Structure

The Master's in American Studies is structured following a system of modules, subjects, and courses, organized in ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits. These credits reflect the amount of work on the student's part required to pass a course (25 hours per credit).

Courses are divided into two semesters (one academic year; students may also take two years to complete the program). 

Classes for the first semester are taught at Universidad Complutense; those for the second semester are taught at Universidad de Alcalá. 

The Master’s requires the completion of 60 credits, distributed across two modules and a master’s thesis:

Module of General Instruction and Research in North American Studies: 36 credits, in 7 required courses.

Module of Specialization in North American Studies: 12 credits, in 2 elective courses.

Master’s Thesis: 12 credits.

Program specialization: The Master’s Degree in American Studies offers three areas of specialization:

• Literature and Culture (includes electives “Key Authors and Texts of American Literature” and “Multiculturalism: Ethnic American Cultural Expressions”).
• Policy and International Relations (includes electives “US Foreign Policy” and “American Natural Heritage and Environmentalism: History, Policy, Science, Thought, and Culture”).
• History and Social Sciences (includes electives “History of America as a Land of Immigrants” and “US Domestic and Foreign Economic Policies”).

These three areas are designed to help students create their own specialization. Students may combine any two elective courses from any of the three options according to their own interests.

Academic Program