Information for Prospective Students
About the Program
The MA degree program North American Studies is dedicated to the transdisciplinary study of North America in a global context. The study course facilitates a critical understanding of theories and practices of culture, transatlantic relations, and the processes of globalization. The modules focus on the interplay of political and economic structures with literary and cultural discourses, the dynamics of race, class, gender, and sexuality, and the interrogation of the United States and Canada as cultural, political, and economic systems. Distinctive research areas include literary and cultural theory, Native and Indigenous studies, gender studies, environmental studies, visual culture studies, the intersections of law and culture, and dialogues between cultural studies and the natural sciences.
As a study program and research institution, the North American Studies Program organizes numerous conferences and a lecture series on issues of North American and cultural studies. It also draws on long-standing collaborations with North American universities. The core faculty members are experts in literary and cultural studies, political science, and economics and also include visiting scholars. In addition, students interested in historical and postcolonial studies profit from the program’s cooperation with the University of Cologne.
M.A. North American Studies Admission Requirements:
- University degree (German or non-German) in a relevant discipline
- Specific modules with focus on North America in one of the following fields: Literary and Cultural Studies | Political Science | Recent and Contemporary History | Postcolonial Studies | Economics | Media Studies | Linguistics
- English language proficiency (CEFR level C1) or BA in English or American Studies/taught in English
- Minimum grade of 2.5 or local equivalent OR a bachelor's thesis with a minimum grade of 2.0
There are no tuition fees at the University of Bonn. You will, however, pay a student services fee (currently around 300 EUR) that includes a public transportation ticket valid for six months and the entire state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Student Testimonials
Read about why our students chose the NAS program, what they value about it, and how it prepared them for their future.
Q: What led you to choose the North American Studies program in the first place? Why NAS?
A: I really like the interdisciplinarity of the program. The fact that one can study politics as well as literature was the main reason why I chose this MA program.
Q: What experience did you value the most during your time in the program?
A: I really value the stronger focus on methods than I had during my BA. The NAS program’s Lecture Series is also really helpful and a wonderful opportunity to hear various national and international experts speak about a large variety of topics and current affairs. It is a really nice addition to the courses.
Q: How has the program prepared you for the future?
A: The program has helped me to see a variety of different perspectives on subjects through its interdisciplinary approach, and I think it prepares you for a wide variety of professional fields you could go into. Through courses on economics and politics, the NAS program has really sparked my interest in and made me an attractive candidate for the many international organizations that exist in the city of Bonn and the surrounding area.
Testimonial Désirée Kabengele
Q: What led you to choose the North American Studies program in the first place? Why NAS?
A: Initially, I chose the program because of my passion for American poetry. I wanted to study its history but I did not want to be limited to only studying literature. I am passionate about an array of subjects besides literature, including history, philosophy, and sociology. In the NAS program, all that is covered, and more. Studying in Germany as a US American, I can also get a perspective looking from the outside-in.
Q: What experience did you value the most during your time in the program?
A: The thing I value the most about the NAS program is the variety of learning environments that I have had the opportunity of being a part of. The program is split between Cologne and Bonn, this is if one chooses to focus on the History and Postcolonial modules as I did. I have had the great pleasure of being part of two universities.
Q: How has the program prepared you for the future?
A: The transdisciplinary approach of the NAS has opened many doors for me to explore future career opportunities. I am still at a point in my life where I do not have one thoroughly thought out career plan. I am playing around with the idea of teaching but at the same time I would like to work in a publishing house or a museum. And luckily, I am not limited to only having some of these options as would be the case if I had chosen a Master’s program that has one discipline at the forefront.
Testimonial Sonya Devyatkin
Q: What led you to choose the North American Studies program in the first place? Why NAS?
A: After completing my BA in English and American Studies in Austria, I knew that I wanted to pursue an MA program with a focus on North American Studies. The NAS program in Bonn represented exactly what I was looking for – a combination of different perspectives that I had so long been interested in but had no previous contact with in my former studies.
Q: What experience did you value the most during your time in the program?
A: The transdisciplinary focus of the program allowed me to explore an array of research perspectives in the classes that I took. What made these courses particularly valuable to me was to study with professors who were passionate about teaching a variety of different topics while always giving students room to explore our own ideas and encouraging us to challenge concepts or ideas entirely. This is how I was inspired to write a Master’s thesis on the representation of Indigenous people in video games.
Q: How has the program prepared you for the future?
A: The NAS program encourages you to think outside of the box and simultaneously allows you to explore different paths for your future. Many of the classes I chose were focused on literary and cultural studies which opened the door for me to do an internship at a publishing house.
Testimonial Zeynep Güngör
Application phase for the summer term 2025 opens on December 2nd, 2024 and ends March 15th, 2025
Click here to find the University of Bonn's application portal. Once you click on "Start your application," you will be able to select the North American Studies program and apply/register.
