©Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area StudiesWhat is American Studies?

What is American Studies?©Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies

What is American Studies?



American Studies explores the United States through its history, diverse cultures and global role



American Studies is different to many other degree courses because it combines a number of subjects including: History, Literature and Politics


American Studies offers you choiceYou can focus on the subjects you know and love or broaden your horizons and find new areas to explore


American Studies offers you choiceYou can study subjects together: History and LiteratureForeign Policy and FilmPolitics and International Relations


American Studies offers you choiceDepending on the route you choose to take within your degree you could study a combination of the following subjects …


History Literature

Culture

FilmPolitics

Music

Visual Arts

Foreign PolicyGeography

Religion


What will you study?

You might study the American political system whilst taking a course on jazz, explore Native American History or analyse early Hollywood cinema – or even all of these together!


What will you study?

A broad range of topics – like the 1950s – or topics such as the African American experience or the US media


American Crime FictionUS Foreign Policy and TerrorismThe Civil Rights Movement Slavery and Freedom and …

Here are some of the modules you might study…


American MusicalsThe CIA and International HistoryThe BluesWomen in American Society

Here are some of the modules you might study…


Make connections

As well as drawing on a range of subjects, American Studies is also interdisciplinary, which simply means that it seeks to make connections between subjects


For exampleYou might study the Vietnam war in a Foreign Policy module but you can also investigate how it is represented in Film


Or

You might learn about The American Civil War in a history module and study it through poetry and fiction


You choose the direction your

studies takeThis allows you to build connections between different subjectsIncreasing the scope of your knowledge


It provides you with original lines of enquirySo you can follow your own path

You choose the direction your

studies take


So remember…

“It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see”

Henry David Thoreau, American author and philosopher

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm”

Ralph Waldo Emerson, American author and philosopher


Quickquiz

How much do you already know about the USA?


Quickquiz

Which is the largest state in the US?A. TexasB. AlaskaC. California

Answer: B. Alaska


Quickquiz

Which of the following is NOT a real museum in the US?A. The shark tooth museum

B. The museum of deathC. The hamburger hall of fame

Answer: A. The shark tooth museum


Quickquiz

When did America declare its independence from Britain?A. 1492B. 1776C. 1914

Answer: B. 1776


QuickquizThe classic American novel Moby Dick tells the story of a hunt for what?A. a bearB. a criminalC. a whale

Answer: C. a whale


Why study America?

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Why study America?

Because its study is exciting and relevant and will help you develop a broad range of skillsAnd it opens up wide employment prospects


Why study America?

Because of its cultural richness and diversityBecause of its power and influence


Because of its cultural diversity

Its many vital, exciting and complex cultures draw on such traditions as the African American, Asian American, Hispanic, European and Native American traditions


Because of its powerful influence

America is often described as the only remaining “superpower” in the world. After the end of the Cold War, America emerged as the most powerful nation in the world because of its economic and military strength



And the culture of the United States – its art, literature, TV, film and music – has a huge impact around the world. These attract large international audiences and often influence the cultures of other nations



Whether you believe this is a good or bad thing it is vital to investigate and understand the cultural, economic and military power of the United States and its effects on the rest of the world


Because of its history

In its short history the United States has been shaped by:mass immigrationrevolutioncolonisationslavery

civil warimperial ambitionsdemocracy


Because of its history

All of these are not issues that belong to the past, they are crucial to understanding the modern world we live in


Because it raises global

issuesSo American Studies gives you insight into topics and ideas that are interesting and relevant


But what can an American Studies degree do for you?vital skillsexcellent career prospects the opportunity to study abroada global outlook and cultural awareness


What kind of job can you

get?The broad range of skills gained by taking American Studies means you have many different employment options when you complete your degree



get?Here are just some of the most popular careers and professions that American Studies graduates take up…



get?Film and TV Production • Education • Politics • Sales • Journalism • Media • Research • Publishing • Public Relations • Business Administration •



get?Marketing • Museum work • Human Resources • Archival History • Corporate Communications…

…and many more


“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”Ralph Waldo Emerson, American author and philosopher

Documents

©Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area StudiesWhat is American Studies?