Mobility Option

Exclusive to the B.A. Interdisciplinary American Studies Program:

Students who elect to take the 'mobility option' gain two additional semesters (usually 5th and 6th semesters) in order to be geographically, academically and/or professionally 'mobile.' If students choose the mobility option, they earn 60 ECTS credit points and return to the University of Tübingen for their 7th and 8th semesters to conclude their studies. For the mobility option students may choose between the following options, which may also be combined:

• Study abroad
• One or several internships in Germany and/or abroad

To choose the mobility option, students must enroll in the four-year program #270 (IAS bachelor with mobility option) by the end of the fourth semester. The change of program form must be submitted to the "Studentensekretariat".

Studying Abroad

The American Studies Department maintains special exchange agreements with the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), the University of Maryland (College Park), and Tufts University (near Boston). For more information, please see our Exchange Universities page.

In addition, the University of Tübingen offers an extensive exchange program with more than 50 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, as well as a number of universities in other English-speaking countries (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India). Furthermore, the ERASMUS exchange program offers the opportunity to study in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Placements are available for a full academic year or for one semester. You can find more information on the web pages of the Department of International Affairs (partly in German).

Criteria for Courses at an Academic Institution Abroad to Qualify for the Mobility Option

• The course is conducted in English.
• The course content is related to America.
• A minimum of three courses per semester need to be successfully completed with credit in order to earn a total of 30 ECTS points for the B.A. Interdisciplinary American Studies program.

Internship

Students enjoy maximum flexibility in choosing the location and field of their internship(s). An internship should provide the opportunity to acquire professional skills, work experience and insights into the labor market. Students may choose an internship in Germany and/or abroad. An internship in the US may enrich the student's understanding of American culture, business, politics, media, economics, etc. An internship elsewhere abroad may encompass a transnational dimension of the United States, e.g. in an organization/institution which deals with international or global issues.

Be sure to also check our Facebook page for current internship openings.

Criteria for an Internship to Qualify for the Mobility Option

• English is used as lingua franca (except for internships in Germany).
• The institution/organization offering the internship is either located in an English-speaking country or conducts its business internationally, ideally with some relation to the United States.
• For 30 ECTS points, an internship should comprise at least three months and should be full-time.
• A summary report of the internship must be presented to the American Studies Department after the return in order to obtain credit.
• Students who are funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research ("BAföG") should note that an internship abroad can only be funded, according to BAföG rules, if it lasts at least three months.