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Kent provides a blend of established staples in American Studies such as the Civil War, slavery and contemporary politics, along with innovative modules on Native American literature, US environmental issues, and Latin American history and culture (including a Spanish language option). A wide range of modules are on offer in both three- and four-year programmes.
Overview
This programme is a four-year degree (with one year abroad) and specialises in American literature. We offer alternative American Studies degrees, all with the option of spending time at a US university. Each programme allows you to shape your degree into something unique and challenging. For more details, see 'related to this course' below.
The University of Kent has been teaching and researching in the field of American Studies since 1973. The programme is taught by an impressive range of internationally recognised scholars who specialise in American film, literature, history and politics. Students are encouraged to visit the United States or Latin America through our exchange system.
Please visit our website and feel free to contact us.
Independent rankings
American Studies at Kent was ranked 4th in The Guardian University Guide 2015 and 7th in The Complete University Guide 2015. In the National Student Survey 2014, 86% of American Studies students were satisfied with the quality of their course.
English at Kent was ranked 13th out of 105 UK universities in The Guardian University Guide 2015.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Year abroad
Students on the four-year programmes spend a year between Stages 2 and 3 at one of our partner universities in the USA (or South America for students on the Latin American pathway) taking specialist courses. American Studies students spending a year in the USA do not have to pay American universities’ (often high) tuition fees.
Students on the three-year programme have the option of spending a term abroad in their final year.
Teaching and assessment
Stage 1 modules are usually taught by lectures and seminars. Stage 2/3 main modules are taught either by lectures and seminars, or by seminars alone. You usually have around ten hours of contact with staff each week.
Depending on the modules you select, assessment varies from 100% coursework (extended essays or dissertation), to a combination of examination and coursework, usually in the ratio 50:50, 60:40 or 80:20.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- develop an understanding of the culture and history of the United States
- provide a flexible, structured, degree with the opportunity to study abroad
- provide teaching informed by research and scholarship
- build on close ties within Europe with the United States through its year abroad of study
- produce graduates in possession of key skills, develop their capacity to learn, to be prepared for employment or further study
- provide learning opportunities that are enjoyable experiences, involve realistic workloads within a research-led framework and offer appropriate support for students from a diverse range of backgrounds
- encourage students to identify and develop their own interests and expertise in fields of the humanities
- develop students’ abilities in independent critical thinking and judgement
- introduce students to Area Studies, in an era of globalisation and multiculturalism.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- a wide range of American authors, across the 19th and 20th centuries
- traditions in literary criticism
- the study of literature in relation to other disciplines
- the inter-connections between American literature and a broader cultural-historical context
- the broader patterns of US history
- terminology used in literary criticism
- the key motifs and themes in US literary history
- the similarities and differences between areas, thus fostering cross-cultural and international perspectives.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- application of the skills needed for academic study and enquiry
- how to evaluate research findings
- the ability to synthesise information from a number of sources to gain a coherent understanding of critical theory and general methodology
- the ability to discriminate and select relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge
- exercise problem-solving skills.
Subject-specific skills
You gain specific skills in the following:
- the ability to perform close critical analysis of literary texts
- informed understanding of critical and theoretical approaches to the study of literature
- the ability to articulate knowledge and understanding of texts, concepts and theories relating to literary studies
- sensitivity to generic conventions in the study of literature
- appropriate scholarly practice in the presentation of formal written work
- the ability to understand a multi-disciplinary academic subject, with its array of literature, history and other discourses
- the ability to combine various academic discourses such as literature and history to forge an inter-disciplinary understanding
- the ability to construct an independent, research-led argument.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- communication: organise information clearly, respond to written sources and present information orally, adapt style for different audiences and the use of images as a communication tool
- the ability to assimilate and organise substantial quantities of complex information
- IT skills: produce written documents, undertake online research and process information using databases
- how to work co-operatively on group tasks and understand how groups function
- improving your own learning, explore personal strengths and weaknesses, time management, develop specialist learning skills and autonomy in learning
- problem-solving: identify and define problems, explore alternative solutions and discriminate between them.
Careers
Many employers view a graduate with overseas study experience as more employable. Studying American Studies gives you transferable skills, such as the ability to work independently, to assimilate and analyse information and to present that information clearly and concisely in written form, and with passion and confidence orally.
Our graduates have gone on to careers in business, further professional training, management, broadcasting and media, teaching and a variety of other occupations in Britain, Europe and the USA.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB including A level English Literature or English Language and Literature grade B. |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 points at HL inc 5/6/6 in HL English A1/A2/B. |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.