american and canadian studies

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American and Canadian StudiesUndergraduate study 2016

www.nottingham.ac.uk/american

For general undergraduateenquiries contact:

The Enquiry Centret: +44 (0)115 951 5559e: [email protected] w: www.nottingham.ac.uk/faqs


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A commitment to academic excellencedrives everything we do and has earnedus international recognition. It is evident inour teaching and our research, and in thelatest independent review of teaching qualitycarried out by the Quality Assurance Agency,Nottingham was awarded the highest possiblejudgement. We are one of the largest centresfor American studies in Europe and are thehighest ranked American and Canadian studiesdepartment in the country for research powerand research impact in the 2014 ResearchExcellence Framework. We are also rankedin the top 10 of The Complete UniversityGuide, 2016.

A flexible, interdisciplinary courseYou can concentrate on American studies as singlehonours (American and Canadian literature, historyand culture) or you can combine it with English,history, politics, Latin American studies or film andtelevision studies in a joint honours course.

Theres also the option to take modules inCanadian studies (see page 10), and Nottinghamis one of the few universities in the UK to offera named minor option in Canadian studies. Asan independent department, we have specialistsin North American literature, history, film andtelevision, cultural studies, visual art, musicand politics. We are also a research-active department at theforefront of our field, and have a developed andlongstanding commitment to integratedwork, which is reflected in our extensivechoice of modules.

An inspiring environmentThe Department of American and CanadianStudies and its parent school the School ofCultures, Languages and Area Studies arefriendly places in which to study.

As part of a vibrant academic community, youcan expect ready access to staff and plenty ofopportunities to meet other students from both theUK and overseas. As a centrally-located universitywith a prestigious reputation, Nottingham not onlyattracts students on a national and internationallevel, but is also popular with locals.

Great career prospectsOur high standards mean that a University ofNottingham degree is respected by both UK andforeign employers and the employment record ofour graduates is one of the best in the country.If you want to improve your career prospectsfurther, you can speak to experts in our Careers

and Employability Service, gain recognition foryour extracurricular achievements through theNottingham Advantage Award or set up yourown business with the help of our EnterpriseLab.

Options for exploring the worldIf youre hoping to broaden your horizons furtherwhile at university, we have the connections tohelp you experience new cultures first-hand. Aswell as exchange opportunities at our campusesin China and Malaysia, we have developedlinks with more than 300 universities in over40 countries. You can choose to complete thedegree in three years without study abroad oryou can take it over four years with a year at anAmerican or Canadian university.

Why study American andCanadian studies at Nottingham?

Department of American and Canadian Studieswww.nottingham.ac.uk/american


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Studying outside Cripps Hall,one of 12 halls of residenceon University Park Campus.


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At its most basic, American studies is theintegrated and interdisciplinary study of theUnited States of America and its culture.Our degree courses allow you to studya country which is the one remainingsuperpower, and exerts a massive influenceupon contemporary culture.

Depending on how you study it, your Americanstudies degree could include history, literature,film, television, visual culture, politics and music.At Nottingham, American studies degrees areinterdisciplinary programmes, in which thevaried strands of study are neatly interwovenin the interrogation of the complex andmultifaceted cultures of the United States ofAmerica and Canada.

Single honours degreesOur degrees are either three-year (with no periodof study abroad), or four-year (with the thirdyear normally spent at an American or Canadianuniversity) courses.

Joint honours degreesIn the case of joint honours degree coursesall students enter on the three-year degree. At theend of the first year, those who wish to go on to afour-year degree with international study can applyto change to this course, subject to availability ofplaces and first-year academic performance.

Part-time degreesIt is possible to take all of the departmentsthree-year degree courses part-time overfive to seven years. Part-time students aretaught alongside full-time students and the fullrange of department activities is open to them.

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Degree courses

TV71

TR7K

TW76

TL72

BA American Studies and English* QT37

Degree title UCAScode

BA American and Canadian Literature,History and Culture

BA American and Canadian Literature,History and Culture with International Study

T700

T704

3 years

4 years

3 years

3 years

3 years

Duration

3 years

4 years

ABB;

includinghistory

ABB

ABB/AAC

AAB

ABB;includingEnglish

A levels

ABB

ABB

32; 5 in

history atHigher Level

32

32

34

32; 5 inEnglish atHigher Level

IB

32

32

20

5

12

22

20

Places

* With the possibility to transfer to a four-year international programme.



BA American Studies and History*

BA American Studies and Latin AmericanStudies

BA Film and Television Studies andAmerican Studies

BA Politics and American Studies*

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American and Canadian studies atThe University of Nottingham supports abroad range of study, and bridges the gapbetween traditionally historical approachesand more contemporary analyses of Americanand Canadian society and culture.Professor Celeste-Marie Bernier

Single honours

Joint honours


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Year one

Core modules: American History 1:

1607-1900 American History 2:

1900-present day American Literature 1:

American Literature to 1900 American Literature 2:

Since 1900 Approaches to American

Culture Canadian Literature, Film

and Culture

Year two Core modules: Thought and Culture 1:

Settlement to World War 1 Thought and Culture 2:

1917-present

Optional modules include: African American Protest

Literatures American Culture in the 1960s American Drama American Labour History

Asian American Literature Canadian Women Writers Civil Rights Media Cultures Immigration and Ethnicity in the

United States North American Film

Adaptations The American Pop Century The American Presidency The CIA and US Foreign Policy The Contemporary American

Novel

Year three/four

Core modules: Dissertation Identifiably American*

Optional modules include(varying from year to year): A History of Crime and

Punishment in the US African American Visual Arts American Radicalism American Utopianism Darwinism and Creationism Fictions of America Latino Expressive Cultures Martin Luther King in

Comparative Perspective Popular Music Cultures and

Countercultures Prohibition America Representing the South:

Literature, Film and History Slavery and Freedom in 19th-

Century American Literature The American Civil War and

its Origins Themes in US Foreign Policy

You will take core modules in Americanliterature, history, thought and culture, andwrite a final-year dissertation. These modulesmake up approximately half of the degree(less on the four-year degree), and providea structure around which you can tailoryour individual programme. In addition, youwill have a wide range of optional modulesavailable in American and Canadian studies.These options are taken alongside coremodules in years two and three and give youthe opportunity to supplement the breadth ofhistorical and literary surveys, and to focus onspecific aspects of North American culture.

BA American and CanadianLiterature, History andCulture/with International Study(T700 and T704) These courses provide you with the opportunityto study the literature, history, politics, music,visual arts and popular culture (notably film andtelevision) of the United States of America andCanada. The analytical and research skills youdevelop will help you gain in-depth knowledgeof major literary theories, political ideas andhistorical debates as they relate to the NorthAmerican context.

Among the major intellectual benefits of this degreewill be your ability to interpret, analyse and evaluateevidence across a range of different materials. Youwill also gain additional research, written and oralcommunication and presentation skills.

If your degree includes a year abroad(T704 students), this will give you greaterinsights into North American society and culture,and you will also prove you are resourceful,independent and can adapt to new situations.

Year oneYou are introduced to the basic themes andevents of American history and culture, the keyauthors and texts of American literature, as wellas Canadian literature, film and culture. Theseintroductory modules provide the foundationupon which the programme will subsequentlybuild. You will learn and practise technical skills,developing your abilities in research, writing, andargumentation. If you are on the three-year course(T700), you will have the opportunity at the endof your first year to apply for transfer onto thefour-year course with a year abroad. Year twoIn addition to core modules in American thoughtand culture, which develop themes covered inthe first year, you can choose from a range ofspecialised modules that will allow you to studycertain periods, events, authors or texts in m oredepth. You may also take subsidiary modulesoutside the department to the value of 40 creditsacross your degree.

Year threeYou will continue to extend the process ofspecialisation you began in year two. You willwrite a dissertation on a subject of your choice,supervised by staff, and you will choose froma range of advanced-level modules in NorthAmerican history, literature, culture and film, led bystaff who are active researchers in these areas. The four-year course If you choose to transfer to the four-year course(or if you are already enrolled on the four-yeardegree programme) you will spend your third yearin North America and then return to Nottinghamfor your final year. On the four-year degree youwill have a wide choice of modules available atyour American or Canadian university, which willcomplement and extend those subjects studied atNottingham. On returning to Nottingham, your finalyear will follow the same structure as year threeof T700.

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Single honours

* This is a core module for those on the three-year course only.For more detailed module information, please visit the individual course listings at www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugstudy

Typical modules for the three and four-year degrees


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BA American Studieswith Canadian StudiesStudents with a particular interest in Canadacan specialise in Canadian studies and graduatewith a BA in American Studies with CanadianStudies. Normally, four-year candidates optingfor this degree spend their year abroad at aCanadian, rather than an American, university.Students who wish to follow this option shouldconsult the Director of Canadian Studies in theirsecond year of study. However, all Americanstudies students can still select from the fullrange of Canadian options available withinthe department. You will take core modules inAmerican literature, history, thought and culture,

and Canadian literature, film and culture, andwrite a dissertation in your final year. The modulesin each year will be slightly more heavily weightedtowards American studies (see the courseoverview and modules for BA American andCanadian Literature, History and Culture),but you will also study a range of Canadianstudies modules.

Final-year dissertationIn addition to the optional modules, thefinal-year dissertation provides the mainopportunity to research a topic of your choice,and to specialise in an area of American andCanadian studies. A sample of the wide range

of dissertation topics that have been coveredis listed on the right.

Examples of dissertation topics A Fairytale of the Grotesque: The Unique Visionof Tim Burton and his Status as an Author

A Feminist Analysis of the Disney PrincessPhenomenon

Americas Morning Shows as a Unique TVGenre

Deradicalizing a Radical: Thomas Paine inPerspective

F Scott Fitzgerald and Charles Dickens:A Comparison

Feminism and Nationalism in Canada Frank Capras Films and the American New Deal Gender, Sexuality and Body Image in the

Representation of Female Athletes Hardcore American: Punk Rock in the USA Hip Hop as Protest Music Hunter Thompson and Norman Mailer:

A Study of Styles Japanese-Canadians Struggle for Identity Personality as a Factor in the Presidency of

George W Bush Photojournalism and the Vietnam War Round About Midnight: The Cultural Politics of

Bob Kaufmans Jazz Poetry The Canadian Graphic Novel The Harlem Renaissance The Impact of Guns on American Society The New Republic and American Entry into

World War II The Politics and Morality of the Death Penalty

The Politics of Acid Rain in Canada and theUnited States The Role of the Sun Dance Ceremony in Plains

Indian Culture

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Find out more about Jessicas experience at www.nottingham.ac.uk/go/jessicabritten

Jessica is pictured in the Great Hall, Trent Building. TheTrent Building is home to the Department of Americanand Canadian Studies.
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugvideos/jessicabritten/jessicabritten.aspxhttp://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugvideos/jessicabritten/jessicabritten.aspx


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If you are a joint honours student you will takehalf of your modules (60 credits each year) inAmerican and Canadian studies and half of yourmodules with your partner school ordepartment. As a joint honours studentyou will take a set of appropriate core andoptional modules (see the table given forsingle honours on page 9). In your first year,all of your American studies modules will becore modules and consist of a combinationof American history, literature and culture andCanadian literature, film and culture.

BA American Studies and EnglishYou will take a comparative view of thedevelopment of English and American literatureand cultures. You will study the development ofthe novel in both England and America: Conrad,Joyce and Virginia Woolf in England, and Twain,Faulkner and Toni Morrison in America. In Americanstudies you will have the opportunity to takeoptional modules in specialist areas of Americanliterature, such as African American writing or BeatGeneration literature, but you will also be able tochoose from modules in American history, politicsand popular culture. In the final year, you might useyour dissertation to compare topics or writers inBritish and American cultures. Recently, studentshave expanded their interests to look at AfricanAmerican and Native American, First Nationsand Asian American literature. Alternatively, youmight choose to focus on a non-literary subject inAmerican history, politics or popular culture.

For more information on the English elementof your degree, please visitwww.nottingham.ac.uk/english

BA American Studies and HistoryOn this programme you will study large spansof national and continental histories and contexts.You will study America within the context of itshistorical development as a superpower. It isalso possible to study particular fields of historywithin both departments, for example foreignpolicy, environmental history or womens history crossing national histories and periods. In theAmerican studies side of your degree, you willhave the option to focus on American historytopics or to take modules in American culture,literature and media, as well as history.

For more information about the history elementof your degree, please seewww.nottingham.ac.uk/history

BA American Studies and LatinAmerican StudiesThis four-year course provides you with theopportunity to study Spanish from beginners level,and to combine the intensive language programmewith study of the culture, film, history, literature andpolitics of Latin America, Spain and the UnitedStates of America, and, where appropriate, Britishand Iberian histories and cultures. By examiningdifferent parts of the Americas Canada, LatinAmerica and the United States of America alongside one another, the programme providesyou with a unique opportunity to broaden thescope of American studies and to begin to viewAmerica from a hemispheric perspective.

Joint honours



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BA Film and Television Studies andAmerican StudiesIn addition to modules taken from American andCanadian studies, you will study the developmentof television and Hollywood cinema and theirinternational counterparts. You will examine thepolitical, economic and socio-cultural contexts outof which these cinema and television productsemerge, through a detailed interrogation of texts,industries and audiences.

For more information on the film and televisionstudies element of your course, please seewww.nottingham.ac.uk/cfm

BA Politics and American StudiesThis degree combines the study of NorthAmerican culture and society with a detailedinvestigation of US politics within a global context.It covers a range of US events and issues, andexamines the shifting political climate out o fwhich these events occur, through the study ofhistory, literature, politics and government. In theAmerican studies side of your degree, you will

have the option to focus on political and historicaltopics or to take modules in American literature,culture and media if you wish.

For more information on the politics element ofyour course, please seewww.nottingham.ac.uk/politics

Undergraduate students catching upbetween lectures outside the TrentBuilding, University Park Campus.


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Students on all degree programmes will betaught together and take broadly the samemodules for the first two years, but thefour-year students will spend their third yearabroad (subject to satisfactory academicperformance), while the three-year studentscomplete their degree at Nottingham.

A years study abroad at an American or Canadianuniversity is an integral part of the four-yearprogramme. You will be expected to follow anapproved course of study at your exchangeuniversity, although the grades attained there willnot contribute to your overall degree result.

Transfer to the four-year programmeIf you follow the single honours BA Americanand Canadian Literature, History and Cultureprogramme, you will enter either thethree-year (T700) or four-year (T704) degree.Once registered, we cannot guarantee that youwill be able to transfer between the twoprogrammes, although if academic performance,personal or financial circumstances make theyear abroad a problem, we would seek toaccommodate a transfer to the three-year course.All joint honours students will initially enter thethree-year degree.

Joint honours degreesAt the end of the first year, if you are interested

in spending a year at a university in North America,you will be able to apply to transfer to thefour-year international study programme.Acceptance will depend on academicperformance in the first year and the numberof places available at our North Americanuniversity partners.

Even if you o pt for the three-year degree withoutthe year abroad, we encourage you to spendsome time in America, either on holiday or as partof a student work-scheme in one of the vacations.We encourage such activities, and help whereverpossible with information and advice through ournumerous contacts in North America.

Exchange universitiesOur exchange partners with whom we currentlyhave links include the following:

United States of America College of Charleston, Charleston,

South Carolina College of New Jersey, New Jersey

Emory and Henry College, Virginia Georgia State University, Atlanta Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge Middlebury College, Vermont Reed College, Portland, Oregon State University of New York at Albany State University of New York at Binghamton Texas A and M University, College Station University of Arizona, Tucson University of Connecticut, Storrs University of Florida, Gainesville University of Georgia, Athens University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia

Canada Carleton University, Ottawa Concordia University, Montreal McGill University, Montreal Simon Fraser University, Vancouver University of British Columbia, Vancouver University of Calgary, Calgary University of Toronto, Toronto University of Western Ontario, Ontario York University, Toronto

Study abroad

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One of Americas natural wonders Yosemite National Park, California.


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How will I study?

Within each degree, there are three typesof module: core, optional and subsidiary.Depending on whether your course is singleor joint honours, the proportions of thesetypes of module will vary.

TeachingTeaching is through tutorials, seminars andlectures. A tutorial is a meeting with yourcourse or personal tutor to discuss your ownwork, for instance to give feedback on youressays. A seminar usually has 15-20 students andlasts between one and two hours. The seminaris learning-based and is sometimes organisedso that students give short introductions, or worktogether on more elaborate presentations. Theemphasis in seminars is on discussion within afriendly and supportive environment, and one inwhich you can get to know your tutor and theother students on your course.

LecturesA lecture lasts around 50 minutes, dependingupon the module, and, where appropriate, makesuse of audio-visual materials. Documentary andfeature films are used on occasion to complementlectures. Many of the topics covered in Americanhistory modules are available in documentary films,of which the department has a large collection.

SeminarsSeminars are linked to a series of lectureswhich you will be required to attend, andusually focus on reading texts set the previousweek. Often the tutor will direct you towardsspecific issues raised by the reading, or towardsspecific passages in texts.

What will seem strange and this applies tohigher education courses in general is therapid pace at which you go through material; ina literature course, for instance, one novel will beread over one or two weeks, while you may bemore accustomed to spreading it over the bestpart of a college term.

Extra resourcesThe department and its parent school offer avery supportive environment for students, with awell-developed personal tutor system, a disabilityliaison officer and a staff-student committee inwhich students express their views on schoolmatters. AmeriCanSoc, our student society, alsocontributes to:

the invitation of visiting lecturers and writers the arrangement of discussion forums

(for example, on p residential elections) the organisation of visits to exhibitions

and conferences the planning of vibrant social events, such as

the first-year party and the Thanksgiving Dinner

In addition to this, the department organises animpressive number of specialist conferences.Some of the most recent include events on:21st-Century American and Canadian Voices;American Periodicals and Print Culture; ArtAcross Frontiers in America; Atlantic Slavery; andThe CIA in History, Fiction, and Memory.

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Tutorials and supportAll students in the Department of American andCanadian Studies are supported by personaltutors, who arrange individual meetings withstudents each semester to review progress, offerguidance on module choices and careers, andprovide general pastoral care. Personal tutors arealso available across the academic year to assiststudents with any issues arising on the course.

Typical timetableA typical week for single honours and jointhonours students will entail something like:three or four seminars, perhaps a tutorial to planessay work or discuss how you are doing on aparticular course, and around six lectures. Theremainder of your working week will be taken upwith preparation and essay writing. Single honoursand joint honours students are taught togetherwhenever possible, to help you make friends andto increase the range of experiences brought tothe topic under discussion.

Library and computing servicesAt Nottingham, you will benefit from access toan extensive collection of printed and onlinelibrary resources. In addition, you will have bothon and off-campus access to a very wide range ofdatabases, ejournals and ebooks, relevantboth to your subject and any subsidiary modulesin other subjects.

Key Information SetsKey Information Sets (KIS) are comparable sets ofinformation about full or part-time undergraduatecourses and are designed to meet the informationneeds of prospective students. All KIS data ispublished on the Unistats website:www.unistats.com

For Nottinghams KIS data, p lease see individualcourse entries at www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugstudy



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As a result of the wide range of modules

available, you can focus your studies around thoseareas of American and Canadian studies thatinterest you the most, and still have the room tocover a broad range of topics. You get both rangeand a chance to specialise.American and Canadian studies student


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All undergraduate degree programmesin the University are modular, which meansyou undertake modules of study withassessment at the end of each semester. Because we recognise that no single format suitsevery individual or every module, we use a varietyof assessment methods including continuousassessment (the essays written during the year,plus seminar marks), dissertations and extendedessays, short class tests and conventionaltwo or three-hour examinations.

Assessment methodsNormally, modules in this department have nomore than 50% of the assessment by examination,and some modules have a smaller proportionof formal examinations or are assessed entirelyby written work or extended essay. We feelthat this counteracts some of the problems ofexamination nerves and unpredictability. The firstyear is a qualifying year that you have to pass toprogress. However, if you are on the four-yeardegree or are applying to transfer to that degree,you must obtain an average mark of 55% o r 60%depending on the institution applied to for theyear abroad. Where a module lasts for one semester,assessment is undertaken at the end of thatsemester. Where a module fills two semesters,

assessment is at the end of the secondsemester, although your progress will bemeasured throughout the year.

EssaysEssay requirements vary from module to modulebut in our major survey modules, which lastone semester, you will normally be expectedto produce one or two essays of about 2,000words. You might b e directed towards certainparts of the modules or be provided with a list oftitles to choose from. Plenty of advice is on hand,particularly in the first two semesters when youare making the transition to studying within theuniversity environment.

The teaching yearThe teaching year is divided into two semesters.The first semester lasts for 14 weeks, with 12weeks for teaching and revision and two weeksfor assessment. The second semester followsthe same pattern, but there are an additional twoweeks at the end to complete the assessmentprocess and to enable returning students todiscuss their results with tutors and begin to planthe next sessions work. There is one examinersmeeting, attended by the external examiners,which is held at the end of the second semester.

Although the teaching year is divided into twosemesters for organisational purposes, this isfitted into the traditional pattern of three terms:one before Christmas; one between Christmasand Easter; and one after Easter.

Your final degree classification To stagger the pressure of finals, assessment isdivided across the final two years of your degree,or years two and four for students taking a yearabroad in year three. The final classification ofyour degree is determined by a combinationof your second and final-year grades, with theweighting split between your second year (40%)and final year (60%).

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How will I be assessed?



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A seminar in the Trent Building,University Park Campus.


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We like to keep in contact with our formerstudents, tracking their career paths, and ourlatest figures confirm that the departmentsgraduates are very employable. The Universityof Nottingham is consistently named as oneof the most targeted universities by Britainsleading graduate employers*, and at the 2015Whatuni Student Choice Awards, The Universityof Nottingham was ranked the number oneuniversity for job prospects. American studiesundergraduates learn different skills and areflexible in their outlook because they have notbecome over-specialised, and have studied, andusually experienced, at least one other culture.

The international reputation of the University is animportant factor for employers and the departmentenjoys an excellent graduate employment record.Students on our three-year courses benefit fromtaking classes alongside students from our Chinaand Malaysia campuses, gaining exposure to awide variety of cultural perspectives. Throughtheir year of study abroad, students taking thefour-year option will be able to demonstrateadaptability, independence and initiative, amongother desirable qualities. Transferable skills Our American and Canadian studies coursestrain students in critical analysis, historical study,academic research and advanced writing. Overall,

we provide training in theoretical analysis, writingand communication among other skills highlyvalued in many competitive, contemporarywork environments.

Average starting salaryIn 2014, 93% of first-degree graduates in thedepartment who were available for employmenthad secured work or further study within sixmonths of graduation. The average starting salarywas 19,857, with the highest being 28,000.**

Graduate career destinations Business advertising, international sales Education schools through to universities Further training education, postgraduate study

in England and America Government local government, civil service,

social work, armed forces Media journalism, radio, television, publishing Recent graduatesRecent graduates include: Dr Rebecca Cobby Special Programmes Coordinator, US-UKFullbright Commission; George Garner ReviewEditor, Kerrang! music magazine; Dr Ceri Gorton Relationships Manager, Arts Council England.

The Universitys Careers andEmployability ServiceOur Careers and Employability Service, whichis based on University Park Campus, offers anextensive range of careers-oriented services,including CV-writing sessions, interview advice,presentations by major employers and generalcareer advice. As a University of Nottinghamgraduate, you will receive lifelong support fromthe service. This means that you can ask a careersadviser to look over your job application by emailor Skype, or in person, and you can also accessa database of graduate vacancies. For moreinformation see www.nottingham.ac.uk/careers

*The Graduate Market in 2013, 2014 and 2015, High FliersResearch.** Known destinations of full-time home and EU first-degreegraduates, 2013/14.

The Nottingham Advantage AwardThe Universitys Advantage Award is a programmeof activities developed to recognise and rewardextracurricular responsibilities. It allows you togain recognition for participating in a wide rangeof activities accredited by the University anddelivered by top graduate employers, professionalservices and members of staff of the University.It also shows employers that you have gone aboveand beyond your degree and gained valuabletransferable skills. For further information, pleasevisitwww.nottingham.ac.uk/careers/advantage Student Ambassadors moduleAll students within the department will be eligible,in their final year, for the Student Ambassadorsmodule, which provides in-school placementfor teaching experience in your preferredsubject area.

Year abroad opportunities Our exchange programme provides you with anopportunity to immerse yourself in the study ofa wide range of subjects at a North Americaninstitution. Graduates often opt to go back tothe United States of America and Canada forfurther study or to work and travel. We also havea number of formal and informal contacts withAmerican and Canadian universities willing to offerplaces, scholarships and teaching assistantshipsto our best graduates. Postgraduate studySome of our best students decide to stay onat Nottingham and join our lively communityof postgraduate research students within thedepartment, from MA level through to PhD. Findout more by visitingwww.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy

Career and employmentprospects



As an undergraduate at Nottingham, I havebeen well prepared for the job market, gaininga variety of transferable skills and theinternational travel dimension of my degreehas given me an added level of experience.American and Canadian studies graduate

D f A i d C di S di D f A i d C di S di


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I was the President for the American Society. Wemostly put on socials, but we also put on films thatwere useful to people on the course, to tell themabout study abroad from a students perspective.The committee are really friendly and theyre there

to help you.Kimberley Dunk, BA American Studies (now known as BA American andCanadian Literature, History and Culture)

Find out more about Kimberleys experience atwww.nottingham.ac.uk/go/kimberleydunk

Kimberley is doing some course reading by the lakeoutside the Trent Building on University Park Campus.

Scan the codeto watch thisvideo on yoursmartphone.

Staff research interests

LecturersOne of the advantages of being in a departmentwith a thriving research culture is that you aretaught by people who are genuinely up to dateand authoritative in their fields, and who share theirenthusiasm and expertise with their students, as theTeaching Quality Assessment demonstrates.

As a member of one o f the largest centres forAmerican studies in Europe, you will experiencea range of expertise from lecturers who arepassionate about the subjects they teach, and thisis reflected in the vast range of modules available.In addition, we have an enviable programme ofguest speakers and visiting American professors,with the department also acting as the academichome for American and Canadian students intheir Junior Year Abroad. While you are a studentat Nottingham, you will also have access to our24-hour computer suites and libraries.

Areas of research undertaken by our staffare numerous and varied; heres a sampleof current interests:

Abraham Lincoln in US intellectual history African American visual cultures American crime film in the 20th century American knowledge in the natural and

human sciences American protest literature: slavery, abolitionism

and civil rights Canadian womens writing: queer writing and

feminist theory Class and knowledge in post-Revolutionary

America Cold War foreign policy towards Latin America Contemporary South Asian Atlantic fiction Crime and punishment in the US South Cultural representations of the Canada-US

border Latino visual art in the US Southwest Political education in the Civil Rights Movement Slavery and the origins of the Civil War Socialism and American labour history The Bush administration and the Global War

on Terror The US South in cultural history, film, media

and fiction Utopia and terror in American fiction

Staff profiles, publications and details of research

currently being undertaken within the Departmentof American and Canadian Studies are available atwww.nottingham.ac.uk/american


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Department of American and Canadian Studies Department of American and Canadian Studies


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Youve read lots about the degree programmeyoure interested in, now its time to explore lifeoutside the lecture theatre. Theres so muchfor you to get involved in and explore at theUniversity and around the city. We are proud tobe one of the leading universities for studentexperience in the UK*, which will ensure that youhave a university experience youll never forget.

Your University of Nottingham athome and around the worldWe are proud of our stunning campuses and arecontinually investing in our grounds, buildingsand amenities to ensure that you only have thebest surroundings in which to live and study. Ourmain UK campuses have a mix of state-of-the-artfacilities, including sports centres, places to eatand excellent learning facilities on every campus. Weve made getting from campus to campus aseasy as possible and students can benefit from ourfree inter-campus Hopper Bus, so youre never faraway from the striking architecture and innovativetechnology of Jubilee Campus, the rolling parkland

and period buildings at University Park, or thecutting-edge features of Sutton Bonington.

The University of Nottingham is Britains globaluniversity with campuses in the UK, China andMalaysia. We also have links with more than 300universities in over 40 countries, adding a trulyglobal flavour to your degree and giving you thechance to explore the world. Find out more: www.nottingham.ac.uk/about/campuses Your new home from homeAt Nottingham we offer a range of differentaccommodation options, rooms are available assingle or shared, en suite or shared bathroom,all the way through to studio flats, and varyfrom self-catered to fully catered (19 meals perweek). We also offer a guarantee of Universityaccommodation for one year to all new full-timeundergraduate students, subject to the followingconditions: you firmly accept your course place at

Nottingham, accept your offer of accommodationby the deadline given in your offer letter, and havean unconditional status no later than 31 August inthe year you intend to begin your studies.

If you are a new, full-time undergraduate studentwho is classified as international for fee purposes,this guarantee applies for three years**. For moreinformation, including a breakdown of pricing, seewww.nottingham.ac.uk/accommodation

Your support network Throughout your university journey there will benumerous people on hand to support you, includingtutors and dedicated staff who will be able to adviseyou on various aspects of life as a student. Wehave Student Services Centres on all three of ourUK campuses, which provide a range of support,information and specialist services to enhance yourstudent experience. This support includes:

Academic Support can provide practicaladvice on areas of academic study; the servicealso provides specialist academic support forstudents with dyslexia, dyspraxia and otherspecific learning difficulties

Disability Support coordinates support andaccess arrangements for students with adisability or long-term medical condition

Financial Support provides information on thesources of finance available from governmentagencies and the University itself, and givesadvice about financial matters

Student Services also advise on issuesranging from childcare, counselling and health tointernational student support, chaplaincy andfaith support, as well as offering advice onpaying your tuition and accommodation fees

Whatever you may need support with, they will

either be able to help or point you in the directionof someone who can. Find out more:www.nottingham.ac.uk/studentservices

*Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey , 2015.** Providing you submit your returners application in line with therequirements of the accommodation providers.

Your student experience

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Our halls of residence are greatplaces to catch up with friends.

Take a look at our accommodationvideo for a taster of what to expectat Nottingham:www.nottingham.ac.uk/go/yourhome

Nottingham is traditionally one of the most popular universitiesfor undergraduates.The Guardian University Guide 2014



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Getting involved in yourStudents UnionAs soon as you start at The University ofNottingham, you are automatically enrolled asa member of our Students Union, which isconsidered to be one of the best in the country.There are hundreds of activities that you could bepart of, providing you with the perfect opportunityto take up a new hobby or pursue existing interests.Choose from over 200 student-run societies,covering all interests and abilities, as well as localand national volunteering projects, to which youcan commit as much or as little time as you wish.

Our Students Union is home to a number ofaward-winning student-run media groups, whichgive you the chance to gain practical workexperience both behind the scenes or centre stageas a presenter, actor or journalist. The NottinghamNew Theatre, Impact magazine, NottinghamStudent Television (NSTV) and University RadioNottingham (URN) have all been recognised as thebest in their field, winning a clutch of awards foroutstanding achievements.

However you decide to become involved in theUnion, you can be sure you will make new friendsand learn new skills, all while having a lot of fun!Find out more: www.su.nottingham.ac.uk

SportsWe offer sport at all levels and an excellentall-inclusive student membership offer, sowhether you enjoy sport as a hobby or are anelite athlete we will have just what you need. Wehave over 70 sports clubs, which means we havethe 2nd highest number of sports clubs of any UKuniversity. If youre not interested in joining a teambut want to stay fit, we have sports centres on allof our main UK campuses. Find out more:www.nottingham.ac.uk/sport

Exploring your new cityWith Nottingham city centre just a 10-m inutebus ride away from University Park Campus, ourstudents are always close to the action. Buses runthrough campus regularly and many run late-nightservices too, which is handy if youre a night owl.For music lovers, you can take your pick from theworld-famous Rock City, Capital FM Arena or oneof the smaller gig venues for a more intimate liveshow. Nottingham is rich in performance venues,with comedy clubs and theatres catering for loversof drama, musicals, ballet and panto. We are veryproud of our sporting heritage, and with footballclubs Nottingham Forest and Notts County in thecity, as well as Trent Bridge cricket ground andthe National Ice Centre on your doorstep, youmight just become a sports fan if youre notone already.

History and culture can be found in all cornersof the city, with Nottingham Castle, NottinghamContemporary arts centre, the Galleries ofJustice Museum, Nottingham Lakeside Arts the Universitys public arts centre locatedon our University Park Campus arthousecinemas and three of the worlds oldest pubs allproviding points of interest. If you enjoy shopping,Nottingham is perfect for you; independentboutiques and vintage shops in the bohemian areaof Hockley mix with high street names in our largeshopping centres to make Nottingham a veritable

shopping haven.Find out more:www.nottingham.ac.uk/nottinghamlife

Download our city guide:www.nottingham.ac.uk/go/cityguide

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Students relaxing at BroadwayCinema in Nottingham city centre.




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Applying for a place

When considering your application, we willlook for evidence that you will be able to fulfilthe objectives of the programme of studyand achieve the standards required. We willtake into account a range of factors additionalto, and in some cases instead of, formalexamination results. For more information onhow to make your application stand out, havea look at our online prospectus: www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugstudy/applying

Application processAll applications for an undergraduate placeto study at The University of Nottingham (includingapplications by overseas students) must bemade through UCAS. Applications should bemade online at www.ucas.com . Candidates willbe notified of decisions through UCAS Track at track.ucas.com

Applications for our courses are m ade underone of the UCAS codes listed in the table o npage 6. There is a small amount of flexibility forstudents to transfer to a different course withinthe department during the first year, dependingon space availability.

Entry numbersPlease see the table on page 6 to find out howmany people we accept onto each course.

The selection procedureWe are looking for students who have theability and motivation to benefit from ourcourses and who will make a valued contributionto the department and the University.

Most offers are made in the range of the A levelgrades described opposite, but the departmentreserves the right to alter this d epending onaspects of the applicants personal statement or areferees comments.

American and Canadian studies require acombination of skills, an ability to engage with newsubjects and ideas, and an interest in the countryyou will visit during the four-year programme.These qualities are obviously related to academicperformance, but we will also look at your interestsand experience.

Your personal statementMany people waste the opportunity offered by thepersonal statement section of the UCAS form.Be as specific and detailed as possible aboutyour intellectual interests and enthusiasms, yourreading, and your reasons for choosing to studyAmerican and Canadian studies either as a singleor joint honours degree.

Academic attainment Nottingham is a very p opular university and wetry to keep our minimum offer as low as possibleas we are looking for students with a range ofcultural interests and an enthusiasm to undertakean interdisciplinary degree. You will normally beexpected to have studied four subjects at ASand three subjects to A level. Conditional offersare normally based upon three full A levelsand you will only be required to have achieved apass in the fourth AS subject taken.

Note: the grade achieved in the fourth subjectmay assume significance if you narrowly miss thespecified grades at A level.

We also take AS level grades seriously, but onlyas part of an overall profile, comprising GCSE andA level grades as well as the school or collegereference and your personal statement. Generalstudies will be accepted as a fourth A level, butwe only accept it as one of the three A levelgrades in exceptional circumstances. That said, agood performance in general studies could makethe difference in a borderline case, such as whena candidate narrowly misses the required grades.

Interviews and UCAS visit days Ordinarily we interview only a very limited numberof applicants. For the most part, we make offerswithout interview and then invite candidates toattend a UCAS visit day. Interviews and UCASvisit days (for admission the following September)take place from January to April, although lateapplicants can sometimes be seen after that.

Whether you come for an interview or a UCASvisit day, you can expect to meet the admissionstutor, current students and members of academicstaff. They will expand upon the material coveredhere and in the p rospectus and answer yourquestions. You will meet current students fromthe department, tour the campus and visit a hallof residence or student flat, one of the libraries,and the Students Union. If you are a joint honoursapplicant, you will also meet staff from the partnerschool or department. Before you come, do givesome careful thought to your reasons for choosingto study North America so that you know what toask in order to make an informed decision aboutwhere to study.

Required subjectsFor all degrees in American and Canadianstudies (single and joint honours), Englishand/or history tend to be the most commonA level subjects. However, we also welcome arange of subjects including art, communicationsstudies, film studies, media studies, modernlanguages, politics, sociology, theatre/dramaand theology. Some of our joint honours partnersrequire you to have taken their subject at Alevel, and for some degrees, to have gained aspecific grade in that subject (see the minimumrequirements on page 6).

Alternative qualificationsIn this brochure you will find our A level entryrequirements but we accept a much broaderrange of qualifications.These include: Access to HE Diploma Advanced Diploma BTEC HND/HNC BTEC Extended Diploma Cambridge Pre-U International Baccalaureate Irish Leaving Certificate Scottish Advanced Highers Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma

This list is not exhaustive; we will considerapplicants with other qualifications on anindividual basis. The entry requirements foralternative qualifications can be quite specific;for example you may need to take certain modulesand achieve a specified grade in those modules.Please contact us to discuss the transferabilityof your qualification.

Flexible admissions policy In recognition of our applicants varied experienceand educational pathways, we employ a flexibleadmissions policy. If we judge that your situationhas adversely affected your achievement, then wewill consider this when assessing your academicpotential. If you wish to mention information aboutyour experiences in your personal statement, thenyou should ask the teacher or tutor writing yourreference to confirm what you have written. Wemay ask for further evidence and may consider arange of factors. For more information, please seewww.nottingham.ac.uk/go/admissionspolicies Mature applicantsWe encourage applications from mature students(which means all those aged 21 or over when thecourse begins). You should apply in the normalway through UCAS (unless you want to studypart-time, in which case you should apply directlyto the department). While we accept a rangeof qualifications, you should check our specificrequirements on UCAS course entry profiles. Ifin doubt, please contact the admissions tutor,who will be happy to answer any specific queriesyou have about applying as a mature student.Please email your questions [email protected]

We normally invite mature applicants in whomwe are interested to come for an interview, where

we will look for evidence of your ability to studyat a high academic level and of commitment tothe subject. For more information about being amature student, please see www.nottingham.ac.uk/mature

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pwww.nottingham.ac.uk/american

pwww.nottingham.ac.uk/american

For tips and advice at every step of yourapplication journey, visit our undergraduateapplicants area:www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugapplicants

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugstudy/applying/applicationprocesshttp://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugstudy/applying/applicationprocesshttp://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugstudy/applying/applicationprocesshttp://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugstudy/applying/applicationprocess


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Part-time studyThe department offers students the opportunityto study part-time. Applicants should note,however, that teaching for the part-time degreetakes place during normal hours; there is noprovision for teaching in the evening, at weekendsor during vacations. Part-time students normallyfollow exactly half the course of full-time studentseach year, and therefore complete their degreewithin five to seven years. Entry requirements arethe same as those for full-time students on therelevant degree course (with the same exceptionsfor mature students). If youre interested instudying part-time with us, please contact thedepartment using the details on page 34 ratherthan applying through UCAS.

International applicantsWe welcome applications from internationalstudents and have students from many partsof the world studying with us at undergraduateand postgraduate level. All internationalcandidates for undergraduate courses shouldapply through UCAS. The Universitys InternationalOffice offers guidance and advice on matterssuch as visa and immigration regulations,working and living in the UK, entry requirementsand preparing for coming to Nottingham andarranges a Welcome Programme for newinternational students each September.

If you would like to visit the University and areunable to attend an op en day, the InternationalOffice will be happy to arrange an individual visitfor you. For further information please visitwww.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/international-applicants

English language requirementsIt is essential that all our applicants have Englishlanguage skills that are good enough to undertakea highly intensive and demanding course. For thisreason, the department normally requires an IELTSscore of 7.0 with at least 6.0 in reading, writing,speaking and listening. For more informationand a list of the alternative English languagerequirements we accept, please seewww.nottingham.ac.uk/go/alternativerequirements

Preparing to study in English academic English preparationand supportThe University of Nottingham Centre for EnglishLanguage Education (CELE) offers high-qualityacademic English and study skills (presessional)programmes to prepare you to study your degreein English. Our programmes are designed togive international students excellent preparation

for their academic studies and are taught byexperienced, professional tutors.

CELE provides a range of programmesthroughout the year, including five-week subject-specific courses (in some subjects) and a four-week course in September for students withunconditional offers, with a focus on academicstudy skills. You can continue to benefit fromacademic English support with free classesthroughout your study (insessional programmes).For more information about CELE, please visitwww.nottingham.ac.uk/cele

Deferred entryApplicants who wish to defer their entry by ayear will not be at a disadvantage. Please tell ussomething about your plans for your gap year inyour UCAS personal statement. Equal opportunities policyThe University aims to create the conditionswhereby students and staff are treated solely onthe basis of their m erits, abilities and potential,regardless of gender, race, colour, nationality,ethnic or national origin, age, socio-economicbackground, disability, religious or political beliefs,trade union membership, family circumstances,sexual orientation or o ther irrelevant distinction.

35


32

How much are the fees? Like many universities in England, Nottinghamcharges full-time UK and EU students anannual tuition fee of 9,000. However, youwill not have to pay your fees while studying the government will lend eligible students themoney, which you will start to pay back onceyou have left university and are earning at least21,000. For more information, please seewww.nottingham.ac.uk/fees

Fees for students from outside the EU vary fromsubject to subject. For more information, pleasesee the New international students section onwww.nottingham.ac.uk/fees What bursaries are available?Although bursary figures for 2016/17 are yet tobe finalised, the University will continue to offer agenerous package of bursary support to studentsfrom lower income households. These are inaddition to any support you may receive from thegovernment. For more information, please seewww.nottingham.ac.uk/financialsupport or takea look at the funding tab on the relevant courseentry in our online p rospectus:www.nottingham.ac.uk/ugstudy

What support is available for studentswith children?There are a range of services provided to supportstudents with children, including a University daynursery, a playscheme, and playcentre day care.There is also a scheme to help students fundchildcare. For more information, seewww.nottingham.ac.uk/child-care What support do you offer for students with adisability or dyslexia?The department, like the University, is committedto promoting access for students who havea disability, dyslexia or a long-term medicalcondition. Services provided by the Universityaim to enable students to fulfil the inherentrequirements of the course as independently aspossible. The Universitys Disability Statement,which lists services, facilities and opportunitiesavailable throughout the University can beviewed at www.nottingham.ac.uk/disability

Visit our website for m ore frequently askedquestions: www.nottingham.ac.uk/faqs

Frequently asked questions


33

Department of American and Canadian Studiestti gh k/ i

Department of American and Canadian Studiestti gh k/ i


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Arts andHumanities

Our creative responses help makeus unique. Learn about the livesof others, their thought processesand their inuences and exploreyour own reactions. Well help youturn an inspiring degree into aninspiring career.

STUDY WHATYOU L VE#STUDYWHATYOULOVE

Find out more:www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywhatyoulove

Your passion canbe your success.Study what you love.

Open daysIf youre considering applying to The University ofNottingham we recommend that you try to attendone of the University-wide open days, which areheld in June and September each year and attractaround 30,000 visitors. Find out more:www.nottingham.ac.uk/opendays

Mini open daysMini open days are much smaller than the mainopen days but offer the same opportunities toattend various talks and tours as well as speak tocurrent students and academics. Find out more:www.nottingham.ac.uk/go/miniopendaysor call +44 (0)115 951 5559.

Virtual open dayIf you cant attend one of our open d ays in person,or would like to explore our campuses beforevisiting, take a look at our virtual open day:www.nottingham.ac.uk/virtualnottingham

UCAS visit days Once youve been offered a place at Nottingham,you may be invited to attend a UCAS visitday, which is an opportunity for you to visit thedepartment and to find out more about yourchosen course. You will also be given a short tourof the campus by current students.

Other visitsIf you wish to make an informal visit to the Universityprior to applying here, you are welcome to do so,but you should contact us in advance if you wish tovisit the school or speak to an admissions tutor, andwe will do our best to oblige.

Contact usDepartment of American and Canadian StudiesSchool of Cultures, Languages and Area StudiesThe University of NottinghamUniversity Park NottinghamNG7 2RDt: +44 (0)115 846 8466f: +44 (0)115 951 5812e: [email protected] w: www.nottingham.ac.uk/american

For international student enquiries,please contact:The International Officet: +44 (0)115 951 5247f: +44 (0)115 951 5155e: [email protected] w: www.nottingham.ac.uk/international

You can also connect with fellow applicants andcurrent students on our applicants Facebook andTwitter pages:

UoNApplicants

@UoNApplicants

Visiting and contacting us

www.nottingham.ac.uk/american www.nottingham.ac.uk/american

34 35

This publication is availablein alternative formats.t: +44 (0)115 951 5559The University of Nottingham has made every effort to ensure thatthe information in this brochure was accurate when published.Please note, however, that the nature of the content means that itis subject to change from time to time, and you should thereforeconsider the information to be guiding rather than d enitive. Youshould check the Universitys website for any updates before youdecide to accept a place on a course. The University of Nottingham 2015.All rights reserved. Printed May 2015.
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywhatyoulovehttp://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywhatyoulovehttp://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywhatyoulovehttp://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywhatyoulove

american and canadian studies

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