American Studies with a Foundation Year, BA (Hons)

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.

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.

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.

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).

• 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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Your degree programme may already give you an option to study or work abroad but in addition to this you can also consider an international summer programme.

These programmes are open to all our undergraduate students and include culture and study tours, volunteering programmes and internships across destinations such as China, Zambia, South Korea, Japan, Europe and Canada. Programmes are typically 2 – 6 weeks long and funding is available. See our Summer Programmes for further information.

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

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