US Studies

Postgraduate Degrees by 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
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), comprising:

• one compulsory core unit
• at least three core units
• maximum of eight additional units, either core or elective
• a capstone experience such as an internship, research thesis, or international program (this consists of four units of study).

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 international exchange 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
After completing core units, the program will allow you to choose from a wide range of electives.

The degree consists of 8 units of study (48 credit points), comprising:

• one compulsory core unit
• at least three core units
• maximum of four additional units, either core or elective

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
After completing core units, the program will allow you to choose from a wide range of electives.

The degree consists of 4 units of study (24 credit points), comprising:

• one compulsory core unit
• at least two core units
• plus one additional unit, either core or elective

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

Master of US Studies Degree requirements

Candidates for the Master of US Studies are required to complete 96 credit points, including:

• a minimum of 6 credit points of core units of study
• a minimum of 18 credit points from core elective units of study
• a maximum of 48 credit points from elective units of study
• 24 credit points from capstone units of study
• an optional specialisation as listed in the unit of study table

Candidates who have completed previous study in a relevant discipline may be eligible for a reduction in the requirements.

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 or CISS coded units:

• CISS6001 New Security Challenges;
• CISS6008 Population and Security;
• CISS6012 Civil-Military Relations;
• GOVT6111 Chinese Foreign and Security Policy;
• CISS6022 Cybersecurity;
• GOVT6304 Development and World Politics;
• GOVT6119 International Security;
• CISS6018 Nuclear Arms Control and Proliferation;
• ECOP6011 USA-Europe-Japan: From Growth to Crisis.

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
• USSC6908: The US Business Environment (to be revived 2019); and

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

• MKTG6020 Business Marketing;
• IBUS5003 Global Business;
• FINC6013 International Business Finance;
• IBUS6001 International Business Strategy;
• IBUS6002 Cross-Cultural Management;
• IBUS6016 Social Entrepreneurship;
• 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;
• WRIT6000 Professional Writing;
• WRIT6001 Professional Editing;
• 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	IBUS6106: Social Entrepreneurship	USSC6905: US: The Politics of Money in America	GOVT2445: US-China Relations
Sem 2	USSC6908: The US Business Environment	USSC6920: US Media: Politics, Culture, Technology	IBUS6001: International Business Strategy	IBUS6002: Cross- Cultural Management
Sem 1	CAPSTONE PROJECT in one of three areas	Internship	Research	Exchange
Sem 2	Based on .25 RPL

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	Capstone project in one of three areas:	Internship	Research	Exchange
Sem 2	Based on .25 RPL

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	USSC6915: Key Issues in US Culture	ARIN6904: Mobile Media and Games	MECO6926: International Media Practice
Sem 1	Capstone Project in one of three areas	Internship	Research	Exchange
Sem 2	Based on .25 RPL

Capstone pathways

Internships
Internship Capstone USSC6204 includes a full time (5 days a week) Internship for 10-13 weeks. Internship project USSC6214 is a project unit based on the area of the internship capstone. Total word count 8000 words.

Internship
USSC6204 Internship Capstone	12	C:USSC6214 Internship Project	Semester 1 Semester 2
USSC6214 Internship Project 2	6		Semester 1 Semester 2
USSC6205 Internship Project	6		Semester 1 Semester 2

Research:
Research Treatise totalling 18 000 words

Research
USSC6211 Treatise 1	12	C: USSC6212	Semester 1 Semester 2
USSC6212 Treatise 2	12	C: USSC6211	Semester 1 Semester 2

Exchange:
Exchange 1, 2, and 3 undertaken as units at a relevant partner university. Exchange Project is a research unit based on the exchange topic. 4000 words total.

Exchange
USSC6207 Exchange 1	6	C: USSC6208, , USSC6209, USSC6210	Semester 1 Semester 2
USSC6208 Exchange 2	6	C: USSC6207, USSC6209, USSC6210	Semester 1 Semester 2
USSC6209 Exchange 3	6	C:USSC6208, USSC6207, USSC6210	Semester 1 Semester 2
USSC6215 Exchange Project	6	C: USSC6208, USSC6209, USSC6207	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 Thomas Adams
Email:

Phone: 02 9036 5087
Website: https://www.ussc.edu.au/experts/thomas-adams

The Academic and Student Support Officer 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