Educational organisation
In the first year, students are provided with academic skills and tools to prosper during their studies. These consist of four independent and reinforcing modules:
- Literature and Culture I
- Society, History, and Politics I
- Introduction to Linguistics for American Studies
- Professional Skills Module iTASK - international, interdisciplinary, integrated: Technical, Academic, Soft and Career Skills
After the first year, students can combine modules to create their own tailor-made interdisciplinary specialisation depending on their personal and professional interests and goals. These modules include:
- Society, History, and Politics II and III
- Literature and Culture II and III
- The Anglo-American World in a Global Context
- Ethnicity and Diversity
- Picador Seminars and Fulbright Lectures
- Project Module
- Language and Society - Applied Linguistics
- Language and Society - Language in Transition
Study abroad unit(s)
Study abroad is strongly encouraged at American Studies Leipzig. In close cooperation with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), American Studies Leipzig offers a BA American Studies with Transatlantic Capstone Programme, the "Bachelor Plus," for highly qualified BA students who will spend a year abroad at Ohio University's Global Leadership Center, one of the leading state research universities in the United States.
Study abroad is also possible at one of our nine partner universities in the US and through study abroad networks (for example, Erasmus+, the Utrecht Network and MAUI/AEN). Credits earned abroad can be accredited to the BA degree by the institute.
Internships
An internship module allows students to earn credit for a wide variety of internships.
Forms of assessment
Student receive a grade for each module. The assessment is typically based on a written test and/or a research paper and a presentation.
Students also receive a comprehensive grade for the entire BA programme. This consists of the average of grades received for the modules, plus the grade received for the BA thesis.
Course objectives
The BA in American Studies prepares students for professional international careers in fields including education, cultural affairs, media, international and non-governmental organisations, the private sector, and politics.
The professional skills module empowers students to develop conceptual, analytical, communicative and career skills. Presentation skills are practised throughout the programme.
