Join us for an info session about the new American Studies M.A. curriculum!
Starting in the winter semester of 2025/26, the American Studies M.A. program at JGU will launch a newly accredited curriculum.
The updated program offers greater flexibility: You can now choose to complete all 120 credits within American Studies, combine your studies with two modules from another discipline, or earn additional credits through certified programs.
Who can apply? Current Bachelor students majoring or minoring in American Studies, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Education program, as well as first-semester American Studies Master students who are considering switching to the new curriculum.
Want to learn more? Join our info session to get all the details.
INFO SESSION Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 18:00 P13 (Philosophicum)
The Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies proudly joins the American Studies Network as member institution. We are looking forward to participating in the network’s activities and encourage our students and faculty to keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities. Prof. Dr. Axel Schรคfer was named as the Obama Institute’s representative to the ASN and will keep us connected to the other members.
On Nov 6 the Obama Institute will hold an info session on its Direct Exchange programs. Please join us in room P 2 (Philosophicum) for more information about the exciting exchange opportunities!
Nov 6, 18:15-19:45
P 2 (Philosophicum)
Please find all details about the session on the flyer, which is available for download here and on the Exchange page, where you can also browse general information on the programs in order to get a headstart on what your options are and what an application would entail.
Looking forward to talking to you in person on Nov 6, when we will be happy to answer all your questions!
On Nov 13 the Obama Institute will hold an info session on its Direct Exchange programs. Please join us in room P 2 (Philosophicum) for more information about the exciting exchange opportunities!
Nov 13, 18:15-19:45
P 2 (Philosophicum)
Please find all details about the session on the flyer, which is available for download here and on the Exchange page, where you can also browse general information on the programs in order to get a headstart on what your options are and what an application would entail.
Looking forward to talking to you in person on Nov 13, when we will be happy to answer all your questions!
(Anthropology/ Religious Studies, McGill University)
“Materialism and Consumption: Circulating Christian Love with American Things”
March 21, 2023, 3.00-4.30pm, 02.102 (Philo II, Jakob-Welder-Weg 20)
Please join us for a short presentation and discussion with Prof. Hillary Kaell (Anthropology/Religious Studies, McGill University) of the chapter “Materialism and Consumption: Circulating Christian Love with American Things” from her book Christian Globalism at Home: Child Sponsorship in the United States (Princeton University Press, 2020).
Materialism and Consumption: Circulating Christian Love with American Things
For two hundred years, Christians have run charitable projects to “sponsor” children abroad. Through these plans, individuals in the Global Northโnotably in the United States–send money to support an individual child in need. The popularity of these plans rested, in part, on how they offered donors what amounted to consumer choice: one could choose what type of child to support. However, by the 1970s Christian donors began to worry about their own “materialism” and its effects on child sponsorship. Based on my recent book Christian Globalism at Home (Princeton University Press, 2020), this presentation will explore the tight link between sponsorship and early forms of capitalism, along with the “anti-materialist” tactics that sponsors use to soften the ambivalence inherent in this form of global charitable giving.
