• Very good English language skills, as the courses are held in English and written coursework and examinations must also be completed in English
• A strong interest in the USA as well as American culture and history
• A strong interest in the origins and characteristics of American English
• An enjoyment of reading and critically analyzing English-language texts

The subject-specific entrance requirements for the integrated American Studies master’s degree program include the completion of

• a bachelor’s degree in American Studies, or
• in another Anglophone field (e.g., B.Ed. English, B.A. British Studies, B.A. British and American Studies, or similar), or
• a bachelor’s degree from a higher education institution that is substantially equivalent to the above-mentioned programs.

At least 10 credit points must have been earned specifically in the field of American Studies.

If you earned fewer than 10 credit points in the field of American Studies at the time of application, you may be admitted to the program on the condition that you take part in an obligatory individual advising session. In the 15-minute individual advising session, special requirements for the master’s program as well your own subject-specific knowledge and skills in the field of American Studies will be discussed. As a result of the session, you may be required to attend additional courses from the American Studies bachelor’s degree program in order to be admitted to the master’s degree program. The additional courses are to be defined in a way that allows the credits to be earned in one semester.

You must also provide proof of French language proficiency to be admitted to the program, either by

• having taken at least five years of French language at school, in which you received a minimum of 5 points or the grade “adequate” (“ausreichend”),
• submitting certificates for French at a B2 level,
• presenting a university entrance qualification earned at a French-language school, or
• by presenting an Abi-Bac (simultaneous achievement of the German Abitur (Abi) and the French baccalauréat (Bac)).

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

You can find more information in the master’s degree program’s examination regulations.

1st semester in Mainz

• Culture and cultural encounters
• Language course or tutorial
• Advanced academic writing
• Early American Studies
• British Studies or linguistics
• Internship

2nd semester in Mainz

• Theory and methodology
• Cultural studies
• Modern American literature and media
• Advanced academic writing
• Independent studies

3rd semester in Dijon

• Introduction à la communication interculturelle
• Approches théoriques
• Pratiques de la recherche ou Ingénierie de la recherche
• Séminaires de Spécialisation
• Méthodologie de la recherche (bibliographie du mémoire de recherche)
• Specialization course

4th semester in Dijon

• Intercultural communication theory
• Approches théoriques
• Pratiques de la recherche ou Ingénierie de la recherche
• Séminaires de Spécialisation
• Méthodologie de la recherche
• Mémoire de 100 pages et soutenance
• Specialization course

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for half a year or a whole year? Do you want to get to know another language and culture? Would you like to get a different perspective on your particular degree program? 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 partnerships with foreign universities.

For information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. An overview of cooperating universities that would suit your degree program can be found on our Student Exchange Platform.

After studying in Mainz for the first two semesters, you will spend the following two (semesters 3 and 4) at the Université Bourgogne Europe (UBE) in Dijon. You will immerse yourself in the language and culture of France and learn how to think in French. Thanks to a variety of funding programs such as Erasmus+ and the Franco-German University’s mobility scholarships, it is possible to receive financial support during your stay abroad.

Internships

This program of study does not include a mandatory internship. However, voluntary internships are a great way to gain 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.

We strongly recommend completing an internship as a means of career preparation. You can choose the location of the internship yourself.

Your internship can also be counted towards your “Independent Studies” credits.

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 a strong knowledge of global social, political, and economic contexts and skills in intercultural and scientific 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.