American Studies at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) has evolved in a unique way. Unlike other programmes of its kind in Europe, it has not developed from the study of American language and literature. Instead, it has always been interdisciplinary, combining history, the social sciences and literary studies.

While the programme has always considered the United States from an international and comparative perspective, it has recently been expanded to include the new global perspective. Central themes in the programme are: American democracy, American-European diplomatic and military relations, the Americanisation of Europe and allegations concerning American cultural imperialism.

Studying American Studies at the University of Amsterdam

As home to one of the largest American expat communities in the Netherlands, Amsterdam offers a fascinating range of real-life examples on the basis of which to examine the Americanisation of a major European cultural centre. Our lecturers are not only specialised in the field of American studies, but also come from an extremely broad range of academic backgrounds, thereby ensuring that the courses are highly interdisciplinary.