contemporary politics shows that there is more need than ever for critical understanding of the formative political, social, economic and intellectual trends in american history. the university of sheffield have a long tradition of research in american history and this master of arts program gives students' the opportunity to study the historical development of the united states from the first encounter between europeans and indigenous americans in the colonial period, through the vietnam war and the black power movement of the 60s and 70s, to the end of the cold war.

the core module develops graduates' understanding of key historiographical and methodological approaches and their skills in using relevant sources, while the dissertation provides them the opportunity to further develop their skills and apply their knowledge in an independent research project.