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Discover America – its past, its present and what its future may hold. As Hispanic influences permeate US culture ever more visibly, you explore the history of Spanish American culture through politics, literature and cinema. You also look at America’s relationships with its closest neighbours.
Overview
American Studies at Kent dates back to 1973. You are based in the Centre for American Studies and taught by internationally recognised academics.
American Studies is an interdisciplinary degree, which means that you learn by making connections between ideas and concepts across different disciplinary boundaries, which enriches your learning and gives you a wider perspective on your subject.
Our degree programme
In your first year, you take introductory modules on American studies and Hispanic culture as well as Spanish language modules.
In your second year, you examine key themes in American culture, continue your Spanish language modules and take modules on race and ethnicity in Latin America and Latin American poetry. You can also take modules on American cinema, 19th-century American literature and the American Civil War.
In your final year, you complete an extended essay taking an interdisciplinary approach to your topic. You continue with your Spanish language modules and take modules on the work of Cuban writers and artists since the revolution. You can also take modules in history (the American West in the 20th century and the history of California); or literature (American crime fiction and Native American Literature).
Year abroad
You spend a year abroad between your second and final years at one of our partner universities in Latin America, where you will be taught in Spanish. Current destinations include:
- Chile
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Columbia.
Alternatively, you can spend your year abroad at one of our partner universities in the US. Current destinations include:
- California
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New York State
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin.
We also offer four-year programmes where you focus on American literature American Studies (Literature) and American History American Studies (History).
In addition, you can choose to take a three-year programme where there is an option to spend a term abroad. For details, see American Studies.
Independent rankings
American Studies at Kent was ranked 6th in The Complete University Guide 2017.
For graduate prospects, American Studies at Kent was ranked 2nd in The Complete University Guide 2017. American Studies students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study opportunities (DLHE).
In the most recent research rankings, English at Kent was 10th in the UK for research intensity and 15th for research power; history at Kent was 8th in the UK for research intensity and in the top 20 for research power (REF 2014).
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
Year abroad
Going abroad as part of your degree is an amazing experience and a chance to develop personally, academically and professionally. You experience a different culture, gain a new academic perspective, establish international contacts and enhance your employability.
You spend a year between Stages 2 and 3 at one of our partner universities in South America. For a full list, please see Go Abroad. Places are subject to availability, language and degree programme.
You are expected to adhere to any academic progression requirements in Stages 1 and 2 to proceed to the year abroad. If the requirement is not met, you are transferred to the equivalent three-year programme. The year abroad is assessed on a pass/fail basis and does not count towards your final degree classification.
Teaching and assessment
Modules are usually taught 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 essay or dissertation) to a combination of examination and coursework.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- provide teaching informed by research and scholarship
- encourage flexibility and multidisciplinarity in the study of the Americas
- build on close ties within Europe with the United States and Latin America through its year abroad of study
- provide learning opportunities that involve realistic workloads within a research-led framework and offer appropriate support for students from a diverse range of backgrounds
- introduce students to the history, culture and politics of the Americas, and encourage them to identify and develop their own interests and expertise in fields of the humanities
- develop independent critical thinking and judgement in its students
- enable students to develop their capacity to learn, be prepared for employment or further study
- introduce students to Area Studies, in an era of globalisation and multiculturalism
- provide the opportunity to experience higher education in another culture.
Note on nomenclature: following current American Studies custom, any references to ‘America’ refers to North and South America and not simply the United States of America. Similarly ‘the Americas’ refers to both continents.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the culture of the US and Latin America from colonial times to the 20th century
- methodical practices associated with research and study of American Studies
- the study of American Studies in relation to other disciplines
- terminology used in work in American Studies
- the similarities and differences between areas, thus fostering cross-cultural and international perspectives
- the cultural diversity of the Americas
- the problems inherent in the cultural record itself, and the limits within which interpretation is possible
- the Spanish language in all its aspects, by extensive reading in Spanish and the use of Spanish as a spoken and written medium.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- the skills needed for academic study and inquiry
- 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
- problem-solving skills
- how to communicate effectively in Spanish and another Iberian language for a range of purposes and audiences
- develop language skills in three related areas: reception (listening and reading), production (speaking and writing) and mediation between at least two languages (translation and interpreting)
- the ability to mediate and display qualities of empathy in an intercultural context.
Subject-specific skills
You gain specific skills in the following:
- the close critical analysis of documents of American culture
- an informed understanding of the variety of critical and theoretical approaches to the study of history
- the ability to articulate knowledge and understanding of texts, concepts and theories relating to historical studies
- appropriate scholarly practice in the presentation of formal written work
- the ability to understand a multidisciplinary 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 interdisciplinary understanding
- how to construct an independent, research-led argument
- to read texts and other source materials critically and empathetically while addressing questions of genre, content, perspective and purpose.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- communication: how to organise information clearly, respond to written sources, 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 such as how to produce written documents, undertake online research and process information using databases
- work co-operatively on group tasks and understand how groups function
- explore personal strengths and weaknesses, time management, review working environment, develop specialist learning skills and autonomy in learning
- problem solving, explore alternative solutions and discriminate between them
- communication skills in the Spanish language.
Careers
Graduate destinations
Our graduates have gone on to work in Britain, Europe and the US in a range of areas including:
- business and management
- broadcasting and media
- teaching.
Many also choose to undertake further professional training.
Help finding a job
The University’s friendly Careers and Employability Service offers advice on how to:
- apply for jobs
- write a good CV
- perform well in interviews.
Career-enhancing skills
Many employers view a graduate with overseas study experience as more employable. Alongside specialist skills, you also develop the transferable skills graduate employers look for, including the ability to:
- think critically
- communicate your ideas and opinions
- work independently and as part of a team.
You can also gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.
Independent rankings
For graduate prospects, American Studies at Kent was ranked 2nd in The Complete University Guide 2017. American Studies students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study opportunities (DLHE).
According to Which? University (2017), the average starting salary for graduates of this degree is £18,000.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need 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 for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 points at HL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
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. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 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.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
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.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Fees for Year Abroad/Industry
As a guide only, UK/EU/International students on an approved year abroad for the full 2017/18 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Please note that for 2017/18 entrants the University will increase the standard year in industry fee for home/EU/international students to £1,350.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
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. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.