Course summary

On this fascinating four-year BA degree program, you will have the chance to explore the culture, history and politics of the United States of America, one of the most influential countries in the world. Tailor this varied and flexible course to suit your interests, whether in American film, music, race, gender, civil rights and political protest, urbanization and migration. This degree program covers the period from colonization through to the recent Trump presidency. Teaching on this course is informed by our world-leading research and you can attend seminars organised through our guest speaker program. Visiting American professors also offer modules as part of the degree, and with more than 150 American students studying at Swansea each year, you will have access to a ready-made network of contacts with links stretching across the USA. The third year of this course will be spent on an industry placement, allowing you to pick up key skills and gain experience that will be essential for your future career. You will develop a wide range of transferable skills, which are highly valued by employers, including oral, writing and presentation skills, along with expertise across research and problem-solving. Our graduates enter careers in a wide range of sectors ranging from education, marketing and events management to government and research. Study at Swansea and you’ll be based on our Singleton Campus in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay, on the edge of the Gower Peninsular, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Outside of your lectures, you’ll be able to join our student societies including the American Studies Society. American Studies at Swansea is ranked: • 1st in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Times Good University Guide 2024) • Top 5 in the UK for Teaching Quality (Times Good University Guide 2024) • Top 10 in the UK for Student Experience (Times Good University Guide 2024) • 3rd in the UK for Graduate Outcomes (Complete University Guide 2024)