American Studies and History with a Year in Industry

On this fascinating four-year BA degree program, you will have the chance to explore the culture, history and politics of the United States of America, alongside many aspects of British, European and World History.

This degree program covers the period of American history from colonization through to the recent Trump presidency as well as spanning many history topics from the Crusades through the Enlightenment to 20th Century Europe.

Tailor this varied and flexible course to suit your interests, whether in American film, music, race, gender, civil rights and political protest to international relations, political economy, and conflict and peace. It addresses some of the most pressing issues in our contemporary world, including globalization and struggles for racial justice.

The third year of this 4-year course with a Year in Industry will be spent on placement. You will have the opportunity to gain real-world industry experience and develop your employability skill set. We have a strong network of industry contacts, and you will receive dedicated support from our employability team, ranging from CV advice through to mock interviews.

Teaching on this course is informed by our world-leading research and you can attend seminars organised through our guest speaker program. Visiting American professors also offer modules as part of the degree, and with more than 150 American students studying at Swansea each year, you will have access to a ready-made network of contacts with links stretching across the USA.

You will develop a wide range of transferable skills, which are highly valued by employers, including oral, writing and presentation skills, along with expertise across research and problem-solving. Our graduates enter careers in a wide range of sectors ranging from education, heritage and museums, media and public relations, law and public services.

Study at Swansea and you’ll be based on our Singleton Campus in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsular, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Outside of your lectures, you’ll be able to join our student societies, including the History Society and American Studies Society.

Your first year will include a mixture of compulsory and optional modules, with examples of compulsory modules from recent years including:
• Making History
• American History and Politics
• Field Trip Module: The Past in its Place

In your second year you will study a mixture of compulsory and optional modules. Examples of optional modules in recent years have included:
• The Global First World War
• Britain in the Early Middle Ages: Slaves, Dragons, Queens and Vikings
• African American Literature 1910-1940: The Harlem Renaissance

Your third year will be spent on a year-long industry placement.

Your fourth year comprises entirely optional modules from a wide range of subject areas, including the option to undertake an independent dissertation project.

For the full programme structure and module breakdown, please visit our webpage at www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/culture-communication/american-studies/ba-american-studies-history

We offer a variety of assessment methods within our programmes. In addition to traditional examinations and essays, examples of alternative assessment include:
• Presentations
• Group Work
• Personal Reflection
Throughout your undergraduate American Studies and History degree, you will develop excellent research and analytical skills and learn to present your ideas effectively both verbally and in writing. For full breakdown of course structure and assessment please visit our course page https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/culture-communication/american-studies/ba-american-studies-history/ or get in touch with us at study@swansea.ac.uk