By combining the study of American Literature and Creative Writing, you'll become an informed and critical reader of the American literary tradition, as well as a confident and expressive writer - whether specialising as a poet, playwright, or author of fiction.
Studying at one of the UK's most dynamic English departments will challenge you to develop your own critical faculties. Learning to write creatively and critically analyse in tandem, you'll be exposed to a huge variety of literature while you develop your own writing practice.
You'll also examine a variety of areas in American literature, including the literature of the first encounter, nineteenth-century and African-American writing, satire, New York School poetry, drama, the urban novel and writing about music and the novella. You will have the chance to take courses in other departments, studying American history or film, to broaden your understanding of America.
Learn how to create, criticise and shape an artistic work: a valuable life skill with uses beyond writing poetry, plays or novels. From journalism and website creation to advertising and academic publishing – you'll be able to use the skills you pick up in character, voice, ambiguity, style and cultural context. You will be taught by internationally known scholars, authors, playwrights and poets who are specialists in their fields, producing ground-breaking written work and appearing at literary festivals around the world, including practicing American novelists Ben Markovits and Douglas Cowie.
Our flexible degree programmes enable you to apply to take a Placement Year, which can be spent studying abroad, working or carrying out voluntary work. You can even do all three if you want to (minimum of three months each)! To recognise the importance of this additional skills development and university experience, your Placement Year will be formally recognised on your degree certificate and will contribute to your overall result. Please note conditions may apply if your degree already includes an integrated year out, please contact the Careers & Employability Service for more information. Find out more
Critique texts considering literary devices such as form, genre and periodisation.
A range of literature modules from poetry to novels.
You can specialise as a poet, playwright or author of fiction.
Be taught by world-renowned American authors.
The chance to spend a year at a university in the USA.
More Info: Click here
Core Modules
Year 1
Introducing America, 1600-1900
Critical Foundations: Thinking as a Critic
Introduction to Poetry
Introduction to Creative Writing
Why Write? The History and Theory of Creative Writing
Year 2
The American Century: American Literature 1900-2000
You will take two of the following:
Playwriting
Fiction
Poetry
Year 3
You will choose one of the following modules. Each of these modules consists of a year-long independent project, working closely with a staff supervisor from the appropriate field.
Playwriting 2
Fiction 2
Poetry 2 Creative Writing Special Focus (Term 1)
Creative Writing: Special Focus (Term 2)
Taking a degree in English sets you up with great prospects for future employability. On the course itself we place a strong emphasis on your future employability, meaning that you will develop a variety of transferrable skills.
Although many of our students go on to further study in literature and other fields, skills such as research, presentation, teamwork, negotiation and communication will prepare you for a wide range of career opportunities.
Recent graduate have gone on to careers in:
Accountancy and banking
Publishing
Law
Media, PR and journalism
Teaching
Theatre and arts
We currently run a structured work placement scheme, placing students with organisations such as The Daily Telegraph, the Press Association, BBC Newsnight, publishers, literary agencies and media companies in London. By taking part in the scheme and you will boost your employability, build your CV, and develop real skills to help you choose and prepare for a career.
IHS per year: GBP 500
