American Studies guide

CONTENTS

1. What's American Studies?

2. Why study American Studies?

3. What jobs can you get as an American Studies graduate?

4. What qualifications do you need?

5. What degrees can you study?

6. How will you be assessed?

7. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

What's American Studies?

In the twenty-first century, America remains a prominent global force, with American culture, companies and geopolitical decisions dominating our lives.

The motivating force behind American Studies as a discipline is to dissect, decipher and delve into the inner workings of this significant world power. Increasingly, too, American Studies looks beyond the boundaries of the United States and incorporates the wider Americas, the Caribbean, the Transatlantic, the Transpacific and beyond.

Why study American Studies?

If you feel torn between literature and history degree options, American Studies will give you the ability to develop all your intellectual passions without having to choose one area.

You'll approach issues that have been at the heart of the American experience – ethnicity, class, gender and sexuality – and explore crucial themes like civil rights, the idea of freedom, migrant and immigrant experiences, conformism and rebellion, and American foreign relations. 

A year abroad is an integral part of most American Studies degrees. As well as a unique adventure, this is an experience that will have a significant effect on your employability after your degree, as it demonstrates independence, maturity and an ability to thrive in another culture.

Analytical and rhetorical skills will also be developed, as will your ability to write in a concise and effective way, which are just a couple of examples of the many transferable skills you'll learn.

What jobs can you get as an American Studies graduate?

Popular career choices for American Studies graduates include in journalism, publishing, finance, marketing, advertising, media and culture and heritage sectors. Many students go on to further study, and pursue careers in teaching and law.

Professional job: Usually needs a degree
Non-professional job: Doesn't usually need a degree

What qualifications do you need? 

At least one A Level (or equivalent) in English Literature, English Language or History. Another useful subject is Politics.

Minimum grades and other requirements vary with each institution. So, always check the entry requirements for the universities/courses you're particularly interested in.

What degrees can you study?

• BA (Hons) in American Studies

Examples of joint courses include:

• Film and American Studies
• American and Canadian Studies and English Literature
• History and American Studies

Examples of areas of study in a course include:

• American history
• American literature
• American political culture
• American music
• Photography and Visual Culture in the USA
• American Material Culture
• African-American history
• American slavery

How will you be assessed?

Assessments usually take the form of coursework and end of semester written examinations. You may have more creative forms of assessments, such as video essay projects or audience surveys.

Courses usually include a compulsory or optional dissertation project in the final year of study.

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Postgraduate taught and research programmes in American Studies, or related areas such as Film and American Studies, American History, American Literature and Culture, are available as both full- and part-time courses.

Some UK universities offer collaborative research programmes with American universities.