North American Studies Leiden University

Overview

The North American Studies programme at Leiden University offers a diverse and international learning environment. 

While the programme focuses on the U.S., you will also explore the role the U.S. plays in the region and in the world, as well as the impact of the region and the world on developments in the U.S. Some of the key areas and major issues in the history, politics,  literature and culture of the U.S. that the programme explores in depth and from a multidisciplinary and historical perspective include:

• Slavery, migration, and emancipation movements;

• The history and politics of international relations and human rights;

• Immigration and ethnicity;

• Identity constructions and memory politics;

• Environmental justice.

Career prospects

The master’s programme in North American Studies prepares you for a wide range of careers in which well-developed analytical and other academic skills or specialised knowledge of U.S. history, literature, politics, and culture are valued. Our graduates pursue careers in the international job market in fields including teaching, journalism, IT, business, politics, government policy, publishing and research.Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:

• History teacher at a high school 

• English teacher at a high school or a university

• PhD candidate in American history, University of Edinburgh

• Project Coordinator Funding & Events at TU Delft

• Junior Policy Officer Ministry of Foreign affairs, Brussels

• Policy Officer/Researcher at Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate

• Trainee Information Manager, Ypublic

• Vice President for Client Services, Early American history and interactive programming, ARtGlass, Richmond, VA

• Collections Manager and Curator, John Ruskin Home Brantwood, Cumbria, UK

• Freelance researcher and writer with De Correspondent