Lehre
“The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there."
(L.P. Hartley, The Go-Between, 1953)
Note: The JFKI department of history is committed to the standard principles of DEIB: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.
Diversity is having a seat at the table.
Equity is giving everyone what they need to have access to the table.
Inclusion is having a voice.
Belonging is having your voice heard.
All course participants are expected to imbibe these principles by treating other course participants--including the instructors, possible guests, other students and student assistants--, with courtesy and respect. Comments should be factual, constructive, and free from harassment. Students are encouraged to disagree with other students, but disagreements must be constructive, based on facts, documentation and/or experiences rather than prejudices and personalities. All members will promote an atmosphere of mutual respect. At the beginning of classes, students can elect a student representative to voice comments and concerns. Please contact the student representative or the instructor if you have suggestions for improving the classroom environment. Students may also email their respective instructor directly. All instructors in the department aim to create a course using DEIB. If you require accommodations, please do let us know immediately. We are always happy to consider creative solutions that do not compromise the intent of the assessment or learning activities. We welcome feedback that will assist us in improving the usability and experience for all students.
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Courses at the History Department: Winter Semester 2026/2027
North American Studies Course Catalog (Winter Semester 2026/2027)
BACHELOR PROGRAM
(Adv) History A - History of North America before 1865
The American Revolution, Sebastian Jobs, Mondays 12:00-14:00
Labor and the Left, David Bebnowski, Mondays 18:00-20:00
(Adv) History B - History of North America since 1865
The American Revolution, Sebastian Jobs, Mondays 12:00-14:00
Labor and the Left, David Bebnowski, Mondays 18:00-20:00
Colloquium
BA Colloquium PolSci, Sociology, Econ., History, David Bosold, Mondays 10:00-12:00
Starting in the winter term 2026/2027, the revised Bachelor’s degree programs in North American Studies (mono BA) and Applied North American Studies (combi BA) will enter into force. The previous Bachelor’s degree study regulations remain valid for students enrolled prior to the 2026/27 winter semester and will be phased out. In the new BA programs, the UNA modules will be offered in a revised format. Please note that, starting in the winter semester, the courses “Understanding North America” (A/B/C) will be offered exclusively in the new Bachelor’s program and will therefore not be linked to the UNA modules of the old BA program. If you still need to complete the UNA A or UNA B (old) module, please contact the Dean of Academic Affairs, David Bosold, to discuss credit transfer arrangements.
MASTER PROGRAM
Module A: North America and Its Position in the World
Not Even By Law Here: Early Modern American Law and Gender, Helen Gibson, Fridays 10:00-12:00
Staging Power: Authoritarian Aesthetics in the Americas and Beyond, Jessica Gienow-Hecht, Mondays, 12:00-14:00
Atlantic Revolutions, Sebastian Jobs, Thursdays, 14:00-16:00
Module B: North American History before 1865
Race and Gender at the American Frontier, Sebastian Jobs, Wednesdays, 12:00-14:00
Current topics and research fields in North American Studies 1
Reading Moby Dick at 175, Stefanie Müller, Alexander Starre, Tuesdays, 16:00-18:00
History and Politics of Geopolitics, David Bosold, Sönke Kunkel, Tuesdays 10:00 -12:00
History and Politics of Geopolitics (Reading Course), David Bosold, Sönke Kunkel, Tuesdays 10:00 -12:00
MA Colloquium History, Jessica Gienow-Hecht, Mondays, 16:00-18:00
In the context of the Bachelor’s Program in North American Studies, the Department offers the following modules:
- Modul A: North American history, before 1865
- Modul B: North American history, since 1865
All B.A. students are required to take Understanding North America (UNA) as part of their studies. UNA is offered as follows:
|
Semester |
Course |
|
Winter |
UNA A (History, Culture, Literature) |
|
Summer |
UNA B (Politics, Economics, Sociology) |
B.A. students who study North American Studies may choose history as their major focus 1 (Schwerpunktdisziplin 1/Hauptstudienschwerpunkt) or major focus 2.
|
Semester |
Modul |
|
|
|
Winter |
Vertiefungsmodul A |
Seminar |
North American History before 1865 |
|
Winter |
Orientierungsmodul |
Proseminar |
|
|
Summer |
Orientierungsmodul |
Seminar |
|
|
Summer |
Vertiefungsmodul B |
Seminar |
North American History since 1865 |
In the context of the Master’s Program North American Studies, the Department offers the following modules:
- Modul A: North American History in the World
- Modul B: North American History before 1865
- Modul C: North American History since 1865
|
Semester |
Modul A North American History in the World |
Modul B North American History before 1865 |
Modul C North American History since 1865 |
|
Winter |
Hauptseminar + Seminar |
|
|
|
Summer |
|
Hauptseminar + Seminar |
Hauptseminar + Seminar |
In the context of the Ph. D. program of the Graduate School of North American Studies, the department offers the following courses:
|
Semester |
Course A |
Course B |
|
Winter |
Disciplinary Methods in the Study of History |
|
|
Summer |
|
Advanced Disciplinary Theory and Methods in the Study of History |
Helpful Guides for writing history papers:
Harvard College Writing Center’s Brief Guide to Writing a History Paper
Academic Integrity Roadmap: Guide to Avoiding Plagarism (University of Arizona)