Research

American Studies at Regensburg University explores the multiethnic and multilingual diversity of North American literatures and cultures in their regional, national, and global manifestations from precolonial times to the present.

As an interdisciplinary project, American Studies examines textual, performative, visual, material, and virtual representations and interpretations of ‘America.’ American Studies employs methodologies from literary and cultural studies, history, political science, cultural geography, visual culture studies, and linguistics. 
In the context of the internationalization of American Studies, transnational, intercultural, and comparative approaches have gained particular significance in recent years.

The Regensburg American Studies program aims at a comprehensive understanding of North America, including both European and American perspectives.

Research and teaching in American Studies at Regensburg emphasize the following areas: 

• American cultural memory
• early American studies
• American drama and theater
• German-American relations
• American visual culture studies
• performance studies

Research Rating of the German Council of Sciences and Humanities

In a nationwide research rating by the German Council of Sciences and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) of December 2012, Regensburg's American Studies department achieved outstanding results and has established itself among the very best German research institutes in the field. More information is available in this PDF document (opens in a new window). (This PDF is not accessible).