UCD Clinton Institute for American Studies
UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland | Director: Professor Liam Kennedy
Prospective Students
President Clinton addresses the Institute Sept 2010
MA in American Studies
Now accepting applications for the academic year 2012/2013
"As well as having opportunities to explore subjects I knew I was interested in, I found myself discovering new areas of knowledge and ideas. It was exciting to come into contact with leading scholars and to feel intellectually enriched by this contact. I certainly valued the high quality of teaching and guidance I received at the Institute". Elizabeth Thompson, Class of 2011
This is the first postgraduate programme in America Studies in Ireland. Because of the United States' unrivalled status in the world today, the debates on American values and the mission of American democracy have become a matter of global concern. This programme introduces students to advanced study of American culture and politics, in both domestic and international contexts. it is a multidisciplinary programme that promotes study of the interactions of cultural social and political factors. It aims to deepen and widen students' knowledge of major topics and issues as well as to enable them to develop a significant measure of expertise in the subject chosen for the thesis.
The MA programme draws on the expertise of UCD faculty across a number of departments, as well as that of the Professor of American Studies and the contribution of visiting scholars. The full time MA is taught over two semesters and students are required to take a number of assessed modules (four of which are compulsory) in addition to completing a research dissertation of 10,000 – 15,000 words. The MA is worth 90 credits – 60 for taught work and 30 for the dissertation. The part time MA is taught over two years, students take 40 taught credits in the first year, of which 20 must be made up of compulsory modules.
As it evolves, the Clinton Institute will keep its MA curriculum in constant review and will introduce new modules. The Institute is currently establishing partnerships with postgraduate programmes in America and Europe to provide candidates with the opportunity to pursue study abroad as part of this MA. Details will be posted on this site.
- Eligibility
- Course Outline
- Student Assessment
- Teaching & Tuition
- Fees & Funding
- Application Procedure
- MA Thesis
Eligibility
Applicants for the MA should hold one of the following qualifications:
- A First Class or Second Class, Grade 1 degree in a relevant subject
- US or Canadian degree with a grade point average of 3.50
- 62% in the M.A. Qualifying examination (UCD students only)
Course Outline 2012/2013 Provisional
"The interdisciplinary aspect of the course allowed me to pursue my interests in history, economics, politics and literature. The core modules provided a focus to these disciplines and helped me to academically explore America and its global influence. Personally what I enjoyed the most was the eclectic mix of talks that were open to us as students.The standard of teaching is excellent and this is buttressed by the opportunity to take modules given by renowned visiting professors from prestigious US Universities" - Breffni Cummiskey - Class of 2011.
This is a provisional list of modules that will be offered and is subject to final confirmation and scheduling arrangements. Some modules may also have a 'cap' placed on them.
Compulsory Modules
- America in 21st Century
- America & Globalisation
- Ireland and the US
- War and the US
- American Studies Seminar
- Research Skills & Methods
- Dissertation
Optional Modules
- Image of America
- Journalism: Genre & Style
- American Theatre
- Chick Flicks
- Post Modern Writing
- Transatlantic Relations
- Contemporary American Fiction
- 19th Century American Writing
Student Assessment
The Master's degree programme will be assessed by means of course work for the modules (largely by essay but this may vary) and a minor thesis of 10,000 to 15,000 words. Credit values varies for each module.
Students choose the thesis topic in consultation with the Professor of American Studies. The thesis topic will not be restricted to a specific area of the American experience and may reflect aspects of the Institute's broader research focus and academic expertise - as such, it may be supervised by the Professor of American Studies or co-supervised with another academic either within UCD or outside the university.
Supervisors monitor a student's individual progress and offer advice on the preparation and presentation of the thesis. The final mark for the Master's degree will be divided between the course work and the thesis.
Teaching and Tuition
Each module tutor will provide students with documentation setting out the structure and content of the module.
Modules will normally consist of weekly two-hour seminars. These are group discussion classes where students are expected to bring up issues arising from their independent study.
Tutors will also be available to discuss individual students' written assignments.
Fees 2011/2012 Provisional
| Course Details | EU Students | Non-EU Students |
|---|---|---|
| MA in American Studies Full-time | €5,400 | €10,800 |
| MA in American Studies Part-time: each year | €3,200 | €6,400 |
Application Procedure for MA in American Studies
Students can now apply online for the MA in American Studies, , decisions are made on a rolling basis and conditional offers can be made while waiting from your final results to be issued
The following documents should be uploaded with your application (if you are not able to upload the documents you can post them directly to the application office and quote your application number - address below
- Two academic references will be required. It is the responsibility of the applicants to ensure that these are completed and returned in a sealed signed envelope.
- In all cases a 300-word dissertation proposal must be submitted.
-
Non-University College Dublin applicants are required to submit the following additional documentation:
- Original birth certificate.
- A degree certificate or academic transcript (not a copy). If the degree result is pending at the time of the application this documentation should be forwarded as soon as the result in known.
- Applicants whose native language is not English must provide a certificate of proficiency in the English language (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge)
These documents should be returned to the
On Line Application Office
Tierney Building
UCD
Belfield
Dublin 4
If you have any questions on the process please contact
Catherine.Carey@ucd.ie or Tel +353 1 7161560