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American Studies with a Foundation Year, BA (Hons)

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3rd in the UK for American Studies

The Guardian University Guide 2021

Key Course Details

  • UK
  • EU
  • International
4 Year Full Time
UCAS Code
T70A
Mode of Study
Campus Based
Typical Offer (view equivalents)
CDD / DDD
Location
Singleton Park Campus
Start Date Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2021 £ 9,000
4 Year Full Time
UCAS Code
T70A
Mode of Study
Campus Based
Typical Offer (view equivalents)
CDD / DDD
Location
Singleton Park Campus
Start Date Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2021 £ 15,550
4 Year Full Time
UCAS Code
T70A
Mode of Study
Campus Based
Typical Offer
CDD / DDD - More Information
Location
Singleton Park Campus
Start Date Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2021 £ 15,550
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Course Overview

American Studies covers the culture, history and politics of the most influential country in the world, and studying this four-year integrated BA degree opens up a range of exciting career possibilities by helping you to develop transferable skills, which are highly valued by employers.

The foundation year gives you an exciting introduction to higher education, exploring the humanities and social sciences before progressing to the full degree programme. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after further education or if you are returning to education after a gap.

You will have the chance to explore American history, literature, politics and culture, stretching from colonization to the presidency of Donald Trump.

Why American Studies with a Foundation Year at Swansea?

Based on our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, American Studies at Swansea is ranked 3rd in the Guardian University Guide 2021.

You will have the option of spending a semester in the USA, further enhancing your student experience and career prospects.

Your American Studies with a Foundation Year Experience

During your foundation year, you will explore what it means to be human – studying a range of humanities and social science topics to introduce you to university-level study.

You will start the degree course in your second year, when we offer varied and flexible course content, so you can shape your American Studies degree to your own interests, whether in American film, music, race, gender, migration and urbanization, social, economic and military history, terrorism, or civil rights and political protest.

Our interdisciplinary approach means you can make connections with a range of subject areas – from music to politics.

Teaching is informed by our world-leading research and you can attend seminars organised through our guest speaker programme.

You will have an academic mentor for any pastoral and academic support you may need, and the American Studies Student Society organises a range of social and cultural events.

American Studies with a Foundation Year Employment Opportunities

American Studies is ranked in the Top 5 (3rd) for Career Prospects in the Times Higher Good University Guide 2021.

Students on this course typically develop excellent oral and writing skills and you will learn to present your ideas in a range of formats, along with strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills.

Our graduates enter careers in a wide range of sectors including:

  • Education
  • Marketing
  • Government
  • Research
  • Events management

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Welsh Medium Study

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Programme Specification

Modules

In your first (foundation) year, you will explore what it means to be human – studying a range of humanities and social science topics to prepare you for the degree itself.

Your early studies will introduce you to the history, politics, culture and literature of America.

You will then choose your pathway with modules to suit your own interests, before focusing in depth on your chosen research project to produce your final dissertation.

Year 0 (Level 3)

Entry Level 3 / Foundation Year
Compulsory Modules
Module CodeSemesterCreditsModule Name
FY-011 Period September-January20Academic Writing and Skills Development
FY-012 Period September-January20Introduction to Being Human
FY-015 Period September-January20Introduction to Research
FY-014 Period January-June20Critical Reflection and Problem Solving
FY-016 Period January-June20Research Essay
FY-019 Period January-June20Social Science

Year 1 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module CodeSemesterCreditsModule Name
AM-111 Period September-January20The American Experience 1492-2000
AM-112 Period January-June20American Politics and Society
AM-113 Period January-June20Introduction to American Literature and Culture
Optional Modules
Optional Modules 

Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Please select 60 credits from the list below. Students will be expected to take an overall 120 credits for the year; 60 credits in Semester 1 and 60 credits in Semester 2.

Module CodeSemesterCreditsModule NameGuidance
HIH121 Period September-January20Europe of Extremes: 1789 - 1989
HUP104 Period September-January20Living Well and Doing Good - An Introduction to Ethics
PO-126 Period September-January20Introduction to International Relations
PO-131 Period September-January20Introduction to Politics
WS-100 Period September-January20Theories of War
HUP133 Period January-June20Political Philosophy
MSS106 Period January-June20Hollywood: A History of American Film
PO-118 Period January-June20War and Peace in the Nuclear Age
PO-119 Period January-June20Politics and the People
WS-101 Period January-June20War and Society in the Modern Era

Year 2 (Level 5)

FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

None found.

Optional Modules
Optional Module Choices 

Choose Exactly 120 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Students will be expected to take 120 credits for the year from the list below, 60 credits in teaching block 1 and 60 credits in teaching block 2. It is recommended that 80 credits should be modules with an 'AM' code. An optional 20 credit 'elective' module can be chosen from within the College of Arts and Humanities.

Module CodeSemesterCreditsModule NameGuidance
AM-204 Period September-January20Race and Ethnicity: American Perspectives
AM-217 Period September-January20The Making of Transatlantic America
AM-251 Period September-January20America in Crisis: Political Culture and Society from the Tet Offensive to Trump
PO-219 Period September-January20Global Political Economy: From Mercantilism to Neoliberalism
PO-222 Period September-January20Globalisation
WS-201 Period September-January20The First World War
AM-215 Period January-June20American Word/American Image
AM-218 Period January-June20Re-Thinking the South: Southern Culture and History, 1865-1955
AM-250 Period January-June20Ghettos, Streets, Suburbs: Cultural Representations of the American City, 1890 - present
PO-239 Period January-June20Moralities of War and Peace
PO-245 Period January-June20The History of Political Thought
PO-256 Period January-June20Genocide
PO-281 Period January-June20British Politics and Public Policy
WS-200 Period January-June20Contemporary Wars and Conflicts

Year 3 (Level 6)

FHEQ 6 Undergraduate / Honours

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules
Module CodeSemesterCreditsModule Name
AM-336 Period September-June40American Studies Dissertation
Optional Modules
Optional Module Choices 

Choose Exactly 80 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Students must select 120 credits per year, 60 credits in each teaching block. 100 credits must be of AM coded modules or from modules in the cognate disciplines as listed below. An optional 20 credit 'elective' module can be chosen from within the College of Arts and Humanities. It is recommended that students select 80 credits of AM coded modules.

Module CodeSemesterCreditsModule NameGuidance
AM-333 Period September-January20African American Literature 1910-1940: The Harlem Renaissance
AM-338 Period September-January20Clear and Present Danger: Terrorism and America
HUA301 Period September-January20Gunfighter Nation: the West in History, Mythology and Fiction
PO-3117 Period September-January20Politics and International Development
PO-3121 Period September-January20Parliamentary Studies
PO-345 Period September-January20Contemporary Political Economy: Competing Perspectives on Global Capitalism
AM-316 Period January-June20Contemporary American Fiction
AM-330 Period January-June20America and the Bomb
AM-335 Period January-June20The American Civil War in History and Memory
AM-339 Period January-June20Popular Music and the City
PO-3316 Period January-June20Shadow Wars: US Presidents and covert action from the Cold War to Trump
PO-3325 Period January-June20Capitalism and Justice: inequality, power and prosperity in contemporary economies
WS-306 Period January-June20Overlord: War, Societies, and the Battle for Normandy 1944.

Entry Requirements

Our standard entry requirement is CDD-DDD at A-level or equivalent.We require a minimum of 5 passes at Grade A*-C, including Welsh/English Language. Entry requirements are flexible and all offers are made following a review of the application form, predicted/achieved grades and subjects, the reference and personal statement. The course is also a widening access programme and developed to support those who may not have been able to otherwise gain access to HE.

How You're Taught

Covid 19 Update - Please see the 'Covid Update for Learning and Teaching' expander below.

In the first year of study, you will be taught through lectures and tutorials. Assessment will be coursework, essay and examination.

In the second year, you will learn through seminars and group-work. Assessment will be varied including coursework, essays, group presentations and examination.

In the final year, you will undertake independent study through research methods, a dissertation or practice portfolio and also be taught through seminars and group-work. Assessment includes independent research dissertation, independent presentation, coursework and examination.

Our learning and teaching enhances your key skills that employers look for in graduates as follows:

  • Self-Management (attending classes, meeting deadlines, preparing for seminars, dissertation)
  • Teamworking (group presentations, group seminars, study trips and projects)
  • Customer awareness (study abroad, internships, work placements, student experience)
  • Problem solving (essay writing, research, examinations)
  • Communication and literacy (essays, examinations, presentations, project work, dissertation)
  • Numeracy skills (data analysis, statistics, graphs, datasets)
  • Information technology (Blackboard, essays, examinations, presentations, social media)

This course offers some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

Welsh Provision

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study this subject through the medium of Welsh and our dedicated academy, Academi Hywel Teifi, is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We offer you:

  • An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
  • The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually - we will then communicate with you in your language of choice.
  • Access to generous Welsh-language study scholarships or bursaries.
  • Access to modules taught wholly or partly in Welsh.
  • The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
  • A Welsh-speaking academic tutor.
  • One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
  • An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.

To see further details about the level of provision delivered in Welsh on this particular degree scheme, please see the Welsh-language course page for further information.

Since 2011, there has been a 40% increase in the number of students studying through the medium of Welsh at Swansea University and our TEF* data over the last two years shows that Welsh-medium students are high achievers in regards to employability (*Swansea University TEF return 2017 and 2018).

Meet Your Lecturers

  • Dr Sonja Amadae - Associate Professor
  • Dr Emel Akcali - Senior Lecturer
  • Dr David Anderson - Senior Lecturer
  • Robert Bideleux - Reader
  • Prof Jonathan Bradbury - Professor
  • Prof David Bewley-Taylor - Professor
  • Dr Themis Chronopoulos - Associate Professor
  • Dr Gerard Clarke - Associate Professor
  • Prof Alan Collins - Professor
  • Dr Dion Curry - Senior Lecturer
  • Dr Ekaterina Kolpinskaya - Lecturer
  • Dr Paddy McQueen - Senior Lecturer
  • Dr Steve McVeigh - Associate Professor
  • Dr Eugene Miakinkov - Lecturer
  • Cahir O'Doherty - Tutor
  • Dr Gerry Oram - Tutor
  • Dr Krijn Peters - Associate Professor
  • Dr Bettina Petersohn - Lecturer
  • Dr Dennis Schmidt - Lecturer
  • Dr Jamie Stacey - Tutor
  • Prof Mike Sheehan - Professor
  • Dr Luca Trenta - Senior Lecturer
  • Dr James Wakefield - Tutor
  • Dr Matthew Wall - Associate Professor
  • Dr Bryn Willcock - Lecturer

Tuition Fees

Start Date UK EU International
September 2020 £ 9,000 £ 9,000 £ 15,100
September 2021 £ 9,000 £ 15,550 £ 15,550

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate EU/International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

EU Transitional Bursary available for September 2021.

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

  • Travel to and from campus
  • Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
  • Purchase of books or texts
  • Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

  • Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
  • Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
  • Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
  • Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
  • Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
  • Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal academic mentor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

  • Academic writing
  • Maths and statistics
  • Critical thinking
  • Time management
  • Digital skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Note taking
  • Revision, memory and exam techniques
  • English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

We care about our students and our aim is to ensure that you achieve the best degree classification. We have a personal mentoring system where you will be allocated an academic mentor. We also have an “open door” policy where our academic teachers are available to talk to you at any time about any queries or academic concerns you may have.

Study Abroad and Global Opportunities

Enrolment on a programme with a semester/year abroad does not guarantee you a semester/year abroad placement. Spaces are limited and subject to a competitive selection process. In the event you do not secure a semester/year abroad placement, you will be transferred to the standard variant of your degree scheme without a semester or year abroad. To learn more about study abroad, visit our Go Global webpages.

International summer programmes are open to students from all colleges. Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as China, Zambia, South Korea, Japan, Canada and across Europe. For more information about programmes and eligibility visit our Summer Abroad webpages.

How to Apply

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

Covid Update for Learning and Teaching

Covid Update for Learning and Teaching

We have made some changes to the way that we teach this year, with more activities taking place online than usual.

The University calendar runs in teaching blocks. Teaching block one (TB1) runs from September until January and during this block, for this year, you will be taught in a ‘blended’ way. This means that some of your teaching will be delivered online and some will be on campus. The online teaching, where you will be physically apart from your lecturer, can be ‘live’ with your lecturer present and where you’ll be able to interact. Some of it may be self-directed which means that you can access the learning materials at a time to suit you.

 

Your face-to-face, on campus sessions will be a mixture of:

Programme study groups and workshops

Subject seminars

Study skills workshops

Induction and orientation events

Individual Academic Mentoring meetings

Staff consultation and office hours

Dissertation supervision (Final year and PGT)

 

Your online learning and teaching may include:

Live streamed lectures

Module seminars, workshops and tutorials

Individual Academic Mentoring meetings

Staff consultation and office hours

Student and staff community events

Dissertation supervision (Final year and PGT)

 

Self-directed learning will be:

Organised Study Materials

Self-guided study activities

Preparatory and further reading

Recorded lectures

Formative tests and quizzes

Self-study in library

Self-study in PC Labs

Design Group Meetings

Pre-sessional courses Develop your academic skills, understanding of subject-specific English terminology, and academic English language

American Studies with a Foundation Year, BA (Hons)

  • Academic Colleges
  • Undergraduate Courses
    • College of Arts and Humanities Undergraduate Courses
      • American Studies
        • American Studies, BA (Hons)
        • American Studies and English Literature BA (Hons)
        • American Studies and History, BA (Hons)
        • American Studies and International Relations with a Year Abroad, BA (Hons)
        • American Studies and Politics, BA (Hons)
        • American Studies with a Foundation Year, BA (Hons)
      • Classics, Ancient History and Egyptology
      • Cymraeg/Welsh
      • Education
      • English Language
      • English Literature with Creative Writing
      • History
      • Media and Public Relations
      • Medieval Studies
      • Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting
      • Politics and International Relations
      • TESOL
      • War and Society
    • Engineering Undergraduate Courses
    • College of Human and Health Undergraduate Courses
    • Law Undergraduate Courses
    • School of Management Undergraduate Courses
    • Medicine Undergraduate Courses
    • College of Science Undergraduate Courses
    • Undergraduate courses coming soon!
    • Entry requirements
  • Contact the Undergrad Admissions team
  • Undergraduate Open Days
  • Accommodation
  • How to apply for your undergraduate course
  • Sport
  • Student Life
  • Fees and Funding
  • Applying to University in 2021
  • Scholarships and Bursaries
  • Virtual Tour
  • Information for Parents and Guardians
  • Undergraduate Prospectus
  • Why Study in Swansea?
  • What is UCAS Extra? Your comprehensive guide
  • Clearing
  • Undergraduate Programme changes
  • Teachers and Advisers
Apply

Where are you applying from?

Applying as a UK or EU student?

All UK and EU based students should apply through UCAS

Go to UCAS

Applying as an international student?

We have a direct Apply System which makes application easy and fast for international students.

Go to Apply System

International students may also apply through UCAS

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