American and Canadian Studies with year abroad

Description

This multidisciplinary degree explores the dynamic characteristics of North American society. From analyzing American film to studying the workings of Washington, to reading modern American fiction, from examining the War on Terror to considering slavery and its legacies, from studying film to reading modern American literature to exploring the evolution of vaudeville and the Musical you will explore the history, literature, politics and culture of the United States and Canada.

At its core, this programme first revolves around the study of North American history and literature, then branches out to explore politics, culture and film. These elements combine to give you a rounded understanding of American life and its global influence.

Career opportunities

As well as careers in teaching and research, this programme equips you for work in government, the media, law, accountancy, advertising, human resources and retail management. The year abroad is also often picked out by employers as something which they value.

Detailed Course Facts

• English

Course Content

At its core, this programme first revolves around the study of North American history and literature and then branches out to explore politics, culture, film and the United States international relations, in ways that become increasingly specialised. These elements can be combined in different ways and to different degrees depending on how your interests evolve. Opportunity exists to present assessments in a variety of forms, including audio-visual modes.

First year

You take a foundation course in American History and Literature up to 1890, together with an introduction to Canadian Studies. A group project module provides you with key research and IT skills. An ancillary study of a subject such as Film Studies will also be undertaken.

Second year

You study history and culture from 1890 to the present and begin to develop your own interests be these political, sociological, literary or multicultural by selecting specialist options from a list that includes the African-American Experience, Musicals, the CIA and International History, and Film-making practices (which can include some practical training).

Third year

You spend the third year with one of our North American exchange partners. In recent years our students went to the following universities:

• University of Wyoming-Laramie
• University of Iowa
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• University of Virginia
• University of Mississippi
• University of Cincinnati
• McGill University
• Dalhousie University
• Simon Fraser University
• University of Alabama
• Berry College
• Southern Birmingham College
• University of Ottawa
• University of Toronto

While abroad you are free to study a wide range of American and Canadian civilisation courses and to begin research on your dissertation, which is then completed in the final year of study back in Birmingham. This year abroad counts towards your final degree.

Please note, you must pass the second year course with a mark of at least 50% to be eligible for study abroad.

Final year

Your final-year courses are drawn from a wide range of options including Anti-Americanism, a variety of options exploring cross-cultural themes in American and Canadian History, and courses in Modern and Contemporary Literature and Film. At the very centre of your studies is a year long project, called the Dissertation, which gives you a chance to develop your own interests in considerable depth, whilst learning how to handle a sustained programme of research.

Joint Honours combinations

You can also take American and Canadian Studies as part of a Joint Honours combination, in which each subject makes up 50% of the course see American and Canadian Studies Joint Honours BA|.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 CAE score : 80(Grade A) TOEFL iBT® test : 93

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

Number of A levels required: 3

Typical offer: ABB

International Baccalaureate Diploma: 34 points

International students:

Standard English language requirements apply: IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band; TOEFL IBT 93

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Birmingham.