American and Canadian Literature, History and Culture BA

Course overview

This course provides you with the opportunity to study the literature, history, politics, music, visual arts and popular culture (notably film and television) of the United States and Canada. The analytical and research skills you develop will help you to gain in-depth knowledge of major literary theories, political ideas and historical debates as they relate to a North American context.

If your degree includes a year abroad (T704 students), this will give you greater insights into North American society and culture, and you will also prove you are resourceful, independent and can adapt to new situations.

Year one

You are introduced to the basic themes and events of American history and the key authors and texts of American literature, as well as Canadian literature, film and culture. These introductory modules provide the foundation upon which the programme will subsequently build. You will learn and practise technical skills, developing your abilities in research, writing, and argumentation.

Year two

In addition to core modules in American thought and culture, which develop themes covered in the first year, you can choose from a range of specialised modules that will allow you to study certain periods, events, authors or texts in more depth. You will also be given the opportunity to select modules from other schools.

Year three

You will continue and extend the process of specialisation you began in year two, alongside a core module called Identifiably American, which explores themes of identity and experience through a range of literary texts. You will write a dissertation on a subject of your choice, supervised by staff, and you will choose from a range of advanced-level modules in North American history, literature, culture and film, led by staff who are active researchers in these areas.

Entry requirements

A-levels: ABC-BBB, must include essay-based subject. We do not accept general studies or critical thinking.

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element)

TOEFL iBT 100 (no less than 21 in listening and writing, 22 in reading and 23 in speaking)

Alternative qualifications

For details please see the alternative qualifications page

Modules

The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result, may change from year to year. The following list is therefore subject to change but should give you a flavour of the modules we offer.

Typical year-one modules

• American History 1: 1607 - 1900
• American Literature 1: American Literature to 1900
• Canadian Literature, Film and Culture
• Approaches to American Culture
• American History 2: 1900-Present Day

Typical year-two modules

• American Thought and Culture 1: Settlement to World War 1
• American Thought and Culture 2: 1917-Present

Typical year-three modules

• Identifiably American: An Honours Seminar in American Studies

Typical optional modules

• The CIA and US Foreign Policy, 1945-2008
• FDR, American President
• African-American History from Slavery to the Second World War
• The American Presidency: From Truman to Clinton
• Latino Expressive Cultures
• Women in American History, 1848 to 1920
• Landmarks in American Fiction
• American Labor History
• Women in American History, 1920 to the Present
• Age of Adjustment: American Thought and Culture 1945-1960

Skills and careers

Among the major intellectual benefits of this degree will be your ability to interpret, analyse and evaluate evidence across a wide variety of materials. You will also gain additional research, written and oral communication and presentational skills.

Average starting salary 

The average starting salary for 2009/10 full-time graduates of the Department of American and Canadian Studies was £18,562.*