MA The Americas / Las Américas
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MA The Americas / Las Américas
The Americas / Las Américas is a comparative and interdisciplinary two-year Master of Arts program that combines the fields of Interamerican studies, Latin American studies, and North American studies. The program’s scope is hemispheric, transnational, and regional, meaning it spans the whole of the American continent while simultaneously encouraging students to pursue more specific interests through the selection of coursework and individual research projects. This diverse program employs research-based critical analysis that draws from fields such as literary studies, cultural studies, history, politics, social sciences, and cultural geography. Obligatory language modules ensure that every student is trained for high-level written and oral academic discourse in both English and Spanish. The Americas / Las Américas Master of Arts ultimately prepares graduates for careers in a range of professional and academic fields, including pursuit of a PhD in Latin American studies, American studies, Romance studies, and comparative literature.
Program Structure
Overview
| Semester | Module | Hours per week | ECTS |
| 1 | Module 1 (Basic Module) – The Americas / Las Américas | 2 + 2 + 2 | 15 |
| 1 and 2 | Module 2 (Compulsory Elective Module) – Español avanzado 1, Español avanzado 2, or English Academic Language Skills | 2 + 2 | 10 |
| 1 or 3 | Module 3 (Compulsory Elective Module) – Area and Region or North American Studies | 2 + 2 | 10 |
| 2 | Module 4 – North America: Culture and Literature | 2 + 1 | 10 |
| 2 | Module 5 – América Latina: Cultura y literatura | 2 + 2 | 10 |
| 2 or 3 | Module 6 (Compulsory Elective Module) – Migration, Human Rights, or Estudios latinoamericanos | 2 + 2 | 10 |
| 3 | Module 7 – North America: Politics and Society | 2 + 2 | 10 |
| 3 | Module 8 – América Latina: Política y sociedad | 2 + 2 | 10 |
| 2 or 3 | Module 9 (Project Module) – The Americas / Las Américas | 5 | |
| 4 | Master’s Thesis | 30 |
Details
Modules 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 are mandatory modules. In modules 2, 3, and 6, students have a choice between different options. Certain module options have courses offered in different semesters. For example, the courses in Español avanzado 1 and 2 are divided between the first and second semesters; the courses comprising the module English Academic Language Skills can be similarly divided or taken all in the first semester. With the exception of module 1 and 9, which have to be completed in one semester, the individual classes of each module do not have to be taken in the same semester. It may be a good idea to attend to the Master’s Thesis early on, because conceptualizing and writing it can take longer than expected.
The program may be begun in either winter semester (October) or summer semester (April) and can be completed in four semesters. The program consists of 120 ECTS-points: 90 ECTS-points come from coursework in the program’s 9 modules, while the remaining 30 credits come from the completion of a written master’s thesis. Up to six of the program’s nine modules come from coursework in Latin American Studies and North American Studies. Based on one’s language skills, students are required to take either Advanced Spanish or Academic Language Skills (English) in their first semester. Other required modules include an introductory interregional course, titled The Americas / Las Américas, as well as a practical project to be completed in the second or third semester. More details regarding the program’s structure can be found in Spanish and German here.
Skills and Development
A master’s degree in The Americas / Las Américas at the FAU ensures students demonstrate a high understanding of both academic Spanish and English, and possibly German, with an ability to critically and intersectionally analyze the literature, culture, and politics of the American continent in a global context. In addition to developing critical thinking and global awareness, this program practically prepares students for a variety of future careers, including academic work in the fields of Latin American studies, North American studies, Romance studies, or comparative literature. Graduates of the program have moved on to work in education, editing, journalism, publishing, media, activism, non-profits, and international affairs.