MA Program American Studies


Overview MA courses in American Studies, 2008-2009
Semester 1 

Course titel Tutor  Dept. ECTS    Level    Provisional Schedule 
Major Issues in American History Van de Bilt       History  10 400  Wed. 11-13
Critical Elections in American History Fairclough History   10 500 Wed .9-11
Social and economic history of the U.S. Griffiths and Quispel History 10 400 To be announced
Voices and visions of multicultural America Kardux English 10* 500 Wed. 13-15
American rhetoric: The 2008 U.S. presidential election for students of English       Foster  English 10* 500 Thurs. 19-20.30

Semester 2 

Course titel Tutor  Dept.  ECTS    Level    Provisional Schedule 
Readings in American history (mandatory for history students starting MA program in Feb.) Fairclough   History 10 400  To be announced
Urban policy and urban marginality Quispel History 10 500 Mon. 9-11
American and Caribbean Women Writers Kardux English     10* 500 Wed. 15-17
Lipsius 002
Music and Film in the United States Preston American Studies 10 500 Mon. 13-15 film
15-17 class
Lipsius 203
Slavery and memory in literature and art Kardux PALLAS 10 MPhil Fri. 10-13
Lipsius 203

* can be extended to 15 ECTS
Sub-specialization MA American History (history dept.)
MA-students in the Leiden history department can specialize in American history by choosing the sub-spezialisation American histroy (60 ECTS), which consists of three (or more) MA-courses in American history and American Studies (total 30 ECTS) and a MA-thesis on a topic in U.S. history (30 ECTS). In 2008/2009 the sub-specialization American history will consist of the following courses. For more information on the MA specialization of American history, click here.

Diagram MA sub-specialization American History (60 ECTS, level 400-600)

Semester 1 (30 ECTS)
Literature seminar
(10 ECTS, 400) 		Research seminar
(10 ECTS, 500) 		Optional Course, e.g.
(10 ECTS, 400-600)
Major Issues in American history
(sem.1) OR 		Critical Elections in US history
(sem.1) OR 		Social and economic history of the U.S.
Readings in American history
(sem.2., mandatory for MA students starting in Feb.)		 Urban policy and urban marginality
(sem.2)		 Voices and visions of multicultural America
(sem.1.) OR
    American and Caribbean women writers
(sem. 2) OR
    American Film and Music
(sem.2) OR
    Slavery and Memory in literature and art
(MPhil, sem.2)

Semester 2 (30 ECTS)

MA-Thesis and Exam (30 ECTS, 600)
For MA courses in the second semester, see above.
MA-specialization American Studies (English dept.)
MA-students in the Leiden English department can specialize in American literature and culture by choosing the special track American Studies (60 ECTS), which consists of four MA-courses in American literature and culture (40 ECTS) and an MA-Theis on a topic in American literature and culture (20 ECTS). In 2008/2009 the special MA track American Studies will consist of the following courses. Note, however, that it is also possible to substitute one of the courses below by an MA course in American Studies offered in the History department.

Diagram special MA track American Studies (60 ECTS, levels 400-600)

Semester 1 (30 ECTS)

Voices and visions of multicultural America
(10 ECTS, 500)		 American Rhetoric: the 2008 U.S. presidential election for students of English
OR 		Leiden Online Thesis Training (LOTT)
(5 ECTS, 500)
Major Issues in American History
OR 		Extension of one of the MA courses in American Studies
  Critical Elections in US History
  (10 ECTS, 400/500)

Semester 2 (30 ECTS)

American and Caribbean women writers OR  MA Thesis
American Film and Music OR  (20 ECTS, 600)
MPhil Slavery and Memory in literature and art
(10 ECTS, 500/600)		  
American Studies – 18/02/2009