Mono bachelor North American Studies (150cp)

The revised Monobachelor was introduced in the summer of 2018 with the study and examination regulations published on June 27, 2018 (Amtsblatt 30/2018) and applies to all students who have started their studies in the winter term 2018/19 and after. The Monobachelor in North America Studies consists of 120 CP in the core field, 30 CP in the supplementary field and 30 CP in General Professional Skills (ABV).

Students studying under the 2015/16 study regulations, please refer to the respective study regulations. A change to the newer study regulations can be requested at the examination office.

Overall Degree Structure (Checklist)

Introductory Courses (20 CP)

• Understanding North America A1 (10 CP)
  (History, Culture, Literature)
• Understanding North America B1 (10 CP)
  (Politics, Sociology, Economics)
  
  

Language Skills (at the FU Language Center, 10 CP)

• Oral Skills and Writing Skills A (5 CP)
• Oral Skills and Writing Skills B (5 CP)
  
  

First Discipline (50 CP)

• Orientation Module (10 CP)
• Advanced Module A (10 CP)
• Advanced Module B (10CP)

• Bachelor Thesis (12 CP)

• Bachelor Thesis Colloquium (8 CP)
  
  

Second Discipline (30 CP)

• Orientation Module (10 CP)
• Advanced Module A (10 CP)
• Advanced Module B (10CP)
  
  

Multidisciplinary Orientation (10 CP)

• Multidisciplinary Studies A (5 CP) OR
• Multidisciplinary Studies B (5 CP) OR 
• Advanced Advanced Writing Skills (5 CP) [offered at the FU Language Center]
  
  

Option A: Third Discipline (30 CP)

• Orientation Module (10 CP)
• Advanced Module A (10 CP)
• Advanced Module B (10CP)

OR

Option B: Third Discipline (20 CP) & Affine Module (10 CP)

• Orientation Module (10 CP)
• Advanced Module A or B (10 CP)
• Affine Module (at different FU department) (10cp)
  
  

The general professional skills area consists of a mandatory professional internship in Germany or abroad, as well as courses in the specific skills area, including language courses, information and media skills, gender and diversity awareness, organization and management, and communication skills. Detailed information can be found here.

Module Structure

Module A (History, Culture, Literature) is offered each winter semester, Module B (Political Science, Economics, Sociology) is offered each summer semester.

Format: Lecture (4SWS), Student-Lead Tutorial (2SWS)
Method of Examination: Exam (90 minutes)
Credit Points: 10 per module

Format: Exercise (4SWS)
Method of Examination: Exam (90 minutes) or written component (ca. 1200 words)
Credit Points: 5

Format: Exercise (4SWS)
Method of Examination: Oral presentation (15 minutes) and written component (ca. 1200 words)
Credit Points: 5

This course can be chosen as part of the "Multidisciplinary Orientation Module".

Format: Excercise (4SWS)
Method of Examination: --
Credit Points: 5

The disciplinary orientation module has to be completed in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd discipline. Each module consists of two courses. One of these courses must be completed with  “active participation” (which remains without a grade), the other with "graded participation" (which is graded based both on active participation and a written exam / term paper / oral exam). Students can most often chose which course they want to receive the grade in. The requirements to obtain active participation credit or graded participation credit will be determined by the instructor and is stated on the course syllabus.

Format: Proseminar (2SWS), Seminar (2SWS)
Method of Examination: Exam (120 minutes) or term paper (3000 - 4500 words)
Credit points: 10

The disciplinary advanced module A and B have to be completed in the 1st and 2nd discipline. In their 3rd discipline, students choose between module A and B. Each module consists of two courses. One of these courses must be completed with  “active participation” (which remains without a grade), the other with "graded participation" (which is graded based both on active participation and a written exam / term paper / oral exam). Students can most often chose which course they want to receive the grade in. The requirements to obtain active participation credit or graded participation credit will be determined by the instructor and is stated on the course syllabus.

Format: Seminar (2SWS), Advanced Seminar (2SWS)
Method of Examination: Term Paper (4500 - 6000 words), in some disciplines an exam (120 minutes)
Credit points: 10 per module

-- Please refer to the departmental websites for more specific information --

Students have the option of taking either Module A and B, or to choose Module A or B in combination with Advanced Academic Writing Skills. The Multidisciplinary Studies Modules are co-taught by two disciplines and consist of thematically connected lectures by JFKI instructors and guest speakers. They are taught each winter semester on Wednesdays from 6-8pm.

Format: Ring Lecture (2SWS)
Method of Examination: --
Credit Points: 5 per module

This course covers scientific working methods in preparation for the Bachelor thesis. They should be taken either shortly before or during the writing process.

Format: Colloquium (2SWS)
Method of Examination: Exposé (not more than 3.500 words, not graded)
Credit Points: 8

The Bachelor thesis must be written in the first discipline. Please find more information here.

Format: Written thesis of ca. 7.500 words (16 weeks processing time)
Method of Examination: Graded by first and second advisor, no oral component
Credit Points: 12

Semester(s) Abroad

Intercultural competences and international academic experience are key skills for an area studies program such as North American studies. It is therefore mandatory that students enrolled in the Monobachelor in North American Studies spend at least one semester at a university outside of Germany; exceptions are however possible. Students can spend a maximum of two semesters studying abroad and usually leave Germany in their 5^th semester. 

The JFKI and the Freie Universität will both support you with planning your stay abroad, offering counseling and extensive information on the available programs. Both the university and the institute maintain contact with many universities in the U.S. and Canada to which you can apply, in addition to a number of American Studies programs at other European universities.

Please find more information here.