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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 three-year degree, with the option of spending one term at a US university in your third and final year. We also offer a range of four-year degree programmes with a year abroad (see our related courses 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.
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.
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
Our aims are to provide students with:
- an understanding of the culture and history of the United States
- a multi- and inter-disciplinary understanding of American culture and history
- a flexible, structured degree, with the opportunity to study abroad
- teaching informed by research and scholarship to inculcate specialised regional knowledge
- key skills to develop the capacity to learn and be prepared for employment or further study
- the knowledge to develop students' own interests and expertise in the humanities with the possibility of continuing their studies at postgraduate level
- the ability to develop independent critical thinking and judgement
- the skills to operate across various disciplines, to use a variety of approaches in formulating and solving problems using diverse materials and information sources.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the culture of the US from colonial times to the 20th century
- methodical research and study practices
- the study of the subject in relation to other disciplines
- the terminology used in the field of American Studies
- the similarities and differences between areas, fostering cross-cultural and international perspectives
- texts and other source materials, addressing questions of genre, content, perspective and purpose
- the problems inherent in the cultural record, and the limits within which interpretation is possible.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- the application of the skills needed for academic study and inquiry
- 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
- to discriminate between and select from relevant information sourced from a wide and large body of knowledge
- to exercise problem-solving skills
Subject-specific skills
You gain specific skills in the following:
- an enhanced ability to conduct the close critical analysis of documents of American culture, politics and society
- an informed understanding of the variety of critical and theoretical approaches to the subject
- the ability to articulate knowledge and understanding of texts, concepts and theories relating to American Studies
- develop an appropriate scholarly practice in the presentation of formal written work
- the ability to understand and combine a multidisciplinary academic subject, with its array of literature, history and other discourses
- the ability to construct an independent, research-led argument
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- the ability to organise information clearly; respond to written sources and present information orally; adapt style for different audiences; use images as a communication tool
- to assimilate and organise substantial quantities of complex information
- IT, including producing written documents, conducting online research, communicating via email and processing information using databases
- working with others, defining and reviewing the work of others; work co-operatively on group tasks and understand how groups function
- develop learning skills, including autonomy, explore personal strengths and weaknesses; time management; review the working environment (especially the student-staff relationship).
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 |
| 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 |
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
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.