North American Studies (NAS)

This two-year, research-focused master's is designed for graduates who want an interdisciplinary and intercultural understanding of North America. The programme places literary and cultural studies at its core while covering politics, history, economics and society, allowing you to build deep subject-matter expertise across these fields. Emphasis on transdisciplinary training prepares students to design and pursue original research projects that culminate in an MA thesis.

The degree is offered jointly with the University of Cologne, so you can take courses and specialise across departments in both Bonn and Cologne. That arrangement broadens your academic options and access to faculty expertise, libraries, and seminars in two university environments. Longstanding partnerships with North American universities and research institutions — and cooperation with the U.S. and Canadian embassies — add academic and professional networking opportunities, guest lectures, and collaborative events.

Graduates from this programme have gone on to careers in journalism, publishing and media, public administration and politics (including foreign service), business, law, as well as teaching and research. If you aim for a career that combines analytical, cultural and comparative skills with strong research training, this MA offers a solid foundation and a wide range of professional pathways.

Key facts / requirements

• Duration: 2 years (research-oriented MA)
• Language of instruction: English
• Core focus: literary and cultural studies with interdisciplinary options in politics, history, economics and society
• Joint programme: courses and specialisation options available at both Bonn and Cologne
• Research component: training in transdisciplinary methods and completion of an MA thesis
• Partnerships: long-standing ties with U.S. and Canadian universities/research institutions and cooperation with the U.S. and Canadian embassies
• Application/admission: applicants must meet the universities’ master’s admission regulations — consult the programme webpage or admissions office for exact entry criteria, documentation, and deadlines

This MA is built as an interdisciplinary program that combines literary and cultural analysis with political, economic, historical and postcolonial perspectives on North America. The curriculum centers on five mandatory 10‑credit modules that develop theoretical grounding (Literature and Theory), practical cultural analysis (Processes and Practices of Popular Culture), cross‑disciplinary thinking (Transdisciplinary Perspectives), applied workplace and intercultural skills (Professional and Intercultural Competence), and collaborative inquiry (Research in Dialogue). Teaching is split between Bonn and Cologne, and the programme culminates in an MA thesis (30 credits) completed at Bonn or Cologne.

You further tailor your profile by choosing two of four elective specialisation areas—Politics & Society, Economics, History & Society, or Postcolonial Studies—each offering 10‑credit modules that deepen subject‑specific knowledge and methodological competence. Learning outcomes include advanced critical reading and cultural interpretation, the ability to situate North American phenomena in transdisciplinary and postcolonial frameworks, strengthened research design and writing skills through the Research in Dialogue module and the thesis, and enhanced professional and intercultural competencies suited to careers in academia, policy, media, and cultural institutions.

Requirements (concise)

• Core mandatory modules (each 10 credits, taught in Bonn unless noted):
  • Literature and Theory (10 credits)
  • Processes and Practices of Popular Culture (10 credits)
  • Transdisciplinary Perspectives (10 credits)
  • Professional and Intercultural Competence (10 credits)
  • Research in Dialogue (10 credits)
• MA Thesis: 30 credits (Bonn/Cologne)
• Elective specialisations: choose two of the following areas and take the listed 10‑credit modules
  • Politics & Society (Bonn):
    • Foreign Policy and International Relations (10 credits)
    • Political Institutions & Domestic Policy (10 credits)
  • Economics (Bonn):
    • Micro-/Macroeconomics (10 credits each)
  • History & Society (Cologne):
    • Issues in North American History (10 credits)
    • Approaches to North American History (10 credits)
  • Postcolonial Studies (Cologne/Bonn):
    • Postcolonial History (10 credits)
    • Postcolonial Literature (10 credits)

Graduates go on to careers in journalism, publishing and media, public administration, politics and the foreign service, business and law, as well as academic and teaching positions. The programme’s emphasis on transdisciplinary research, intercultural competence and professional skills also prepares students for roles in cultural institutions, NGOs, think tanks and international organisations.