Course summary

This four-year BA American Studies and International Relations degree with a year in industry, opens up a range of exciting career possibilities by giving students transferable skills, which are highly valued by employers. Studying International Relations and American Studies involves exploring the culture, history and politics of the United States, the most influential country in the world, alongside many aspects of global and regional politics and economics. It addresses some of the most pressing issues in our contemporary world, including globalization and the struggles for racial justice. You will have the chance to study American history, literature, politics and culture, from colonization to the present, and a range of international relations topics from globalization and global institutions to human rights and political economy. You can shape the degree to your own interests, whether in US popular culture and political protest or political theory and international peace and conflict. You also have the chance to study for a year or a semester in the United States, discovering the subject first hand. American Studies at Swansea is ranked: • 1st in the UK for Graduate Outcomes (Complete University Guide 2025) • 1st in the UK for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2025) • 2nd in the UK for Student Experience (Times Good University Guide 2025) International Relations at Swansea is ranked: • Top 15 in the UK Overall (Guardian University Guide 2025) The degree includes the option of studying in the United States for a semester or a year, further enhancing your student experience and career prospects. You will have the competitive option of undertaking an internship module with the National Assembly for Wales, working closely with an Assembly Member. The breadth of American Studies and History fosters transferable skills valued by employers, including creative thinking, critical awareness, team working, and advanced oral and written communication skills. American Studies and History graduates are known for their adaptability and creativity because the course requires students to make connections between disciplines and traditions. Our graduates enter careers in a wide range of sectors including: • Education • Marketing • Government • Research • Events management