Masters Degrees in United States Society & Culture, Netherlands

With the so-called ‘transnational turn', American Studies increasingly looks across and beyond national borders. In this program, you will explore the politics, culture and society of the United States, both within and outside the national borders. A central theme is the exchange of cultural and political ideas between North America and Europe and related issues in the fields of Americanisation, globalisation, cultural mobility and political and cultural imperialism.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/americanstudies/political

Admission requirements for international students

1. A completed Bachelor's degree in American Studies or related area

You are required to have a Dutch Bachelor's degree (or equivalent, from a research university) in American Studies or a Bachelor's degree in English Language & Culture with a specialisation in American Studies. If you have specialised in English you can apply if you had at least 40EC in courses related to American Studies. If you have a different academic background, you will need to have achieved 60 EC in courses related to American Studies.

2. A proficiency in English

In order to take part in the program, you need to have a sufficient level of English. Non-native speakers of English without a Dutch Bachelor's degree or VWO diploma need one of the following

- A TOEFL score of at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), 100 (internet-based);

- An IELTS score of at least 7.0;

- A Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with a mark of B or higher.

Career prospects

There is a wide range of opportunities for graduates from the Master's program in North American Studies. Your broad interdisciplinary education and excellent command of English will help you find a job in an international setting. You could work in school or university education, in research, in journalism or other media, in publishing, museums, international finance, government, business, international affairs or as a diplomat.

Our approach to this field

With the so-called ‘transnational turn', American Studies increasingly looks across and beyond national borders. In this program, you will explore the politics, culture and society of the United States, both within and outside the national borders. A central theme is the exchange of cultural and political ideas between North America and Europe and related issues in the fields of Americanisation, globalisation, cultural mobility and political and cultural imperialism.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/americanstudies/political

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America's cultural icons are the world's cultural icons. From Walt Disney to the Statue of Liberty, from Hollywood to Time magazine, and from Jack Kerouac to Philip Roth; the influence of American culture and literature around the world is huge. Our program allows students to critically explore the significance of American culture to countries around the globe. Aside from studying the vast reach and influence of American cultural products abroad, students will also explore the variety of American cultural expressions themselves.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/americanstudies/cultural

Emphasis on societal and socio-political context

The Master's specialisation offers courses on the contemporary North American novel, manifestations of the American avant-garde, and/or the literary and cultural works of American ethnic groups such as African Americans, Native Americans and Latino/as. There is emphasis on the societal and sociopolitical context in which literary and cultural communications acquire meaning.

Admission requirements for international students

1. A completed Bachelor's degree in American Studies or related area

You are required to have a Dutch Bachelor's degree (or equivalent, from a research university) in American Studies or a Bachelor's degree in English Language & Culture with a specialisation in American Studies. If you specialised in English you can apply if you had at least 40EC in courses related to American Studies. If you have a different academic background, you will need to have achieved 60 EC in courses related to American Studies.

2. A proficiency in English

In order to take part in the program, you need to have a sufficient level of English. Non-native speakers of English without a Dutch Bachelor's degree or VWO diploma need one of the following:

- A TOEFL score of at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), 100 (internet-based);

- An IELTS score of at least 7.0;

- A Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with a mark of B or higher.

Career prospects

There is a wide range of opportunities for graduates from the Master's program in North American Studies. Your broad interdisciplinary education and excellent command of English will help you find a job in an international setting. You could work in school or university education, in research, in journalism or other media, in publishing, museums, international finance, government, business, international affairs or as a diplomat.

Our approach to this field

America's cultural icons are the world's cultural icons. From Walt Disney to the Statue of Liberty, from Hollywood to Time magazine, and from Jack Kerouac to Philip Roth, the influence of American culture and literature around the world is huge. Our program allows students to critically explore the significance of American culture to countries around the globe. Aside from studying the vast reach and influence of American cultural products abroad, students will also explore the variety of American cultural expressions

Our research in this field

- Emphasis on societal and sociopolitical context

The program offers courses on the contemporary North American novel, manifestations of the American avant-garde, and/or the literary and cultural production of American ethnic groups such as African Americans, Native Americans and Latino/as. Particular emphasis lies on the societal and sociopolitical context in which literary and cultural communications acquire meaning.

- Study American issues with an interdisciplinary view

True to the tradition of American Studies, our program teaches students to approach issues from different angles and to think in interdisciplinary ways. We also offer excellent internships, thanks to our global network. Furthermore, we are the only university in the Netherlands to teach oral communication skills in the American language throughout our Bachelor's program, so students who go on to study for a Master's degree have unique, near-native language abilities.

- High level of communication in American English

In Nijmegen, you will find yourself in a dynamic learning environment where the level of scholarship and communication in (American) English is extremely high. This is one of the reasons why our programs are so popular. Another is the choice Nijmegen offers between two fascinating fields within which you can create your own custom-made program: ‘Literatures and Cultures of North America in International Perspective' and ‘Transnational America: Politics, Culture and Society.'

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/americanstudies/cultural

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Interdisciplinary in Approach. Dynamic in Teaching. Relevant in Practice. American Studies at The University of Groningen.

Comprehensive and Challenging- Entirely taught in English by internationally-renowned faculty, the one-year Master's program offers engaging research seminars examining a wide range of theoretical, historical, social-political, and cultural approaches to the Americas.

Research-Focused and Flexible - Based on your interests, you will select a specialization among the Cultural-historical, Socio-political, or Media program tracks. Your program will culminate in a Master's Dissertation exploring a relevant American Studies topic of your choice.

Practical and Cross-Cultural - You can enhance your academic experience by studying abroad or interning in North or South America. Upon graduation, your subject-matter expertise combined with your research and proficient English skills will set you apart in your future career.

Why in Groningen?

- A supportive, challenging, and international learning environment
- A truly interdisciplinary approach to the Americas
- Entirely taught in English by experienced and highly trained international faculty
- Opportunity to study abroad or do an internship in the U.S.
- Career preparation with a wide range of transferable skills
- Program consistently ranks highly in national quality assurance assessments
- Groningen is an energetic, safe and affordable student city

Job perspectives

The program's interdisciplinary curriculum and specializations gives you ample opportunity to find out what topics interest you most and what areas of employment you wish to explore. Pursuing an internship while in the program is a great way to gain experience in the field prior to seeking full-time employment. As an American Studies graduate, you will gain competency in a broad range of transferable skills which will diversify your career prospects.

Your expertise in the US economic, political, cultural, commercial and social domains, coupled with your highly proficient English communication skills and cultural adaptability through your study abroad experience, will set you apart from other job candidates.

Job examples

- Education
Your highly proficient English skills will also prepare you to work at education institutions, in particular in the area of the internationalization of teaching and learning. A number of graduates also work in high schools and institutions of tertiary education, where they teach primarily English or History. Several American Studies graduates also wish to continue their studies by completing PhD degrees, either in The Netherlands, the UK or the US.

- Journalism
Depending on your areas of specialization, a job in journalism is a possibility. Students interested in journalism may consider using their proficiency in US political and cultural affairs to work as correspondents or reporters for international or US media outlets.

- Business
Interested in marketing or international business? Then utilize your knowledge of US economic and commercial policies and practices by assisting companies seeking to expand into the European and US markets.

- Culture and Arts
You might prefer to think about working in the cultural field, for example, a job in a museum or organizing a film festival. The American Studies program offers many possibilities for international contacts, which can be utilized for job options in a range of cultural industries. In addition, your cross-cultural experiences and English skills will also prepare you to work in the travel industry, especially organizing and leading guided trips.

- Public Sector
Your subject-matter expertise in U.S. socio-political affairs and proficient English skills are relevant transferable skills for work in the public sector. Consider working for an NGO or governmental entity, in positions ranging from Media and Communication Coordinators to Information Officers.

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