American Studies bachelor

The course aims to:
provide students with the opportunity to engage with a significant range of relevant American literature, history, politics and film, exploiting their interdependence and distinctiveness within the discipline of American Studies;
encourage independent study, the spirit of enquiry and a commitment to scholarly method;
develop in students powers of critical and analytical thinking, the ability to apply these to primary and secondary texts, and to foster skills in written and verbachelorl forms of expression.
The course aims to build knowledge and skills within two disciplines so that flexibility and choice increase as that bachelorse is established. By the third year, the contents of your studies are largely a function of your own choice.
The bachelor (Hons) American Studies has limited choice in the first year, as we want to give you a solid grounding in core topics which is the best possible bachelorsis for the free choices you will make in your second and final years. The second year offers the opportunity to study at a university in the United States or Canada (see below). The final year requires you to write a long essay on a topic of your choice in one of a range of areas. This will complement the remaining five modules, the choice of which can be selected from approximately 30 course units available.

Overseas Study:
Students may apply to spend one or two semesters studying abroad during the second year of their degree (see Course Content for Year 2 for full details).  Exchange partners are offered to students via the Worldwide Exchange scheme, in the USA or Canada. For more information about the Study Abroad Programme as it relates to this course, please consult the following: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/studyabroad/
In the 2014 NSS Survey, overall teaching satisfaction for American Studies was 100%.

During your first and second* years you will be taught mainly by lecture and tutor led sessions. Tutorials give you the opportunity to consider the same texts and topics as the lectures but with a different approach. Tutorial groups usually meet at least once a week, and numbers are kept as low as possible so that you get to know one another and share your ideas. Other course units (mainly those in your final year) are taught by a weekly seminar taken by a specialist member of staff. A compulsory third year dissertation gives you experience in independent research and allows you to develop a personal project. For some course units you join in group work and other forms of collaborative learning. You will also use web bachelorsed and other computerised resources to support your learning.
* (refers to those second years who elect to remain in Manchester for all or part of their second year)
You are assessed on each course unit by a combination of essays and formal examinations. An oral presentation forms part of the assessment for some courses. You will prepare a dissertation in your final year.
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optionalFrom Reconstruction to Reagan: American History, 1877-1988
AMER10002
20
Mandatory
Introduction to American Literature to 1900
AMER10021
20
Mandatory
American History to 1877
AMER10211
20
Mandatory
Introduction to American Studies
AMER10500
20
Mandatory
Aspects of Contemporary America
AMER10042
20
Optional
In the second year you have the opportunity to apply to study abroad for one semester, or for the whole year, or instead you can stay in Manchester. Our exchange partners include the University of California, Arizona State University, the University of Massachusetts and the University of Toronto. Students who stay in Manchester select from a range of courses covering American History, literature, film and politics.
There are two main pathways that students can follow:
Study at the University of Manchester for the whole year

Study in Manchester for the first semester, then apply to
spend the second semester in the United States or Canada. Further information about our North American partner universities can be found here:

http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/expanding-study/study-abroad/destinations/worldwide-partners

Additionally, there are also limited places available to study at the University of California for the whole year.
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optionalFrom Jamestown to James Brown: African-American History and Culture
AMER20141
20
Mandatory
American Film Studies
AMER20072
20
Optional
Work and Play in the USA, 1880-2010
AMER20111
20
Optional
Southern Crossings: Race, Gender and Sexuality
AMER20412
20
Optional
American Literature and Social Criticism, 1900-Present
AMER20481
20
Optional
Twentieth Century African American Literature
AMER20492
20
Optional
The American Melting Pot: Immigration and Ethnicity from Coast to Coast
AMER20811
20
Optional
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optionalLong Essay
AMER30002
20
Mandatory
American Slavery: Society and Culture in the Slave South
AMER30021
20
Optional
Hip Hop and Hollywood
AMER30052
20
Optional
Love American Style
AMER30162
20
Optional
Occupy Everything
AMER30422
20
Optional
Harlem and the State of Urbachelorn America
AMER30511
20
Optional
The Visual Culture of US Empire
AMER30521
20
Optional
Staging America: Race, Identity and Exhibition
AMER30562
20
Optional
Cities of Dreadful Delight: Gender, Race and Sexuality in the Americas 1800-Present
AMER30771
20
Optional
Beat Writing
AMER30791
20
Optional
American Studies has allowed me to critically analyse what is perhaps the most powerful country in the world by studying its history, politics and literature. I think it a really important country to study due to its sheer globachelorl power, including its influence on the UK and our recent foreign policy. America's influence stretches to culture too, from music to film. I have found each module that I've studied fascinating and can genuinely say I've fully enjoyed my whole degree and feel that my knowledge of both American history and globachelorl current affairs has been developed greatly. If you do American Studies, you will find it both fascinating and intellectually fulfilling.  Mikaila Nichols


I graduated in July 2012 with first-class honours in American studies and the A&M Kaiser Award for my dissertation on the US-UK special relationship. My years in Manchester were the best I could have hoped for. I met lifelong friends, worked alongside top academics and learnt to think in new and exciting ways. American Studies engaged me from the offset because it was a chance to dive into a number of different topics, crossing the boundaries of politics, history and literature. Having to adapt to a variety of subjects taught me to become highly adaptable, a great skill that helped win me my job as Programme Officer at the award-winning social enterprise Year Here. Michael Simpson
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants from the Disability Support Office. Email: disability@manchester.ac.uk
Careers
Graduates of English, American Studies and Creative Writing enjoy career opportunities in a wide range of professions. The question to ask is less 'which jobs does a degree in English and American Studies allow me to do?' than 'which jobs doesn't such a degree allow me to do?' `Traditional' careers in publishing, journalism, the media, teaching, the civil service and librarianship are still followed. But our surveys of recent graduates have revealed that our students also pursue an iMasterssive variety of careers in such fields as law, bachelornking, fashion, advertising, accountancy, business management, commerce, the new media, computing and archive studies. Studying English, American Studies and Creative Writing helps to develop versatile skills that include: the ability to manage one's time effectively, to communicate ideas clearly in spoken and written forms, to articulate a knowledge of concepts and theories, and to work and to think independently, critically and creatively.


34 points overall (core points accepted), including 6 points in English or History at Higher level, PLUS grade 6 or 5 in a further two subjects at higher level.
A2B1B2B2B2 at Higher Level, to include either English Lit or History
Grades AABBB, taken at one sitting: accepted only in conjunction with 3 Advanced Highers at Grades shown.
Grades ABB including either English or History
We welcome and recognise the value of the Advanced Welsh bachelorccalaureate and normally require two A Levels to be included within this. For applicants holding the newly reformed Advanced core (first teaching 2015), the grade required will normally be the same as the lowest A Level grade listed in the course entry requirements. We advise you to contact us if you require clarification on the acceptability of your specific portfolio of qualifications.
75-73% to include a mark of at least 7 in either English Lit or History
We welcome the AQA bachelorccalaureate - offers will be made on the bachelorsis of the A-level components.  See A-level section for subject and grade requirements.
The University of Manchester has a rich academic heritage and is one of the world's leading research-intensive universities. It also has a long history of welcoming international students and seeks to continue this tradition by admitting excellent students from across the world. Details of country specific entry requirements are available from the University website
.
BTec Diploma in a Humanities-related subject, with a minimum of 110 credits at Merit and 10 credits at Pass or above, PLUS A-level Grade B in History or English Literature.
Overall 60 credits are required with 45 at Level 3. Minimum of 15 credits with a Distinction grade (it is preferred that this should be in either History, or Eng Lit, or Eng Lang & Lit), plus minimum of 24 credits with a Merit grade in a Humanities-related subject. Applicants must have GCSEs in English (at grade B or higher). We also consider other factors such as additional educational achievements, life experience and skills on an individual bachelorsis.
The number of applicants that are studying towards the Access to Higher Education course are increasing each year for this degree programme. we have therefore put in place a selection process whereby applications are evaluated on an individual bachelorsis and are processed in four stages.
1. The UCAS application including the whole educational profile, references and personal statement are evaluated for potential suitability for the degree programme.
2. In March up to date academic references are sought and successful candidates will also be asked to submit no more than two A4 sides of a handwritten assignment on a piece of literature they have read. This could be a piece of marked course work produced during the Access Course.
3. On receipt of up to date references and evaluation of assignment submitted, applicants will at this stage be shortlisted for interview.
4. The interview is informal and you may be asked questions on the piece of work submitted and is primarily to evaluate your suitability for the degree programme. Candidates will be informed of the outcome within a few days.
The University welcomes applicants with the AP qualification. Such applications will be considered on an individual bachelorsis.
Both the Cambridge Pre-U Diploma, and Principal Subjects in combination with A levels, are accepted by the School. Please see A-level requirements for grades and subject requirements for individual courses. For admissions purposes grade D3 will be considered comparable to grade A at A level and grade M1 comparable to grade B at A level.
The Globachelorl Perspectives short course will not form part of your offer.  However, we recognise the value of this course and recommend that you draw upon this learning and experience when composing your personal statement.
Creative & Media Advanced Diploma Grade B, with ASL A-level Grade B in English Literature or History. We look forward to providing guidance regarding progression opportunities and subject and grade requirements for the American Studies degree when further details on the Humanities
 Line of Learning is published.
The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project (EP) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. The Extended Project is not a compulsory element of post-16 study and as a result the University will not include it in the conditions of any offer made to you. However, if you choose to undertake the EP we would strongly encourage you to draw upon these experiences within your personal statement, as it may be taken into account when your application is considered.
If you have followed a non-standard educational route and have been, for example, educated at home, your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course to which you applied. You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the academic entry requirements as specified for the course. We will also require a reference which should be written by somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education. Please refer to UCAS for further information: UCAS reference guidelines
Minimum IELTS score of 7.0 or equivalent;
eg. NCUK EAP minimum Grade of A with range of 70-79
     TOEFL: IBT score of 100.

For further details see the University guidance
on English Language.
Some English language test results are only valid for two years. Your English language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
Application and selection
Apply through UCAS
American Studies is a competitive subject area here at the University of Manchester, receiving approximately 170 applications for 25 places.
The process runs as follows: stage 1 checks predicted/achieved grades. If these are met, applicants proceed to stage 2; online assessment.  This is to try to identify those students best suited to the various demands of our degree programmes.
Applicants provide fairly short answers to a series of questions, designed to determine an applicant's aptitude and the extent to which there is a match between their interests and our ethos.  We ask applicants to explain why they want to study at Manchester and to give evidence of their interest in, and commitment to, their chosen subject.  We also ask them to select a short literary extract and tell us what interests them about it.  We allow 5 days for completion of the assessment, so this is not a time-pressured exercise and students are able to think carefully about their responses.  The exercise will be assessed alongside the Personal Statement and Reference; decisions will then be made accordingly, as to whether a place is offered.

How it works
: an e-mail will direct applicants to a webpage, where they will complete the assessment and submit it electronically within 5 days. Once the assessment software has been accessed, it can only be re-accessed on the same computer;
attempts to re-access it on a different computer will time you out before the 5 days have expired. Applicants must monitor their e-mail account (inc. spam folder) for e-mails regarding the process. A further e-mail will be sent immediately after the assessment has been submitted and will come from the system, acknowledging receipt and providing the applicant with a copy of their submission. In exceptional circumstances, a paper copy of the questionnaire can be issued for those who have difficulty with access due to a disability.
We like to see some transferable skills in your application for example: .  Time management
.  Team work
.  Independent work
.  Critical and analytical abilities
We only interview students studying alternative qualifications to the A level syllabus, for example students studying Access courses and students that may have been out of education for some time.
We welcome applications from mature candidates. Where appropriate, mature applicants are called for interview and/or invited to submit written work.  Your qualifications to date will be considered, along with the length of time since you were last studying for a qualification - applicants need to have been in education within the last five years.  If it is any longer than five years since you were last in education we may require you to take an Access Qualification and invite you along for interview.
If you are on an Access course, you will be considered individually and we will ask to see some of your recent written work.
If you have other qualifications (eg Vocational A levels, Open University) you will be considered on an individual bachelorsis and you are recommended to contact our Admissions Administrator.
Overseas applications are welcomed and we will assess whether your qualification is of an equivalent standard for entry to our degree programme.  We do not interview overseas applicants. Applicants who are made an offer may be invited to a visit day, but this is not mandatory.
All Deferred applications are assessed on the same bachelorsis as applications for the current year of entry.
We do ask applicants to let us know as early as possible if they are intending to defer.  This helps us to adjust the number of offers we make, in order to achieve the required number of students in a given year.
The University will consider applicants who have re-sat their final examinations but we may require further information in order to make an informed academic judgment on your application.
If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.  In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.  We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your...