US Studies

The Master of US Studies is not accepting any new applicants. For current students, please refer to the handbook for the year you enrolled.

Coursework

US Studies is an interdisciplinary area of study offered through diverse units of study. The US Studies Centre provides access to wide international networks, and supports capstone experiences in the form of internship, research and exchange.

Students will deepen their knowledge of the United States in the Centre's three areas of research strength - politics, economics and culture - gaining:

• a deep knowledge and understanding of the United States
• an understanding of America’s influence on the world, and the world’s reaction to America
• high-level analytical research and writing skills
• an understanding of global issues involving the United States

The degrees are jointly offered by the United States Studies Centre and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney. By joining our program you will have access to the Centre’s faculty and visitors, which includes distinguished scholars, policymakers and business leaders.

Master of US Studies

After completing core units, the program will allow you to choose from a wide range of electives. The degree consists of 16 units of study (96 credit points).

Course structure
Candidates for the Master of US Studies are required to complete 96 credit points, including a minimum of 24 credit points of core units of study, a minimum of 36 credit points of core elective units of study, a maximum of 30 credit points of elective units of study, a minimum of 6 credit points of capstone units of study, and an optional specialisation as listed in the unit of study table.

The degree can be completed in two years with course reduction options for relevant study or full-time professional work experience.

Capstone experience
A capstone experience is an integral part of the master’s degree consisting of four units of study. Students are able to choose from three different tracks including internship, research, and a special topic project to suit personal development goals.

Graduate Diploma in US Studies

Students who do not want to commit to a full master’s program but want to gain a solid grounding in US Studies can enrol in the Graduate Diploma program (48 Credits).

Course structure
Candidates for the Graduate Diploma in US Studies are required to complete 48 credit points, including a minimum of 24 credit points of core units of study, a minimum of 18 credit points of core elective units of study and a maximum of 6 credit points of elective units of study.

Upon satisfactory completion of the Graduate Diploma or Certificate, students may matriculate into the master’s program.

Graduate Certificate in US Studies

Students who do not want to commit to a full master’s program but want to gain a solid grounding in US Studies can enrol in the Graduate Certificate program (24 Credits).

Course structure
Candidates for the Graduate Certificate in US Studies are required to complete 24 credit points, including a minimum of 6 credit points of core units of study, a minimum of 12 credit points of core elective units of study and a maximum of 6 credit points of elective units of study.

Upon satisfactory completion of the Graduate Diploma or Certificate, students may matriculate into the master’s program.

Specialisations

Politics
The Politics specialisation will provide the student with a deep knowledge of American political history, laws and institutions. Students will gain skills in contemporary policy analysis and become conversant in current issues within US domestic and foreign policy.

• USSC6902: US Politics: Presidency and Congress;
• USSC6903: US Foreign and National Security;
• USSC6907: American Exceptionalism, USSC6921 US Strategy in the Asia-Pacific, GOVT6359 US-China Relations; or

6 credit points of the following GOVT coded units:

• GOVT6359 US- China Relations
• GOVT6229 Campaigning: Data, Politics, Strategy

Business
The Business specialisation provides practical knowledge of the American business environment, and enables students to understand how business cultures in the US differ from those in Australia and Asia. Students also gain knowledge of the history and legal norms of philanthropic organisations in the United States, as well as a wide understanding of US economic policy.

• USSC6905: The Politics of Money in America
• USSC6923 The US Economy; and

6 credit points of the following FINC, IBUS or MKTG coded units:

• IBUS5003 Global Business;
• FINC6013 International Business Finance;
• IBUS6001 International Business Strategy;
• IBUS6002 Cross-Cultural Management;
• MKTG6013 International and Global Marketing.

Media
The Media specialisation is designed to provide students with an understanding of the global influence of American culture and media. Students gain a historical understanding of the American media industry’s adaptation to legal, cultural and technological change. The specialization fosters skills in media analysis and a strong knowledge of theoretical concepts to provide a sophisticated understanding of media production and consumption in America.

• USSC6919: American Film and Hollywood;
• USSC6920: US Media: Politics, Culture, Technology;
• USSC6914: Key Issues in US Culture; or

6 credit points of the following ENGL, WMST, MECO or CAEL coded units:

• MECO6913 Public Opinion, Policy and Public Sphere;
• WMST6903 Gender, Media and Consumer Societies;
• ENGL6984 Creative Non-Fiction Workshop;
• MECO6912 Political Public Relations;
• MECO6915 Writing Features: Narrative Journalism;
• CAEL5043 Screen Writing and Directing;
• CAEL5045 Web Environment for Cultural Producers;
• ARIN6904 Mobile Media and Games;
• MECO6900 News Writing;
• MECO6926 International Media Practice.

The specialisations will be optional for students enrolled in the Master of US Studies, but will allow students to have the specialisation added to their transcript and Testamur.

Example student pathways

Business
Sem 1	USSC6901: Fundamentals of US Studies	IBUS5003: Gobal Business	USSC6905: US: The Politics of Money in America	GOVT2445: US-China Relations
Sem 2	USSC6923: The US Economy	USSC6920: US Media: Politics, Culture, Technology	IBUS6001: International Business Strategy	IBUS6002: Cross- Cultural Management
Sem 1	USSC6914: Key Issues in American Culture	GOVT6359: US-China Relations	USSC6903:US Foreign and National Security Policy	USSC6909: US Constitution
Sem 2	USSC6902: US Politics: Presidency and Congress	USSC6922: US Strategy in the Asia Pacific	Capstone	Capstone

Politics
Sem 1	SSC6901: Fundamentals of US Studies	GOVT6359: US- China Relations	USSC6902: US Politics: Presidency and Congress	GOVT1600: Foundations of Comparative Politics
Sem 2	USSC6903: US Foreign and National Security	CISS6001: New Security Challenges	CISS6008: Population and Security	USSC6907: American Exceptionalism
Sem 1	USSC6914: Key Issues in American Culture	USSC6919: American Film and Hollywood	USSC6922: US Strategy in the Asia Pacific Policy	USSC6906: US Constitution
Sem 2	GOVT6229 Campaigning: data, politics, strategy	USSC6920: US Media: Politics, Culture, Technology	Capstone	Capstone

Media
Sem 1	USSC6901: Fundamentals of US Studies	USSC6919: American Film and Hollywood	MECO6900: News Writing	WMST6903: Gender, Media and Consumer Societies
Sem 2	USSC6920: US Media: Politics, Culture, Technology	USSC6914: Key Issues in US Culture	ARIN6904: Mobile Media and Games	MECO6926: International Media Practice
Sem 1	ENGL6984: Creative Non-Fiction Workshop	GOVT6359: US-China Relations	USSC6922: US Strategy in the Asia Pacific Policy	USSC6906: US Constitution
Sem 2	GOVT6229: Campaigning: data, politics, strategy	MECO6915: Writing Features: Narrative Journalism	Capstone	Capstone

Capstone pathways

Internships
Internship project USSC6205 includes an Internship for minimum 95 hours and a 6000 word research essay. Internship Project 2 USSC6214 is a project unit that extends the research essay to 12000 words. Total word count 6-12000 words. Students can do USSC6205 alone or in conjunction with USSC6214.

Internship
USSC6205: Internship Project	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
USSC6214: Internship Project 2	6	Semester 1 Semester 2

Research:
Dissertation totalling 12,000 -18,000 words total

Research
USSC6211: Dissertation 1	6	Semester 1 Semester 2
USSC6212: Dissertation 2	6	Semester 1 Semester 2

Special Topics:
Research essay completed in conjunction with an international study tour, local industry immersion or workshop. Totalling 6000 words.

Special Topics
USSC6910: Special Topics in US Studies	6	Semester 1 Semester 2

Contact / Further information

Further information can be found at the United States Studies Centre website: https://www.ussc.edu.au/study/postgraduate

The Postgraduate Coordinator is Dr Aaron Nyerges
Email:

Phone: 02 8627 0170

The Academic and Student Support Coordinator is Jessica Regan
Email:
Phone: 02 9351 7249

Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate a deep knowledge of the history, culture, media, politics and economy of the United States
2. Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the multiple disciplinary contexts for understanding the United States, such as those of political science and international relations; cultural and media studies; and business and economics.
3. Demonstrate a capacity to work across disciplinary boundaries to solve specific and advanced analytic problems in the study of the United States.
4. Demonstrate a capacity to work across disciplinary boundaries to solve specific and advanced analytic problems in the study of the United States
5. Construct an evidence-based argument in written, oral, visual, or digital form
6. To relate the interdisciplinary methods of US Studies to issues encountered in professional contexts