English and American Literature

Description

The writers of Britain and America are of course deeply connected: often they employ the same language, address the same readers, share the same cultural reference points. But at the same time, the two traditions differ sharply in their typical values and tones of voice. This programme allows you to experience these continuities and distinctions. Students on this programme have access to the courses that make up the degrees in English Literature and American and English Literature. The combination also means that you encounter the teaching of two different Schools: the interdisciplinary work of the School of American Studies, and the more literary focus of the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing.

Your degree course will be planned in conjunction with your adviser, but we give an outline here. The basic unit of teaching, the module, lasts for one semester and carries twenty credits in Years 1 and 2, thirty credits in Year 3. The academic year contains two semesters; in each semester you will normally take three units, making a total of six units a year (two and four respectively in the final Year). Over the three years of your course you will normally accumulate 360 credits: that is, eighteen modules. Free choice modules are available – either to extend your degree subjects, or to venture outside them. As we believe in encouraging interdisciplinarity, you will be required to take three units (sixty credits) outside English and American Literature. Within our own Faculty of Arts and Humanities, this could involve taking units in American Studies, Creative Writing, Drama, History or Film, for example. Alternatively, you may opt for units offered by the Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Social Sciences subject to entry requirements.

Detailed Course Facts

• EUR 10560 Year (EEA)
• EUR 14430 Year (Non-EEA)

UK/EU £9,000; International £12,300

• English

Course Content

Year 1

The first year requires you to take introductory courses in both traditions, though a slight emphasis is placed on the less familiar American literature and on its social and historical background. Courses such as Imagining America, and Literature in History provide you with the context within which future studies will unfold. You will have a list of optional modules to choose from, encouraging you to broaden your awareness of related subjects such as film, drama, philosophy, linguistics or history.

Year 2 and Year 3

The precise mixture of English and American modules in the second and third years is up to you, and you will discuss your choices with your faculty adviser to make sure that you end up with a balanced programme. You are required to take a number of modules outside the immediate English and American Literature programme. There is a wide range of modules to choose from in the Faculty of Humanities, including free-choice courses in drama, film and creative writing as well as offerings in other literatures and in history.

You can also (and subject to entry requirements) use your free choices to take modules offered by other faculties.

Modules of study are taught in a number of different forms – often lectures and smaller seminar groups – designed to encourage student participation. In every module your work is assessed; forms of assessment also vary, including essays, project work, presentation, examination or a combination of any of these methods. You may also write a dissertation during your final year.

This programme does not include a year in the USA.

Teaching and Assessment:

Key skills, issues and ideas are introduced in lectures given by all members of faculty, including literary critics, literary historians, and writers. More specialist study is undertaken in small group seminars. These are chosen from a range offered within the School and across the University. You will also spend time studying and researching in the library or carrying out practical work or projects. In most subject areas, you are assessed at the end of each year on the basis of coursework and, in some cases, project and examination results. In your final year, you will write a dissertation on a topic of your choice and with the advice of tutors. There is no final examination. Your final degree result is determined by the marks you receive in years two and three.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6.5 TOEFL iBT® test : 88

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

Requirements

• Qualification: BA (Hons)
• A Level: AAB-ABB including English Literature grade A
• International Baccalaureate: 33-32 points overall with score of 6 in HL English
• Scottish Advanced Highers: AAB-ABB including English Literature grade A
• Irish Leaving Certificate: Please contact the university for further information.
• Access Course: We are happy to consider Access applicants - please contact the university for further information.
• HND: Please contact the university for further information.
• European Baccalaureate: 80-75% overall, including 80% in English Literature

The combined English Language and Literature A-level is acceptable instead of English Literature. A second Arts or Humanities subject at A-Level is usually preferred. Students studying the IB programme should also offer a second Arts or Humanities subject at Higher Level.

Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students from all academic backgrounds. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading). Recognised English Language qualifications include:

• IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in all components)
• TOEFL: Internet-based score of 88 overall (minimum 18 in the Listening and Writing components; 19 in the Reading component; and 21 in the Speaking component)
• PTE: 62 overall with minimum 55 in all components

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 East Anglia.