North American Studies Leiden University

Overview

The master's programme in North American Studies at Leiden University takes an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to the study of the United States. The programme offers a diverse and international learning environment. While the programme focuses on the U.S., you will also explore the role the U.S. plays in the region and in the world, as well as the impact of the region and the world on developments in the U.S. Some of the key areas and major issues in the history, politics, literature and culture of the U.S. that the programme explores in depth and from a multidisciplinary and historical perspective include:

• Slavery, migration, and emancipation movements
• The history and politics of international relations and human rights
• Immigration and ethnicity
• Identity constructions and memory politics
• Environmental justice

An important aspect of the programme is learning how to conduct independent multidisciplinary research, comprehend and apply theoretical insights, learn about and engage with scholarly debates, and take a critical approach to all materials. Critical reflection on U.S. exceptionalism is a recurrent topic throughout the programme.

Students are encouraged to do an internship, either in the Netherlands (for example at the Roosevelt Institute of American Studies at Middelburg) or abroad (for example at the Dutch Embassy or Consulate in the U.S.).

What you will learn

The development of in-depth knowledge in the field, and the ability to think independently, critically, and analytically are key goals of this programme. The North American Studies programme will introduce you to the concepts, academic approaches and scholarly debates current in American Studies.

You will learn about these concepts and approaches in ‘Major Issues in American History and Culture’ and apply them in your other courses as well as in researching and analyzing primary and secondary sources. Your thesis work will give you the opportunity to apply these methods to a specific topic and engage with existing scholarly debates in your own research.

As all courses are offered in English and students are trained in speaking and writing in academic English, our alumni have a high standard of English proficiency.

Career prospects

The master’s programme in North American Studies prepares you for a wide range of careers in which well-developed analytical and other academic skills or specialised knowledge of U.S. history, literature, politics, and culture are valued. Our graduates pursue careers in the international job market in fields including teaching, journalism, IT, business, politics, government policy, publishing and research.

Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:

• History teacher at a high school
• English teacher at a high school or a university
• PhD candidate in American history, University of Edinburgh
• Project Coordinator Funding & Events at TU Delft
• Junior Policy Officer Ministry of Foreign affairs, Brussels
• Policy Officer/Researcher at Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate
• Trainee Information Manager, Ypublic
• Vice President for Client Services, Early American history and interactive programming, ARtGlass, Richmond, VA
• Collections Manager and Curator, John Ruskin Home Brantwood, Cumbria, UK
• Freelance researcher and writer with De Correspondent

Accreditation

Accredited by NVAO, the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.