What is American and Canadian studies?
American and Canadian studies is an interdisciplinary field of inquiry into the history, literature, politics, visual art, music, film, television and popular culture of the United States and Canada.
From the earliest historical encounters between European settlers and Native Americans, to trends in the contemporary American politics and culture, the department explores a wide and stimulating range of topics. Other examples include courses in the American Civil War, US foreign relations, Canadian literature and film, crime fiction and the blues, among many more.
How will I study?
Teaching methods vary; most modules combine lectures with seminars, which enable discussion and closer analysis. Our staff/student ratio allows us to keep seminar groups reasonably small and to set aside time for individual sessions to give advice and provide feedback on essays and dissertations.
Assessment
Progress is monitored each semester using a variety of methods including exams and assessed coursework. The exam in any module is never normally weighted more than 50 per cent of the full assessment. Although you must pass first-year modules, the marks do not count towards the final degree qualification. This is progressively weighted towards work done in the later stages of the degree to allow for your development. In the final year, you will write a dissertation.
Studying abroad
Our full-time degrees last for either three years, with no compulsory period of study abroad, or four years, with the third year of international study normally spent at an American or Canadian university. We also offer the possibility of spending a semester studying the United States from a different view at one of our partner universities in Europe through the Erasmus scheme. Further information can be found on our study abroad web pages.
Career prospects
Our students gain a variety of skills from working across disciplines and studying abroad. American and Canadian studies graduates adapt easily to such professions as management, business, public services, teaching, law, media, postgraduate work and academia. The modules on contemporary culture are very useful to those students who enter media-related work, such as advertising, journalism, radio and television. A number of our graduates go to North America for careers or further study.
The average starting salary for 2009/10 full-time graduates of the Department of American and Canadian studies was £18,562.*
*Average starting salary from known destinations of first-degree leavers who studied full-time - 2009/10.
Application and interview
Offers are usually made without interview. Students with non-standard entry qualifications, including mature students, are encouraged to apply, and may be invited for an interview. We follow the University's flexible Admissions Policy and take educational personal circumstances into consideration.
Further details are avilable at: www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugstudy/flexibleadmissions
Open days
UCAS visit days for students offered a place are normally held from late January to March. You are welcome to visit at other times – please contact us or for dates of our open days visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/opendays