BA single honours or in combination with another subject American Studies 2018/19

The American Studies course offers a variety of modules in three strands: history, literature and media, and foreign policy and politics. Year one consists of introductory modules for which you need no previous knowledge of the USA, and thus provides the building blocks for future study. In years two and three, you can focus on a particular strand or mix and match modules from all strands if you prefer.

We are proud to offer an exciting range of optional modules each year, all of which are related to, and informed by, the research that we are doing. The nature and content of these modules will vary, as we seek to provide you with modules that are in line with our current research interests and fresh with the most up-to date thinking on a particular topic. Examples of subjects covered in option modules have ranged from American Indian history and American modernism to the Black Freedom Movement and US foreign policy. You will also have the opportunity to develop your own research interests in American Studies by taking on an Extended Essay (year two) and a Dissertation (year three). American Studies is assessed entirely by coursework.

Visit the USA

Every year, we run an optional trip to a North American city, such as New York, San Francisco, or Chicago, accompanied by staff from the American Studies Team. This is a great opportunity for those who have not been to the United States before to get a taste of the country they are studying, and to have a great time exploring the city, both as part of scheduled tours and visits arranged by the American Studies team, and independently. The trip is open to all students in American Studies, so you could go all three years if you wanted to.

Core modules

Year 1

A Story of American Freedom? A History of the United States from Pre-Contact to the Present

Is American history a story about freedom? In this module, which explores domestic US history from indigenous Native Americans settlements to the present, you will be able to consider this question, as well as to gain a broad base of knowledge upon which to build on in years two and three, and a range of essential study skills. The module is structured chronologically, but threaded through the narrative is the theme of freedom in American history and the significant conflicts over its changing meanings, its limits, and its accessibility to various social and economic groups throughout American history. You will use a range of sources to explore these themes, including traditional textual sources but also art, literature, and other cultural documents. Single honours students take this core module for 40 credits, and combined honours students can choose whether to take this module for 20 or 40 credits.

Divided by A Common Language: Culture and Society in Britain and the USA

This module will give you the opportunity to learn alongside North American students and to gain insight into the similarities and differences in the culture and society of Britain and the USA. The module is structured thematically, covering major aspects of British and American society, history, politics and culture, and encouraging discussion and debate amongst students from both sides of the Atlantic. At the end of the module, you will complete a project that will ask you to reflect upon whether you think Britain and the USA are ‘divided by a common language. This module is core for single honours students, but optional for combined honours students.

Year 2

Extended Essay

This module will enable you to develop skills for independent learning and individual research so that you can undertake a substantial piece of written work on a subject related to one of your other year two modules. You will be able to select your own topic in consultation with tutors, and to work closely with a supervisor expert in that area. This module therefore provides an essential foundation for the dissertation in year three. This module is core for single honours students, but optional for combined honours students.

Year 3

American Studies in the 21 ^st Century

This module is designed to allow you to reflect upon the skills and knowledge that you have built up over your degree, and to look forward to your future, whether your plans include further study or employment. We will use the critical and analytical skills you have gained in year one and two to discuss contemporary issues in the United States (such as elections, social movements, literature and film, or Supreme Court decisions), and you will also be able to take part in workshops designed around employability and postgraduate opportunities. This module is core for single honours students, but optional for combined honours students.

Dissertation

As the culmination of your degree, the dissertation will enable you to build upon skills gained in the extended essay and will equip you with the practical skills and research methodology to undertake research on a topic of your choice in American Studies. Although the dissertation by nature is centred on independent learning, you will work with a supervisor with the expertise to guide you through your project. Single Honours students take this core module for 40 credits, but it is optional for combined honours students.

Likely optional modules

We continually review and where appropriate, revise the range of modules on offer to reflect changes in the subject and ensure the best student experience. We will inform applicants of any changes to the course structure before enrolment.

We are proud to offer an exciting range of optional modules each year, all of which are related to, and informed by, the research that we are doing. The nature and content of these modules will vary, as we seek to provide you with modules that are in line with our current research interests, and fresh with the most up-to-date thinking on a particular topic. As we value the student perspective, we also update our modules based on the feedback students give us, as we try to ensure that you will have a great learning experience no matter which of our modules you choose.

We will always have at least one optional module available in year two and year three in each of our strands (History, Literature and Media, and Politics and Foreign Policy), and students taking American Studies may take modules in year two and year three in other courses, for example in History, English Literature, or Film, Radio, and Television Studies. Examples of the modules available in 2015-16 give an indication of the range and types of modules we usually offer.

Modules offered in 2015-16:

Year 1:

Rise of the American Colossus: US Foreign Policy, 1898 to the Present

The Invention of America: Texts and Contexts from 1607 to the Present

American Cinema Since 1950

American Political Culture and the American Dream

Year 2:

History strand:

Removal to Red Power: American Indian History 1830s-1950s

Atlantic Americas: Commerce, Domination, and Resistance in the Atlantic World, 1500-1800

Literature and Media strand:

American Modernism 1880-1960

American Independent Cinema

Banned Books: A Literary History of the United States

The Beatles: Cultural Context and Critical Understanding

Politics and Foreign Policy strand:

Uneasy Neighbours: US Foreign Policy in Latin America

Political Concepts in 21st Century America

Year 3:

History strand:

The Modern Black Freedom Movement

Contemporary Native America: Resurgence and Resistance since 1960

Medium and Message: American News and Media

Literature and Media strand:

Contemporary American Literature and Culture

New Voices in Ethnic American Literatures

The Cinematic City

Blood, Terror and Belonging: Culture at American Borders

Politics and Foreign Policy strand:

Instrument of Power: The CIA and US Foreign Policy 1947 to the Present

Politics, Identity, and US Foreign Policy

Employers are looking for a variety of skills and attributes from graduates such as versatility, critical thinking and the ability to work independently and as part of a team. All of these are developed in our American Studies course. Recent graduates have gone on to further study, and employment in social work, the media, tourism, management, and teaching, but there are few limits to what you can do with an American Studies degree. If you are considering a career in primary or secondary teaching you may wish to combine American Studies with a subject taught in schools such as History or English.

Fees

The 2018/19 annual tuition fees for this course are:

Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis, except where stated.

* The tuition fee of £9,250 relates to 2018/19 only. Please read the 2018/19 Tuition Fee Statement for further information regarding 2018/19 tuition fees and mid-course year on year fee increases.

• Read advice about funding your degree
• See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
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• For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk

Additional course costs

Although we aim to minimise any additional costs to students over and above the course tuition fee, there will be some additional costs which students are expected to meet.

Costs applicable to all students

Course specific costs

General principle policy

The University’s general principles policy for additional course fees are set out here

Composition of the course

As it is a multi-disciplinary course, American Studies is taught in a variety of ways. Modules are usually delivered through a variety of lectures, seminars, workshops, and screenings, depending on what best suits a particular topic or discipline. Module tutors also hold regular office hours, when you can drop by informally to discuss the module or your assignments, and all staff are also available by appointment for longer discussions, such as to give you detailed feedback on your coursework.

The amount of time you spend in class will vary depending on which modules you choose (for example, a module that includes film screenings may result in more class time), but will likely be between six and twelve hours a week. You will be expected to spend the rest of the week in self-study, both completing assignments and preparing for your workshops and seminars. Your module tutor will direct you towards specific readings and/or activities that you will be expected to complete before class, so we want to make sure you have enough time to complete this work. For the Extended Essay in year two and the Dissertation in year three, you will conduct independent research under the supervision of a member of the American Studies team, and will be expected to meet with your supervisor on a regular basis.

If you take a module outside of American Studies as part of your degree, the delivery and contact hours will vary in line with the relevant course.

Academic input

The American Studies degree is delivered under the supervision of a team of experienced academics, each an acknowledged expert in their particular field. All current full-time academic staff have doctorates and are research-active. Individual members of the current team have been recognised for their particular professional contributions to the field. We sometimes recruit additional staff to help us teach some of our more popular modules, and involve our postgraduate students in teaching where appropriate. At present, most modules are taught by our core team.

American Studies is assessed entirely by coursework. Different modules will have different types of coursework, depending on what best suits a particular topic or discipline, but most modules will be assessed by a combination of essays, presentations, and shorter portfolio assignments.

However, if you take a module outside of the American Studies course as part of your degree, you will be assessed in line with that course. This means you may have to take exams as well as to complete coursework assignments for any of these modules that you choose.

We encourage students to spend time abroad because we understand the importance of personal and academic growth during your university career. If you already know that you want to spend a year or a semester in the USA or Canada, you can apply through UCAS for that option. If you are unsure, you can apply in year 2 through our internal competition to study at one of our exchange partners in the USA or Canada as part of your degree. Please see this web page for further details.

BA (Hons) American Studies with Foundation Year

This course can also be studied over four years with an additional foundation year (Year 0) for those without the formal entry qualifications. The foundation year is designed to provide you with the grounding you need to progress on to the degree.

UK/EU

Full-time study

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International

Full-time study

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