The Curriculum for Master of Arts (MA) in American Studies

The Master´s degree program in American Studies 

The Master’s degree program in American studies is a full-time course of study representing 120 ECTS.

The objective of the program is to give students a range of discipline-specific and discipline-related competences – including joint Humanities competences.

All master´s degree programs permit successful graduates to apply to a PhD program.

Competence description

The aim of the Master's degree program in american studies is to provide the student with qualifications through discipline-specific and discipline-related proficiency, knowledge and methodology.

The master's degree program represents the full academic expansion of the student's overall course of study. Qualified candidates will have achieved academic and professional compe-tencies, which will qualify the students to carry out a wide range of business functions.

The program´s competence objectives are divided into general and discipline-specific competences. The general competence objectives are the broad competences the newly graduated student has acquired following completion of the program, while the discipline-specific competence objectives relate to the program´s core academic competences. With reference to the "New Danish Qualifications Framework for Higher Education", objectives are divided into knowledge, skills and competences:

General competence objectives:

The candidate must:

1. be able to delimit and define an academic issue at a high academic research level
2. be able to exhaustively examine, analyse and resolve academic issues utilising relevant academic theories and methods, while incorporating current international research
3. be able to systematize complex knowledge and data, as well as select and prioritize factors that are significant for the subject
4. critically assess the subject's various theories and methodologies
5. demonstrate a precise and consistent application of concepts
6. be able to reason at a scientific basis
7. be able to initiate and implement an academic dialogue
8. be able to focus and establish coherence in the resolution of tasks
9. take a critical stance on sources used and document these using references, notes and bibliography
10. employ language - in writing and/or verbally - that is subject-oriented, precise and correct
11. communicate research-based knowledge and discuss complex scientific issues in a way that is relevant to and comprehensible for various target groups.
12. be able to manage work and development situations that are complex and that demand innovative approaches and be able to cooperate, including being able to receive and give constructive criticism
13. be able to work independently, disciplined, structured and targeted, including complying with deadlines and formal requirements
14. employ IT as a tool for both information retrieval as well as verbal and written communication

The coherence between the qualifications framework for higher education, the competence objectives of the course of study and the individual subject element learning objectives are set out in appendix 1. The discipline-specific competence objectives are set out in the section course of study.

Students' opportunities for contact with relevant research environments

In American Studies, student opportunities for contact with researchers as well as participation in research-like activities are based, among other things, on the following:

• the high degree of research-based teaching
• guidance in relation to course assignments and theses by researchers who teach on the course of study
• student opportunities for discussion with, and guidance by, researchers who regularly teach on the course of study, during the researchers´ weekly office hours
  

• the incorporation of all four rooms, taking into account the particular subject's learning objectives
• clarification of the responsibilities students have in relation to their participation in the different rooms
• supporting students´ acquisition of the study skills required to work in the different rooms

The teacher thus reflects over which activities take place in each of the four rooms, and how those activities link to the subject's objectives and testing. Program leaders will ensure that, overall, students have activities in all four rooms in each semester, as well as that teachers´ specialised skills and areas of strength are exploited in the best possible way in the implementation of the model.

The model highlights that students have various types of responsibilities, tasks and roles associated with participation in different study activities. It is expected that students deliver/submit various types of products and output in the different rooms. Students thus become aware of and familiar with different study activities and assignment forms.

Classrooms where the teacher has planning responsibility and is present
This learning space will typically host lectures and group lessons with activating elements, field trips and workshops in which students are actively involved, for example, through asking questions, reflection, note taking, and contributing to discussions in groups and in plenary sessions.

Here, for example, brainstorming, reflection questions, quizzes, preparation of concept maps, may be activating elements that the instructor can make use of.

Examples of activities include work with working questions about the examination syllabus, logbooks, contributions to blogs or wikis, gathering material for individual or group portfolios, fieldwork, etc.

This learning space can, for example, accommodate group presentations, flipped classroom, peerfeedback, case- and problembased learning, project guidance and question and answer sessions.

Study room, where students have responsibility for planning, and the teacher is not present
This study room includes the students ' independent studies, active participation in self-organized reading groups and joint exam preparations, preparation of assignments and other study products.

The Humanities model is a general model that applies to all courses of study that belong under the Faculty of Humanities. The model is both a description of existing practices on humanities courses, where activating pedagogical forms already play a major role, and a point of reference in relation to the further evolution of teaching at the faculty. The study board for the individual course of study will determine in detail how the model is to be embodied for the particular course.

For the Master's degree program in American Studies (120 ECTS), this includes the following undergraduate courses:

• The Bachelor degree program with key subjects (135 ECTS) in American Studies

The following Bachelor degree programs from the University of Southern Denmark and from other universities also offer access to the Master's degree program in American studies:

• English 
  
• History 
• Journalism 
• Negot English 
• Business language and media (if the business language is English) 
• Business language and IT (if the business language is English) 
• Business language in two foreign languages (if one foreign language is English) 
• Political science 

Applicants must have attained at least B level English in the qualifying examination.

Students with academically related BA/BSc qualifications may be admitted to the Master's degree program in American Studies following a concrete assessment. For individual bachelor degree programs the following requirements with respect to the subjects and subject-related scope must be met: 

A) History and society: Subjects and topics such as anthropology, sociology (including comparative social description), historical analysis, international politics and international economics and political science and political structures and

B) Culture: subjects and topics such as literature, cultural history, intercultural relations, cultural analysis and media. 

Students must have achieved a minimum of 60 ECTS in total with a minimum of 10 ECTS in each “part” (A and B). A portion of this ECTS requirement can be met by inclusion of the stated subjects in the BA project. 

Applicants must have attained at least B level English in the qualifying examination. Since all instruction and all examinations are in English, a high level of spoken and written English is a prerequisite.

Students with a minor i American Studies are able to apply for acceptance for the Master's Degree Programme in American Studies if they fulfill the admissions requirements as mentioned above.

General provisions:

The university can admit applicants on a different basis from those set out in the sections

• Legal claim for admission to the Master´s degree programme
• Admission requirements to the Master´s degree programme

if it is considered that the applicant has academic qualifications comparable with this, and the university estimates that the applicant can complete the programme.

General provisions

The university can decide, that the applicant must complete supplementary programme activities either before the commencement of studies or at latest during the first year after admission.

Reference is made to § 28 point 2 and § 29 point 4 in the ministerial order on enrolment. 

The Master’s degree program in American studies (120 ECTS) consists of

• Constituent subject elements, 110 ECTS 
  - including Master´s thesis, 30 ECTS 

• Elective subjects, 10 ECTS

• Participation in and completion of an e-learn course
• Participation in the first lesson of the semester in American Studies in Practice

Principles for choice of teaching and examination forms

Underpinning the choice of teaching and examination forms at the American Studies MA program is the Humanities model for active learning and activating teaching.

All courses in the Master's degree programme consist of the student’s study activities reflecting the competences required by the examination, so as to alternate between the strengthening of written and oral, and informative and scientific competences, all of which provide the best basis for educational progression. 

The aim of the course is to foster the student's abilities in written dissemination, oral dissemination and collaboration based on a high academic level. The student will therefore experience a continuous interaction between the various study activities between the courses, but also within a given course. It is the responsibility of the individual university teacher to ensure that the activities are related to the objectives and method of assessment of the course, while study management shall ensure that the student is generally activated in all study activities during each semester.

Description/definition of teaching and examination methods

Participation in classes: Examinations, which are given based on participation in classes, require active, regular and satisfactory participation in the course of study in question. By active is understood participation in the compulsory activities connected with the teaching (general preparation, oral presentations, minor written assignments, etc.). The university teacher specifies at the start of the course what is meant by active participation, including how many assignments must be prepared. By regular is understood participation in at least 80 % of the classes offered. By satisfactory is understood that the written presentations and assignments are evaluated as passed.

Registration of participation in the course takes place via the e-learning system or written protocol. The preferred method is announced at the start of the course. Students may only register participation in a given class if they have been physically present in the room during the entire class.

Digital examinations
All written examinations held at the university are digital, i.e. are written on computeres, unless anything to the contrary is indicated in the descriptions of the academic disciplines. The University of Southern Denmark's rule set for written examinations is applicable to examinations held at the university and written on computers.

Aids
It is apparent which aids may be used from the examination provisions for the individual subjects.

Generally, it applies that the use of

• all file sharing services (including, e.g., Dropbox, Google Docs, Bb Content System)
• all social media (including, e.g., Facebook, Messenger)
• all communication

is ALWAYS forbidden during examinations, regardless of whether the internet is permitted as an aid.

Oral examinations:

It is clear from the examination provisions whether the aids may be used during the preparation time and/or during the examination.

• No aids: You may bring writing materials and a calculator
• All written aids: You may bring books, articles, compendia, notes, assignment papers, dictionaries (printed), calculator
• All aids, minus Internet: You may bring (in printed, written and electronic form) books, articles, compendia, notes, assignment papers, dictionaries (CD-ROMs and the like, as well as printed), computer, calculator
• All aids plus internet (however, no communication): You may bring (in printed, written and electronic form) books, articles, compendia, notes, assignment papers, dictionaries (CD-ROMs and the like, as well as printed and online versions), calculator, computer, as well as internet

Written site exams:

• No aids: Writing materials (including PC without internet access), calculator and digital pen
• All aids, minus internet: (in printed, written and electronic form) Books, articles, compendia, notes, assignment papers, dictionaries (CD-ROMs and the like, as well as printed), calculator, digital pen
• All aids plus internet: (in printed, written and electronic form) Books, articles, compendia, notes, assignment papers, dictionaries (CD-ROMs and the like, as well as printed and online), calculator, digital pen, as well as internet

Examinations are arranged individually or as group examinations. Notwithstanding the arrangement of the examination, an assessment of the student’s individual performance must be given, and an individual grade must be given.

It will be apparent from the academic part of the curriculum, if an examination is arranged as a group examination. If an examination is arranged as a group examination, the examination requirements for the specific disciplines will also clearly state what the maximum number of students participating in the group may be and whether students have the option of choosing an individual examination.  

If a written assignment does not meet the requirements relating to individualisation or other formal requirements laid down in the individual course descriptions, the assignment can be rejected. In case of an assignment is rejected, an assessment will not be given and the student has used an examination attempt, reference is made to § 24 point 3 in the ministerial order on examinations and grading.

Written assignments 

• The front page
• Table of contents
• Abstract (summary)
• References
• Appendices

The Board of Studies shall examine applications for credit transfer in advance if a student, as part of his/her education, wishes to:

1. take courses at a foreign institution of higher education,
2. take courses at other Danish universities or
3. take other courses at SDU than those included in the programme regulations in which the student is enrolled and which have not already been approved by the Board of Studies as part of the elective offer.

Reference is made to § 47 in the ministerial order on degree programmes at universities.

In individual cases, the Academic Study Board can grant credit transfers for subjects taken, for instance, at another university. General provisions regarding credit transfers must be submitted to the Dean.

A credit transfer for a Master’s thesis that constitutes the foundation for a designation in a graduate programme cannot be granted for a new designation in another graduate programme.

The reader is referred to § 46 in the ministerial order on degree programmes at universities.

The rules for application to subjects and examinations at SDU apply to Bachelor, Master’s and vocational Bachelor students at the Faculty of Humanities.

In addition to this the following applies:
Master’s students on a Master’s course standardised to 120 ECTS points are automatically enrolled on a dissertation of 30 ECTS which takes place over the 3rd and 4th semester, when they have passed 40 ECTS points of their Master’s programme, see § 3 point 4 in the Regulations for applying to subjects and examinations at SDU. It is not possible to withdraw. Furthermore, see Master´s Thesis.

The subject matter offered is always in relation to the most recent curriculum. A common examination is offered and a re-examination in direct relation to the subject matter taught. The third examination attempt is offered after the next usual taught course. The examination is always based on the most recent curriculum, including the most recent syllabus.  

Following § 8 in Regulations regarding enrolment on subjects and examinations at SDU regulations are established for 2nd and 3rd attempts at subjects that are being phased out or are no longer offered. Students who do not pass the common examination must apply to take the re-examination (2nd attempt) in the same examination term, or in immediate continuation of this. Withdrawal cannot take place. Students who do not enrol themselves will be enrolled by the university. Students who do not pass the subject at the re-examination must enrol for the 3rd attempt in the next examination term after the last common offer of teaching (e.g., if the last offer of teaching was spring 2016, the third examination attempt is offered in the examination term winter 2016/2017.) It is not possible to withdraw. Examination always takes place in relation to the most recent curriculum, including the most recent syllabus. 

The regulations regarding the withdrawal of subjects and the enrolment onto the 2nd and 3rd attempts apply unless otherwise stated in the specific course description or in the interim provisions of the study programme. See Interim provisions.

In the case where enrolment on a subject requires that a previous subject has been completed and passed, the student who has not passed at the 1st and 2nd attempts, has the option of enrolling for a re-examination in the same examination term (3rd attempt). The University must ensure that the 3rd attempt in the required subject is examined before the common examination in the later subject.

The Master’s thesis is a major, independent home assignment that must document the student's competences in the application of scientific theories and methods when working with a defined academic subject.

The thesis comprises 30 ECTS points and has a length of 60-80 standard pages. See Terminology of the programme for closer stipulation regarding what is included in the project. 

The thesis must include an abstract in a foreign language. Reference is made to § 26 point 2 in the ministerial order on examinations and grading. Length and language of the abstract, see the discipline description for the Master´s Thesis.

The thesis must be begun and submitted within the following time frames:

• The thesis time frame runs from the beginning of the semester (1 September/1 February), even though the thesis statement and supervision plan have not yet been approved. 
• If a student fails to submit a thesis within the deadline established, he/she will have used one examination attempt. Deregistration is not permitted. 
• If the student's thesis cannot be approved or he/she fails to submit it within the deadline established, a new deadline of three months will be established. At the same time, a new thesis formulation within the same subject area must be approved. This is described in detail below. If the thesis is not submitted within this deadline, the student will have used another examination attempt.
• The student may then make a third examination attempt in accordance with the same rules that apply to the second examination attempt. 
• The Academic Study Board can grant exemption from the deadlines mentioned above when unexpected circumstances occur. 

Implementing the rules at the Faculty of Humanities 

1. Deadlines

2. The thesis process

• Working title
• Problem statement
• Disposition
• Outline of theories and literature
• Outline of empirical data
• Reflection over methods
• Work plan

• Contract cover page
• Supervision plan
• Project description

3. Supervision 

In accordance with Section 27 subsection 7 of the Minsterial Order on University Study Programmes (Uddannelsesbekendtgørelsen) a supervision plan must be approved. When writing a thesis in the humanities the student is entitled to 10 hours of supervision. The drawing up of the project description and the supervision plan, the supervision itself and the preparation time of the supervisor are included in the 10 hours.

How and when the supervision is given is established in the supervision plan. The supervisor and the students must jointly ensure that the supervision is spread across the entire thesis process. 

• 5 one-hour meetings spread across the period
• 1 one-hour meeting before signing the contract, 4 one-hour meeting spread across the period after signing the contract.
• 2 30-minutes meetings before signing the contract, 4 one-hour meeting spread across the period after signing the contract.  

4. If the thesis is not submitted within the deadline or is not approved

• 2nd attempt: The number of pages are increased to between 90 and 110 pages
• 3rd attempt: The number of pages are increased to between 120 and 130 pages

5. Submitting a thesis:

• the academic quality, the strengths and weaknesses of the thesis and an explanation of the grade given
• a discussion of specific themes and arguments of the thesis
• the process. Methods of working good/unsuitable, use of supervision, organisation of the work 
• the linguistic of the thesis, the quality and scope of the language in relation to the target group
• the potential of the thesis. Possibilities for publication of articles, job opportunities etc.   

Electives may in principle be taken at any higher education institution in Denmark or abroad, as long as the content is of relevance to American Studies. If a student wishes to take an elective subject at another higher education institution or another board of studies under the Faculty of Humanities, he or she must apply to the board of studies for English and American studies and ensure that the elective will be approved.

Students must 

The program is offered in pursuance to Executive Order No. 1328 of 15 November 2016 on Bachelor and Master´s degree programs at universities (the Universities Order).

Valid interim provisions of the study programme are set out in the progression models under Course of study.

Deadline for delivery of written assignments
All delivery deadlines for examination work, theses, dissertations and BA projects are published in the course´s combined examination timetable. If the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or a Bank Holiday, the deadline will be deemed to be the next working day. 

ECTS points
ECTS, the European Credit Transfer System, was introduced under the Erasmus programme. ECTS points are values that are ascribed to a course unit with the aim of describing the overall work required from students in order to complete the course in the form of attending instruction, preparation, writing assignments, where applicable, and preparing for examinations, etc. 60 ECTS points corresponds to one year of full-time study and to 1,680 hours of work. A subject studied at 10 ECTS points therefore corresponds to 280 hours of work.

Standard page
One standard page = 2,400 characters incl. blank spaces.

Lessons
One lesson corresponds to 45 minutes. 

Typed characters
This is understood as every typographical element, i.e. not only letters and numbers, but also punctuation marks and blank spaces.