Do you love literature and enjoy getting lost in books? Are you creative and imaginative?
Through studying a diverse range of writers – encompassing Shakespeare to Jamaica Kincaid – you will develop new perspectives, interpretations and ideas. This in turn will give you a deeper understanding of the world, yourself, and your own outlook on life.
We offer a variety of modules in both American Studies and English, covering:
You will also study American and Canadian culture, history, politics, film, music and art in the largest department of its kind in Europe.
You can also experience North America, by choosing to study abroad for a year at a US or Canadian university. You can do this by transferring to the study abroad programme at the end of your first year. The option to study abroad is dependent on your academic performance and the availability of places.
You can choose to study this course with 2 options: 3 years full-time or 4 years full-time including optional year abroad
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Modules
Year 1
Our first-year core modules are designed as an introduction. This means that we will build everyone's knowledge to the same level, so you can progress through to year two.
You will take 120 credits of modules split as follows:
Core American Studies modules (60 credits) – you will be introduced to key themes and issues in American literature, covering major authors, texts and literary movements from the early 1800s to the present day. You will also take a multidisciplinary module that explores the literature, film and culture of Canada
Optional English modules (60 credits) – choose three modules
You must pass year one, but it does not count towards your final degree classification.
Core American Studies modules
English modules
You are able to choose any three of the following four modules during your first year. These modules will give you firm foundations to pursue three areas of study in your second and final year.
English Language and Applied Linguistics
Studying Language
Literature, 1500 to the Present
Studying Literature
Medieval Languages and Literatures
Beginnings of English
Drama and Performance
Drama, Theatre, Performance
Year 2
You will take 120 credits of modules split as follows:
Core American Studies modules (20 credits) – you can choose from two key modules: North American Regions, which draws on literature, film and television to examine regional identities, or Key Texts in American Social and Political Thought, which explores debates about religion, race, class, capitalism, gender, sexuality and war in different periods
Optional modules (100 credits) – choose two optional modules from American Studies and three from English
You must pass year two, which counts 33% towards your final degree classification.
Core American Studies modules
North American Regions
Or:
Key Texts in American Social and Political Thought
Optional American Studies modules
You will choose two optional modules from American Studies.
Optional English modules
Depending on your module choices in your first year, you will choose three modules That cover at least two of the following areas:
Literature, 1500 to the Present
English Language and Applied Linguistics
Medieval Languages and Literatures
Drama and Performance
Year aboard (optional)
You can apply to spend your third year studying in North America, transferring to a four-year course and returning to Nottingham for your final year to complete your course.
This is not compulsory – if you choose not to study abroad, you will complete your degree in three years. Eligibility for study abroad is dependent on satisfactory performance in your first year and the availability of places.
“My year abroad was the absolute highlight of the whole course. I did four months in Montreal and then four months in Berlin. As soon as I meet a new employer, they always see it on my CV and ask questions. It’s the greatest thing to have, because you could talk to someone about it for the whole interview and really impress them!” - Aodhbha Bassani, 2020 American and Canadian Studies (Study Abroad) BA graduate
If you do choose to take a year abroad, the benefits are varied. From travelling, to making new friends, to experiencing first-hand the culture you’re studying, you will build important life-long skills. Our returning students have often gained in:
Year 3 or year 4 if taking a year aboard
You will take 120 credits of modules split as follows:
Compulsory core modules (minimum of 20 and maximum of 40 credits) – you will complete a research dissertation
Optional modules (minimum of 80 and a maximum of 100 credits) – a range of options are available, covering aspects of North American and English literatures, cultures and histories
You must pass year four, which counts 67% towards your final degree classification.
Core modules
Dissertation in American and Canadian Studies
Or:
English Dissertation: Full Year
Optional American Studies modules
Optional English modules
Depending on your module choices in your first and second year, you will choose three modules that cover at least two areas of study:
Literature, 1500 to the Present
English Language and Applied Linguistics
Medieval Languages and Literature
Drama and Performance
The range of higher level courses students chose to study after their degree varies from: those that are related to English, including creative writing, to teacher training, law conversion, publishing, business and finance, journalism, speech therapy and many more.
Of those going into the workplace, the range of occupations and sectors entered include:
It is true to say that many graduates of English (and other subjects) take some time building their career through a series of roles to get to a specific career where they want to be or even to decide what job suits them.
This could be due to a variety of reasons for example: the sector they want to enter requires an entry-level position (for example: heritage, media roles and publishing) or they are saving up to fund a postgraduate course or travel and therefore their first destination is a stop gap.
Insurance-Single: 300 GBP/year
