American Studies is the right degree program for you if …

• you have a general interest in culture and media,
• you enjoy reading and critically analyzing English texts,
• you are curious and eager to ask questions and explore complex cultural contexts in depth,
• you want to learn how to incorporate perspectives from the humanities and changes in perspective into the way we shape our everyday lives and social interactions.

For this, you need a high level of proficiency in English (level C1 of the European Framework of Reference), which you must demonstrate by passing a language test at the start of your studies or providing equivalent language certificates.

The student advising office of the Department of English and Linguistics provides further information on language proficiency and certificates for the American Studies degree program.

You will study this subject as part of a two-subject bachelor’s degree program. The degree program always consists of an academic major and minor, which can be combined according to your interests or professional goals.

If you choose the subject as a minor, you will generally complete only a portion of the modules and classes taught to students of the major subject. As a result, you will focus on a selection from the content listed below.

Course structure and specializations

The degree program consists of the following areas of focus:

• Literary Studies
  Introduction to American Literature
• Cultural studies
  Introduction to Cultural Studies and Media Analysis
• History
  Historical and cultural-historical overview
• Professional Communication
  Written and verbal language practice
• Advanced American Studies
  Specialized areas of American literature, culture, and history

Within these areas of focus, you will encounter elements such as:

• Current Issues in Media, Culture, History,
• The US in Global Perspectives
• Contextualizing American Literature and Media

Starting in your second academic year, you can pursue your own interests in greater depth through courses like these by choosing from a wide range of topics. Typical subjects and questions addressed in courses include:

• Plurality of society in literature, culture, film, music, and food
• The changing role and self-image of the United States
• The democratic system and its challenges
• The ongoing significance of civil rights movements such as Black Lives Matter and Indigenous Sovereignty
• And much more

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

For a deeper understanding of cultural phenomena and to further develop your language skills, we recommend spending at least three months in an English-speaking country. Thanks to our direct exchange with partner universities in the US and Canada we are able to offer a number of spots for students of American Studies. It is, of course, also possible to receive a spot through the ERASMUS program. In addition, you can participate in a summer school or independently arrange an internship in an English-speaking country.

Depending on its length and type, such a stay abroad can be credited toward your degree to varying extents.

Internships

To gain early insight into potential professional fields, we recommend completing an independently arranged internship. An internship of at least four weeks can be credited toward your degree program as “Independent Studies.”

Voluntary internships are another good opportunity to obtain more in-depth insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

As a graduate of the degree program, you will be optimally prepared for a number of career paths in international organizations, multinational companies, NGOs, government agencies, media companies, cultural institutions, and other areas that require in-depth knowledge of global social, political, and economic contexts, as well as skills in intercultural and professional communication.

During your studies, you will also have the opportunity to regularly get involved in networking events and engage in discourse with alumni. These events are a great way to learn about the wide variety of careers and opportunities available to specialists in American Studies.

Possible professional fields for graduates of the American Studies master’s degree program include:

• Cultural and media organizations, press, PR, and communication service providers
• Careers in research
• Science management
• Administrative bodies and government agencies, such as consulates
• Diplomatic service
• Human resources departments in international companies
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

Not sure what to do after graduation? Don’t worry!

A university degree generally does not prepare you for a single profession but qualifies you for a wide range of career paths – for example, in research, in a typical profession related to your field of study, or in one of many other academic fields.

This is why career orientation is also part of your studies. Gaining practical experience is key, and you can do so through internships, working student positions, part-time jobs or voluntary work, for example.

JGU’s Career Service will support you throughout the entire process with information, advice, workshops and numerous events – from career orientation and working on your profile and skills to finding your dream job and successfully applying for it.