American Studies

Description What does it mean to be an American? Is there a shared American culture, or is that just something Europeans imagine? Study the global superpower - and get the chance to experience it yourself. Career Opportunities Our graduates have gone on to work in such diverse fields as high school teaching, government ministries, TV news consultants and PhD studies. Our graduates have such a variety of job possibilities because they have different BA degrees and because they are able to develop particular areas of expertise through their selection of elective courses, internships, terms abroad, and the topic of their MA thesis. About the programme Due to the global reach of the United States, most Europeans have the impression that they “know” America, which is often perceived as a single culture, with little recognition of the complexity and variety that are characteristic of the nation. American Studies is a two year MA programme that focuses on the world's leading superpower. It looks at culture, politics, economics, literature, and society in a country of more than 300 million inhabitants in fifty distinct states. It represents an interdisciplinary study that draws on several disciplines in order to ensure that students can understand and analyse American cultural identities and the changing relationship between the United States and the rest of the world. The programme is intended to give you a broad spectrum of knowledge within the American Studies discipline. Courses are taught by internationally recognised researchers who cover all aspects of American history, culture, politics, social studies, transnationalism, and literature. Course Content The first semester requires all students to take three courses – one in history, one in cultural studies, and one in Theory and Method in American Studies. During the second semester, students take two thematic courses, one in history and politics, the other in literature and culture studies. For the remaining 10 ECTS, students may take up either an elective or an internship. The majority of elective courses are in participating departments, including history, political science, English, media studies, religion, journalism, and marketing. During the third semester, many students choose to complete internships either in Denmark or abroad, or spend the semester on exchange at a university overseas. SDU has many exchange agreements with American universities. Admission You must hold a Bachelor's degree in a related subject. Previous backgrounds have included History, Politics, English Studies, Journalism and Law. Students with other Bachelor´s degrees deemed of relevance by the Study Board will likewise be granted access to the MA in American Studies. Read more about the entry requirements In addition, documentation may be required verifying that your proficiency in English is at a specified level. Read about the language requirements Apply directly at the University of Southern Denmark with all relevant documentation. To find out whether the level of your foreign certificate or diploma satisfies the general entry requirements, you should contact the University of Southern Denmark directly. A list of the most commonly recognized exams and diplomas can be found at the Danish Agency for Higher Education http://ufm.dk/en/recognition Exchange students should contact their home institution for information on application procedures and deadlines. Tuition Fees and Scholarships No tuition fees for EU/EEA/Swiss students. There is a tuition fee for all full-time degree students who hold a citizenship from outside of EU/EAA/Switzerland. SDU offers 75 scholarships yearly. For information regarding scholarships: https://www.sdu.dk/en/uddannelse/tuition/scholarships For Further Information About the Educational System in general visit the section The Danish Higher Education System

Living costs€1,370 a month in Odense, rent included

€16,440

Living costs from SiT estimate from livingcost.org city data (Nov 2026), converted from USD at the ECB reference rate of 30 Oct 2026 (1 EUR = 1.1172 USD)

Typical requirements in Denmark for this degree level. Your advisor gives you the final list.

• A completed qualification that gives access to Master's Degree study.
• Academic transcripts and any programme-specific assessment the institution asks for.
• Your advisor checks the final requirements for your education system and intake.

Confirm the accepted English-language evidence with the institution for the selected intake.

Prepare for and book LanguageCert Academic with SIT Connect

A typical checklist for this degree level. Your advisor gives you the final list.

The central catalogue records this programme as accredited.