American Studies
Joint Honours / Combined Honours
The subject
The culture, values and politics of the United States exert an unparalleled degree of influence on the global community of the early 21st century.
You will develop your understanding of the social, political and cultural contexts of the USA, from its earliest settlement by Europeans to its position as the world's only superpower in the aftermath of the Cold War - a position increasingly subject to scrutiny and redefinition.
You will also be encouraged to question the traditional notion of US “exceptionalism”, and to understand North American history and culture from a variety of perspectives as a:
- part of a circum-Atlantic network (including Africa, the Caribbean and Europe)
- process of hemispheric exchange (between North America and Latin America)
- key player in a global world-system
You will follow a specified route, studying a range of interdisciplinary American topics, while developing critical and analytical skills.
In the First Year, you will study American history from 1600 to 1850, and an introduction to film.
During the Second Year, you will study American literature from the colonial period to the present day, and American history from the mid-nineteenth century to the late twentieth century.
The Third Year offers the chance to study:
- Native American literature
- transatlantic literary relations
- America's rise to superpowerdom
- American cinema from the last forty years
You will also take an independent study module on a topic of your choice.
Living and working in the culture you are studying is enormously helpful, and you will be encouraged to take advantage of our study-abroad agreements with partner universities across the United States and Canada.
American Studies develops a broad range of skills and knowledge. Although it is particularly complementary to the study of literature, film or history, it can be studied alongside any other Humanities subject.
Combined with
Joint honours
One other subject can be combined with American Studies in a Joint Honours degree:
- English Language and Communication
UCAS code: - English Literature
UCAS code: QT37 - History
UCAS code: VT17 - Philosophy
UCAS code: VT57
Combined Honours
One other subject can be combined with American Studies in a Combined Honours degree:
- English Language and Communication
UCAS code: - English Literature
UCAS code: QT37 - History
UCAS code: VT17 - Philosophy
UCAS code: VT57
Alternatively
You can also study American Studies as one of the four different subjects on the Humanities Open Programme.