Most academic departments will ask for an IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) for undergraduate degrees but there are exceptions and you should always check with the individual departments, or check the conditions included in your offer letter.
A level (or equivalent) typical offer: BBB
Alternative typical offer: 32-33
GCSE or equivalent: English Minimum grade C
American Studies covers the culture, history and politics of the most influential country in the world, and studying this four-year integrated BA degree opens up a range of exciting career possibilities by helping you to develop transferable skills, which are highly valued by employers.
The foundation year gives you an exciting introduction to higher education, exploring the humanities and social sciences before progressing to the full degree programme. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after further education or if you are returning to education after a gap.
You will have the chance to explore American history, literature, politics and culture, stretching from colonization to the presidency of Donald Trump.
American Studies at Swansea is ranked number one in the UK for student satisfaction (NSS, Complete University Guide 2018) and you will have the option of a semester in the USA during your second year, further improving your student experience and career prospects.
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Year 0 (Level 3)
Entry Level 3 / Foundation Year
Compulsory Modules
Module Name
Academic Writing and Skills Development
Introduction to Being Human
Introduction to Research
Critical Reflection and Problem Solving
Research Essay
History, Memory and the creation of Identity
Year 1 (Level 4)
Students choose 120 credits from the following:
Compulsory Modules
Module Name
The American Experience 1492-2000
Introduction to American Studies
American Politics and Society
Introduction to American Literature and Culture
Optional Modules - Semester 1
Choose Exactly 20 credits from the following Modules:
NOTE : Select ONE module
Module Name
Europe of Extremes, 1789–1989
Living Well and Doing Good - An Introduction to Ethics
Politics and the People
Introduction to International Relations
Introduction to Politics
Theories of War
AND
Optional Modules - Semester 2
Choose Exactly 20 credits from the following Modules:
NOTE : Select ONE module
Module Name
The Early Modern World, 1500-1800
Political Philosophy
Hollywood: A History of American Film
War and Peace in the Nuclear Age
War and Society in the Modern Era
Year 2 (Level 5)
FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip
Students choose 120 credits from the following:
Optional Module Choices - Semester 1
Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:
NOTE : Select 60 credits for semester 1. NOTE: Students will be expected to take 120 credits for the year: 60 credits in Semester 1 and 60 credits in Semester 2. 120 credits must be comprised of modules listed, and it is recommended that 60 credits should be modules with an AM code. An optional 20 credit ‘elective’ module can be chosen from within the School of Culture and Communication.
Module Name
Race and Ethnicity: American Perspectives
America in Crisis: Political Culture and Society from the Tet Offensive to Trump
Revolutionary America, 1760–1791
Globalisation
The First World War
AND
Optional Modules - Semester 2
Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:
NOTE : Select 60 credits for semester 2.
Module Name
American Word/American Image
Re-Thinking the South: Southern Culture and History, 1865-1955
New York City: History and Culture since 1945
The Story of America on Film and Television, 1607-1867
Stori America Ar Ffilm a Theledu, 1607–1867
Moralities of War and Peace
The History of Political Thought
British Politics and Public Policy
Contemporary Wars and Conflicts
Year 3 (Level 6)
FHEQ 6 Undergraduate / Honours
Students choose 120 credits from the following:
Compulsory Modules
Module Name
American Studies Dissertation
Optional Modules
Optional Module Choices
Choose Exactly 80 credits from the following Modules:
NOTE : Students taking Single Hons American Studies will be expected to take 120 credits for the year: 60 credits in Semester 1 and 60 credits in Semester 2. 100 credits must be comprised of modules offered by the American Studies Programme (AM code) or from modules in the cognate disciplines as listed below. An optional 20 credit ‘elective’ module can be chosen from within the School of Culture and Communication. It is recommended that 60 credits should be modules with an AM code.
Module Name
African American Literature 1910-1940: The Harlem Renaissance
Clear and Present Danger: Terrorism and America
Popular Music and the City
The Story of the USA on Film and Television, 1865–2008
Stori yr Unol Daleithiau ar Ffilm a Theledu, 1865–2008
Gunfighter Nation: the West in History, Mythology and Fiction
Parliamentary Studies
The Aftermaths of War
Contemporary American Fiction
America and the Bomb
The American Civil War in History and Memory
Shadow Wars: US Presidents and covert action from the Cold War to Trump
Capitalism and Justice: inequality, power and prosperity in contemporary economies
Overlord: War, Societies, and the Battle for Normandy 1944.
American Studies, BA (Hons)
Almost 93% of our American Studies Single and Joint Honours graduates are in work and/or further study six months after graduation (92.9% - HESA Performance Indicator sourced from the DLHE survey 2013/14) and American Studies at Swansea is ranked 1st for graduate prospects (The Guardian Good University Guide 2016).
Students on this course typically develop excellent oral and writing skills and you will learn to present your ideas in a range of formats, along with strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills.
Our graduates enter careers in a wide range of sectors including:
Insurance - Single: 300 (£) per year
