Curriculum and Structure of the Joint Degree with Bamberg as Home University

General Outline

The programme of study for the European Joint Master’s degree consists of compulsory subjects, restricted electives, and free electives. A solid foundation for studies will be built through an overview of all of the aforementioned areas as well as language proficiency (Sprachpraxis). In the restricted electives, students specialize in the area in which they will eventually write their master’s thesis. Free electives offer the chance for students to broaden their horizons through language courses or courses in other subject areas.
For students who choose Bamberg as their home university, the compulsory subjects (40 ECTS credits) are made up of three Mastermodules (each worth 10 ECTS credits) in the core subject areas of linguistics, literary studies, and cultural studies as well as a Mastermodule in language proficiency. In the restricted electives (38 ECTS credits), a specialization is created by the completion of a Profile Area (28 ECTS credits) in the subject area in which the master’s thesis will be written. An additional Consolidation Module (10 ECTS credits) is completed in one of the other core areas. The free electives (12 ECTS credits) come from modules of other subject areas. The master's thesis is worth another 30 ECTS credits and includes an oral examination (worth 4 ECTS credits).

"Compulsory Subjects" (40 ECTS)

• Mastermodule Literary Studies (10 ECTS)
  plus
  
• Mastermodule Linguistics (10 ECTS)
  plus
• Mastermodule Cultural Studies (10 ECTS)
  plus
• Mastermodule Language Proficiency (10 ECTS)

"Restricted Electives" (38 ECTS)

• Profile Area (28 ECTS) in the subject area in which the master's thesis will be written
  plus
• Consolidation Module (10 ECTS; following the same structure as the Mastermodule in the Compulsory Subjects) in a core area OTHER than the one in which the master's thesis will be completed.

"Free Electives" (12 ECTS)

• one to four modules imported from other subjects than English and American Studies

Master's Thesis (30 ECTS, including a defence)

The structure, learning outcomes and exam types of the individual modules are specified in the module handbook.

Master's Thesis

The master’s thesis is written in the subject area in which the Profile Area has been completed. It is written in English and 25,000 to 35,000 words in length. In addition, an abstract (approximately 1,000 words) must be included in English as well as in German (or another language, depending on the approval of the examination board). The topic will be approved of by an approved member of the faculty; a list of these faculty members is available from the web page of the appropriate subject area. The admission to start the master's thesis is granted, at the earliest, after the completion of at least 60 ECTS credits altogether.

Registration for the master’s thesis is completed through the Prüfungsamt.  After the Prüfungsamt approves of the admission, students receive a "Formular zur Themabestätigung" (a form to confirm the topic of the thesis), which needs to be signed by the thesis committee. Completion time for the thesis is six months and begins with the day listed on the form. During this preparation time, students attend the appropriate accompanying research class with the advisor of their master's thesis. Registration for the master’s thesis is very time-specific, and must be scheduled so that the programme of studies and thesis writing (six months) and correction (three months) period can be completed during the maximum duration of the Joint Degree programme, as specified in § 3 Abs. 3 of the APO.

The master’s thesis will be graded by the student’s thesis advisor and through a second committee member from one of the partner universities where the student has not studied.