Master's Program in Belgium: American Studies

I just finished my MAAS and I absolutely loved it. Having already done three years of American Studies during my BA, I started this masters interested to know how the professors would handle the fact that most students did not come from an American Studies background. Were they going to explain it all again? Or were they just going to leave the others behind? These initial thoughts were soon swept away by my first lecture. Straightaway I understood that this masters is not about how much you know or don't know; it's about what you want to know. Sure, this masters is no different from any other masters; you're going to have to get stuck in, but how you do it: that's up to you. The professors do a fantastic job at showing you every corner of American Studies; political, cultural, theoretical, etc. By use of a simple VPN connection you have access to all the stuff you need to feed your thirst for knowledge, and believe me, thirsty you will get. Although at times it might seem that the water gets a little deep and the amount of freedom you receive might seem a little overwhelming, with the right attitude this masters can be the most enriching experience of your life. Not only did my (already proportionally large) passion for American Studies grow, so did my passion for learning all together. I can probably go on about this program for hours, but since this website limits me to 200 characters, I'll try and sum up my experience in three words: challenging, refreshing, rewarding.

As a prospective student I sought a better understanding of the United States within a globalized world. I wanted to further establish my factual knowledge of American and world history, and I wanted to engage several disciplines, perspectives, and theories to understand, dissect, and utilize that knowledge. Additionally I sought to develop my writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills. The MAAS program effectively facilitated this.

This is not a program centered exclusively on ‘textbook’ knowledge. In MAAS the professors take very seriously the importance of critical discussion over the topics in question. As such, the comprehensive presentation of factual knowledge is continually matched with interrogation into the causes, effects, and implications of the topic. Moreover, the professors encourage the students to question various presumptions that have been taken for granted in the historical or contemporary discourse of the topic. This amounts to lively intellectual consideration in each course and is, indeed, the program’s most important element.

Ultimately, knowledge is reinforced in each course while the particular disciplinary approach of a course affords nuanced understandings. For example, in Literary Journalism the student addresses topics in American and world history through the medium of the genre. Studying John Hersey’s Hiroshima or David Foster Wallace’s piece on 9/11 allowed for intimate and privileged vantage points from which the student could address those events. Likewise, the course on law and justice facilitated inquiry into the fundamental developments and philosophical underpinnings of American society—concepts that would be relevant in each MAAS course. The depth of the MAAS interdisciplinary approach is a quintessential aspect of the program.

Both of these aspects are met with the range of personal, national, and educational backgrounds of the professors and students—adding diverse perspectives to the discussion of material. Indeed, as the material is so often of direct international concern, such perspectives are essential. This internationality (of the program and university itself) was the aspect that I cherished most. Moreover, the special joie de vivre of Ghent, its friendly and open community, and its world-class host of beers make it a phenomenal city for students.

Reflecting on my experience in the program and in Ghent, I certainly feel satisfied and confidently prepared for the law and public service careers that I seek to pursue.

The MAAS program at UGhent is a strong, interdisciplinary American Studies program. The thoroughly international student body and the wide expertise of the staff are the program's strong points. I found the staff supportive and encouraging, even going out of their way to support academic and professional opportunities outside the formal course boundaries. The staff wants to see its students succeed and works hard to create the academic and community space to create that success.

If the student knows what particular issues excite them academically, then the interdisciplinary nature of the program will only round out their original interests. The freedom of the interdisciplinary field is in drawing connections from otherwise separate fields. In this way, a student with clear academic interests can benefit from the freedom of movement the program allows and do academic work otherwise difficult to justify in a program solely dedicated to, say, Politics or History.

The M.A. in American Studies, taught at Ghent University in Belgium, has been a wonderful experience for me. I completed the program in 2014. Thanks to the rather strict admission standards, we were a small group of motivated students from many backgrounds, including international students from Vietnam to the US. Fun and camaraderie for an entire year. The academics, however, are not quite what you would expect of a Master of Arts degree. While the courses offer insights into many disciplines, few studies are really explored in depth. Since history, politics, law, and economics were all taught by the same professor, we missed out on the great diversity that could go into so many different courses. The M.A. in American Studies at Ghent Uni. is a great experience for those who have little background in US Studies, but it isn't up to par for those looking for more specialist training and scholarship.

Having completed the MAAS-program, I can say that it has been an enriching experience. The cross-sectoral content, the passionate staff, and the small international group of students have gained me much more than solely the academic content of a master's degree. Having obtained this degree, I can honestly make the case that my understanding of not only the United States, but of the world scene as a whole, has deepened considerably.