BA American Studies (Part time)

The American Studies programme is an interdisciplinary course, enabling students to study American history and literature as well as politics and film if they so wish. The programme invites students to engage with diverse forms of cultural expression: photography; politics; popular culture; classic texts; bestsellers; movies.

Course Structure
American Studies at UEA begins with introductory modules that provide a foundation in many aspects of American life and culture, from dispossession of native Americans to the foreign policy of Barack Obama.

At level two, you are invited to choose from a wide range of seminars on topics such as American Drama 1945-1970, American and Vietnam, American Bestsellers. Also available are interdisiplinary American Studies units which focus on a period, like The American 1960s, or study American values in a wide range of cultural forms, such as The American West or, Native American Literature and Film.

All students in their final year will have the option of taking advanced seminars in interdisciplinary subjects (e.g. Race and Violence in 20th Century American), seminars in American writing (American Gothic; Signs and Clues; Detective Fiction). For those choosing to emphasis history, the heart of the final year is a two-semester documents-based Special Subject in American history, focusing, for example, on American Slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, Native American history or the Cold War.

Assessment
Key skills, issues and ideas are introduced in lectures given by all members of faculty, including historians, literary experts and cultural specialists. 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 at levels two and three.

Course Organiser:Dr. Rebecca Tillett

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Entry Requirements Entry Requirement Students who apply for part-time courses, generally do so with a wide variety of qualifications and experience. For the majority of candidates the most important factors in assessing the application will be past and future achievement in examinations, academic interest in the subject being applied for, personal interest and extra-curricular activities and the confidential reference. We consider applicants as individuals and accept students from a very wide range of educational backgrounds and spend time considering your application in order to reach an informed decision relating your application. Please note, there may be additional subject entry requirements specific to individual degree courses. We encourage applicants to contact the university if they are unsure about the relevance of their qualifications. 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 Reading and Writing with no less than 5.5 in any component)
• TOEFL: Internet-based score of 88 overall (minimum 20 in Reading and Speaking components, 19 in Writing component and 17 in Listening components.
• PTE: 62 overall (minimum 55 in Reading and Writing components with no less than 51 in any component).

If you do not meet the University's entry requirements, our INTO Language Learning Centre offers a range of university preparation courses to help you develop the high level of academic and English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.

Special Entry Requirements

Students who have been away from mainstream education for a significant period of time may be required to submit a short essay to help in assessing suitability for the course.

GCSE Offer

Students are required to have Mathematics and English at Grade C or above at GCSE Level.

First Class Teaching

The School of American Studies prides itself on achieving the highest standards of teaching, as well as offering first rate provision of course information, grading, and feedback to students on their work. Our teaching is monitored internally by a comprehensive programme of reporting by the students themselves, and by annual review of these reports. All external audits of teaching quality in the last ten years have rated us as "Excellent".

Choice

Modules taught in the School range across American culture, literature, history, politics and film. This means that in your second and final years you shape your own degree, by choosing from over fifty lecture or seminar modules on topics as diverse as the cultural history of American music, US foreign policy, visual culture, African American and Native American history and culture, drama, poetry, the classic novels of the nineteenth century, and much more besides.

Academic Support

To help you shape your degree and chose your modules you will have an Academic Adviser who is a member of faculty within the School, and who stays with you throughout your time at UEA.

Friendly Community

The School of American Studies provides an academic and social ‘home’ for students and teaching staff. Offices are located close together, and all teaching staff hold regular ‘open door’ Office Hours. Students can join the UEA American Studies Society, which organises social events, and use the society’s Facebook page to stay in contact with their friends even when abroad.

Lively Academic Environment

Here at UEA we are engaged in cutting-edge interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research that seeks to break new ground in the field of American Studies. As committed university teachers, we translate that work into an exciting and constantly evolving range of modules at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Why not take a tour of our website and find out what we are researching and teaching in the School of American Studies?

Unrivalled Year Abroad Programme

We offer every one of our undergraduate students enrolled on a four year degree programme the opportunity to study abroad at one of forty American universities located across the country, from New England to California, Alaska to Louisiana. We also have placements in Canada, and some of our students may elect to spend the first half of their year abroad in the USA or Canada and the second half in Australia.

Half Year's Fee

Our students pay only half a year’s UK fees for their entire academic year spent overseas. This means that you pay the equivalent of only 3 ½ years’ worth of fees for your four years of study.

Great Sources of Financial Support

American Studies students will be eligible for University bursaries (as outlined in the University's general information). In addition, however, we offer half of our first years £1000 Arthur Miller Scholarships to those scoring top marks in their A level exams, to help finance their year abroad. This is awarded only to students in the school who will be going abroad and is paid out at the end of the second year.

Employment Opportunities

Our graduates find work in a very wide range of occupations, from research to publishing, and from teaching to banking. The extra skills and confidence gained from Study Abroad gives American Studies graduates an advantage in the job market.

Internationally renowned Literary Festival

Each year, UEA brings major writers from the USA and around the world to its International Literary Festival, open to the public and – of course – our students, too. Visitors have included Norman Mailer, Toni Morrison, Elmore Leonard, Gore Vidal, Richard Ford, Jonathan Franzen and Margaret Atwood.

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Fees and Funding

In each year, the School of American Studies offers up to 25% of its students on a Year Abroad, a £1000 Arthur Miller Scholarship. Those students scoring top marks in their A level exams will be considered for one of these awards.

University Fees and Financial Support: UK/EU Students

Further information on fees and funding for 2012 can be found here

University Fees and Financial Support: International Students

The University will be charging International students £11,700.00 for all full time School of American Studies undergraduate programmes which start in 2012.

Please click to access further information about fees and funding for International students.