclose course syllabi that indicate what types of methodologies were studied.
    The admissions committee may admit exceptional applicants who do not fulfill above-mentioned requirements on the condition that they complete additional course work during the first year of the master’s program.

  • Proof of English language skills by certificates or another equivalent form of proof recognized by the examination office (level C1), e.g.

    a) TOEFL (internet based at least 110 points, computer-based at least 270 points, paper based at least 637 points) or
    b) IELTS (at least 7.0 in all 4 categories) or
    c) a BA degree from Goethe University Frankfurt in American Studies or English Studies or a comparable degree from a different university or a degree from an English-speaking country

    If none of the above is presented at the time of application, the examination office may grant provisional admission. In this case, proof of English language skills must be presented at the latest at the end of the first semester.

Provisional admission

If the university entrance qualification for the consecutive Master’s programme (namely the Bachelor’s degree) has not yet been completed, you can apply for the programme with a transcript of records on the basis of at least 80% of the required CP for the bachelor's degree. This provisional certificate must be issued by an office authorised to award grades or issue certificates. If a student is admitted, this will be on a provisional basis. Provisional admission is valid until the end of the first semester of the master’s program. The bachelor’s degree must thus be handed in by March 31 (winter intake) or September 30 (summer intake) the latest.

Mode of admission Admission is not restricted. Students will be directly admitted if the admission requirements are met in full.


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Applications


Documents to be submitted
  • if you are not already enrolled at Goethe-University Frankfurt:
    a university entrance qualification (e.g. A-Levels)
  • Bachelor’s degree certificate with an overview of achievement (for foreign certificates: please also provide a certified copy in English or German)
  • Course syllabi that help the admissions committee determine the breadth of applicants’ knowledge of the United States and the various methodologies that are required to study its literature, culture, and history.
  • if the Bachelor's degree has not yet been completed:
    - a transcript of records or equivalent document listing the content of the study programme and average grade
    - letter of recommendation from your supervisor (Download in the online application portal or here)
    - proof of current enrollment in the bachelor programme
  • proof of English language skills (C1)
  • Declaration of examination claim (Download in the online application portal or here)
  • APS certificate for applicants from India, Vietnam and China (original)
Application period 01.04. - 31.05.  
Address for applications

Online application portal for Master's study programmes


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