Universität zu Köln

The program “MA North-American Studies” at the University of Cologne includes cooperation of the Department of North American History, the English Department, the Instituto de Historia Ibérica y Latinoamericana, the Institute for Art History and the Institute for Media Studies at the University of Cologne.

Every semester we admit up to 15 new students to our M.A. program who come to Cologne with a degree in an accredited BA studies program, which provides a pertinent basis for the MA North American Studies. This includes BAs in English and/or American Studies, Political Science, Modern History, Media Studies, Translation, Gender Studies, or Postcolonial Studies. Preferably, you have already attended courses with special attention to North America and its cultures; or you have written a B.A. thesis with a focus on North America.

In order to apply you need

1) a B.A. exam in a field that has affinity to North American Studies. That means prospective students need to provide evidence of at least 40 Credit Points in fields like English or American Literature, Translation Studies, American History, Economics with an American emphasis, American Politics, Gender Studies, Postcolonial Studies, Philosophy or Film Studies, among others.

2) an excellent knowledge and understanding of English as the program’s exclusive language of instruction. Prospective students will have to provide a certificate proving their English proficiency at C1-level (CEF), such as TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate. To meet this language requirement, we will not accept B.A. certificates in “English Studies” (or related fields) or certificates administered by lecturers of other universities. Students may, however, pass the DAAD written test at the University of Cologne (free of charge). Native speakers of English are exempt from this requirement.

3) Upon the registration of their Master thesis—i.e., towards the end of their studies, NOT with their application to the program—students will have to provide a certificate of their proficiency of another modern European language at B1-level (CEF).

Applicants with a B.A. degree from a German University apply via KLIPS (https://klips2-support.uni-koeln.de/en/). Applicants with B.A. degrees from Universities outside of Germany apply via uni.assist (https://www.uni-assist.de/en/).

Your application includes a notarized copy of your B.A. certificate and diploma supplement. If you are still enrolled in a B.A. program at the time of your application, please submit your current transcript of records. You should also upload a certified copy of your high school diploma.

The deadlines for the application are January 15th for the following summer term and July 15th for the winter term.

*Please note: for the fall term 2020/21, the deadline has been moved to August 20^th, 2020.*

“North American Studies” is a single-major Master's program at the University of Cologne taught entirely in English. It was established as a joint venture between the Department of North American History and the Department of American Literary and Cultural Studies.

The program focuses on the history, culture, art, literature, language, film, philosophy, media theory, politics, society, economy and law of North America, i.e. Canada, the US, the Caribbean and Latin America. It aims at providing insight into the cultural and literary history of North America and offers an overview of relevant theories and methods in the fields of literary-, cultural- and media studies. “North American Studies” is a research-oriented degree program.

In order to provide an interdisciplinary perspective and allow students to select from a broad range of research topics, teaching collaborations include the Institute of Media Studies, the Instituto de Historia Ibérica y Latinoamericana, and the Department of Art History of the University of Cologne. Students can also attend courses from the North American Studies program at the University of Bonn.

Every semester we admit up to 18 new students to our Master’s program who come to Cologne with a degree in an accredited BA studies program which provides a pertinent basis for the MA North American Studies. This includes B.A.s in English and/or American Studies, Political Science, Modern History, Media Studies, Translation, Gender Studies, or Postcolonial Studies. Preferably, prospective students have already attended courses with special attention to North America and its cultures; or have written a B.A. thesis with a focus on North America.

The Curriculum

The program combines four modules: Literary and Cultural Studies, History and Society, Postcolonial Studies, and Research (see below). In all modules, students are expected to attend lectures and seminars regularly and actively, to prepare the assigned material for each class. In order to gain credit for each module you need to pass a final “module exam.” In addition to the four modules, students will have to do an internship and write a master’s thesis.

The Modules

1. Literary & Cultural Studies

This core module deals with American literature and culture from its colonial beginnings to the present. The focus is set on the analysis of artistic, aesthetic and cultural practices [text, image, sound]. The module also features the theoretical frameworks for such analyses [literary, media, and cultural theory]. The aim is to provide student with the expertise to perform independent and informed work within the diverse fields of North American Studies.

2. History & Society

The various classes of this module introduce students to the historical dimensions of the societies of Canada, the U.S., and the Caribbean. Concentrating on political history, social and economic history, gender history, intellectual history, and film history, you will acquire methods and techniques to research and interpret historical documents. Special attention will be given to recent debates on methodology and theory within the field of historiography.

3. Postcolonial Studies

Focusing on the societies of Canada, the U.S., and the Caribbean, the seminars and lectures of this module will convey detailed knowledge of central theoretical approaches and key concepts as well as current research questions within the field of Postcolonial Studies. Classes will engage with questions of colonial history and (post-) colonial literatures, exploring the full range of the postcolonial archive, including literature, film, music, and philosophy.

4. Research

This module consists of three colloquia that focus on comparative and methodological aspects of North American Studies. They provide a platform to discuss individual research interests, allow you to position yourself within the academic field, and to develop and discuss your M.A. thesis project.

5. Internship

The internship (240 hours of work total) introduces students to the realities and requirements of the job market, such as the practical application of their theoretical education, the independent organization of continuous employment, application procedures, professional networking, while giving them a better sense of their own qualifications and interests.

6. Master Thesis

150.000 signs, i.e. approximately 60 pages of text, excluding bibliography or additional material.

Students enrolled in the program can apply to any of the international partner universities of the University of Cologne. Within the U.S., the University of Cologne maintains close cooperations with the University of California, Berkeley, The University of Rochester (New York), The University of Mississippi, and Washington and Jefferson College (Pennsylvania). For more information on studying abroad with the University of Cologne see https://www.portal.uni-koeln.de/studyabroad.html?&L=1

The Master’s program North American Studies qualifies students as experts in various matters relating to North American Studies, particularly

• Science management
• International organizations/ NGOs
• Foreign service
• Media
• Cultural institutions
• Academia, universities and non-university based organizations such as government or private research foundations