MA in United States Studies: History and Politics
Overview
The MA United States Studies: History and Politics is a multi-disciplinary degree bringing together the academic expertise of staff of the Institute for the Study of the Americas with that of United States specialists from colleges of the University of London.
The programme aims to provide a comprehensive range of specialist courses in the humanities and social sciences attracting students from a wide range of backgrounds. Students choose six one-term courses (or equivalent), one of them as their major area of specialisation which will usually determine the area in which they write their dissertation. The flexibility of either part-time or full-time study is offered. A number of fieldwork grants are offered to enable students to carry out fieldwork for the dissertation.
Alongside the development of techniques, skills and knowledge relevant to the interests and research needs of individual students, the programme aims to equip students for both independent research and analysis in primary and secondary material, and writing at an advanced level, thus fostering students’ intellectual development and independent learning ability required for continuing professional and personal development.
Structure
Course options:
- US Presidents and the Presidency
- US Post-Cold War Foreign Policy
- Politics of US Foreign Policy
- American History on Film
- The Americas in Comparative Perspective I: Historical Roots
- The Americas in Comparative Perspective II: Modern Politics and Society
- US Economic Policy from the New Deal to Obama
- Case Study in US Foreign Policy: The US and Democracy Promotion
- Violence in the American South 1877-1940
- Hollywood Genres
Students select three courses each term from at least two discipline areas to a total of 120 credits and write a dissertation on a research topic of their choice linked to the subject area of one of their taught courses.
Assessment
Assessment is both formative and summative and consists of some or all of the following learning strategies: essays, term papers, group and individual seminar presentations, analytical exercises, closed book examinations and a final, 12,000-word dissertation. Assignments are submitted at fixed dates towards the end of November, January, March and May. The examinations are held in May. The dissertation is submitted in early September.
Mode of study
12 months full-time or 24 months part-time.
Part-time students will normally take the core courses in year 1, and the two one-term optional courses and the dissertation in year 2.
Fees
2011-12 (subject to uplift in 2012-13):
Full-time Home and EU Master’s students: £4,620
Part-time Home and EU Master’s students: £2,310
Full-time Overseas Master’s students: £12,584
Careers
Graduates in the MA in United States Studies: History and Development will enhance their career prospects with regard to teaching and further research and study on the United States at MPhil/PhD level. Many graduates from this programme go on to work in the media, international NGOs, the diplomatic service, undertake policy work for think-tanks, or a range of other enterprises in which a knowledge of current affairs, and the ability to make sound arguments and critique the arguments of others, is necessary.
What our students say
"Everyone at SAS helped to ease my transition to postgraduate study. The standards required are high, but I was always impressed by the quality of teaching and the determination of lecturers to question the lazy assumptions which are unfortunately so prevalent in most discourses. Students at SAS are never just a number: all the staff really care about each individual and while it is always up to those individuals to find their own way, the staff are always ready to help, support and guide them. That’s the ‘SAS difference’ that you just don’t get anywhere else."
Mark Jakeman (UK)
