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BA American History with Modern History ( V238 )

UCAS Course Code:
V238
Attendance:
Full Time
Award:
Degree of Bachelor of Arts
School of Study:
American Studies
Brochure:
American Studies Undergraduate Brochure (PDF)
Typical A-Level Offer:
AAB-ABB including History

The principal components of this four-year degree course are American and Modern history. Aiming to combine depth and breadth of study, this course gives rich opportunities for progressively more specialised and advanced work.

Course Structure

The programme combines the study of Modern history with American history, with primary focus falling on America. There are opportunities to explore US foreign policy, the Supreme Court, slavery, civil rights, and Native American history. There is an interdisciplinary dimension that encourages students to take modules involving the use of literary as well as historical sources.

In your first year you will take six modules. In addition to taking classes in American and Modern history, you will also take an introductory module that will equip you with the general intellectual and analytical skills necessary for this course.
In your second year, you will choose your six modules from a very wide range on offer in American history (for example: American and Vietnam; Race and Racism in the USA; Civil Rights and Black Liberation; Contemporary US Foreign Policy) and American Studies (for example: The American Dream; Looking at Pictures: photography and visual culture in the USA; American Music; Reading the Virgin Land).

Your third year is spent in the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

Your final year includes: the writing of a research based dissertation; a two-semester documents-based special subject in American History (focusing, for example, on American Slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, Native American history, or the Cold War); and a fourth module chosen from a wide range of topics in American and Modern history.

Assessment

Key skills, issues and ideas are introduced in lectures given by all members of faculty. These are accompanied by more specialist study, undertaken in small seminar groups. You will also spend time studying and researching in the library. You will be assessed at the end of each semester on the basis of coursework, and at the end of each year by examination. In your final year, you will write a dissertation on a topic of your choice and with the advice of tutors. There is no final examination. Your final degree result is determined by the marks you receive in years two and four.


Dr. Rebecca Fraser

Davis-Stuart New York MuralFirst Class Teaching

The School of American Studies prides itself on achieving the highest standards of teaching, as well as offering first rate provision of course information, grading, and feedback to students on their work. Our teaching is monitored internally by a comprehensive programme of reporting by the students themselves, and by annual review of these reports. All external audits of teaching quality in the last ten years have rated us as "Excellent".

Choice

Modules taught in the School range across American culture, literature, history, politics and film. This means that in your second and final years you shape your own degree, by choosing from over fifty lecture or seminar modules on topics as diverse as the cultural history of American music, US foreign policy, visual culture, African American and Native American history and culture, drama, poetry, the classic novels of the nineteenth century, and much more besides.

Academic Support

To help you shape your degree and chose your modules you will have an Academic Adviser who is a member of faculty within the School, and who stays with you throughout your time at UEA.

Friendly Community

The School of American Studies provides an academic and social ‘home’ for students and teaching staff. Offices are located close together, and all teaching staff hold regular ‘open door’ Office Hours. Students can join the UEA American Studies Society, which organises social events, and use the society’s Facebook page to stay in contact with their friends even when abroad.

Lively Academic Environment

Here at UEA we are engaged in cutting-edge interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research that seeks to break new ground in the field of American Studies. As committed university teachers, we translate that work into an exciting and constantly evolving range of modules at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Why not take a tour of our website and find out what we are researching and teaching in the School of American Studies?

Unrivalled Year Abroad Programme

We offer every one of our undergraduate students enrolled on a four year degree programme the opportunity to study abroad at one of forty American universities located across the country, from New England to California, Alaska to Louisiana. We also have placements in Canada, and some of our students may elect to spend the first half of their year abroad in the USA or Canada and the second half in Australia.

Half Year's Fee

Our students pay only half a year’s UK fees for their entire academic year spent overseas. This means that you pay the equivalent of only 3 ½ years’ worth of fees for your four years of study.

Great Sources of Financial Support

American Studies students will be eligible for University bursaries (as outlined in the University's general information). In addition, however, we offer half of our first years £1000 Arthur Miller Scholarships to those scoring top marks in their A level exams, to help finance their year abroad. This is awarded only to students in the school who will be going abroad and is paid out at the end of the second year.

Employment Opportunities

Our graduates find work in a very wide range of occupations, from research to publishing, and from teaching to banking. The extra skills and confidence gained from Study Abroad gives American Studies graduates an advantage in the job market.

Internationally renowned Literary Festival

Each year, UEA brings major writers from the USA and around the world to its International Literary Festival, open to the public and – of course – our students, too. Visitors have included Norman Mailer, Toni Morrison, Elmore Leonard, Gore Vidal, Richard Ford, Jonathan Franzen and Margaret Atwood.

UniStats Information

Compulsory Study (80 credits)

Students must study the following modules for 80 credits:

Name Code Credits
CONTAINING MULTITUDES: AMERICAN HISTORY I AMSA1F09 20
CONTAINING MULTITUDES: AMERICAN HISTORY II AMSA1F04 20
READING CULTURES I: AMERICAN ICONS AMSA1F17 20
READING CULTURES II: IDEAS AND IDEOLOGIES AMSA1F18 20

Option A Study (20 credits)

Students will select 20 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
INTRODUCTION TO EARLY MODERN STUDIES HIS-1A15 20
INTRODUCTION TO MEDIEVAL HISTORY HIS-1A13 20
INTRODUCTION TO MODERN HISTORY HIS-1A19 20

Option B Study (20 credits)

Students will select 20 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
THE HOLOCAUST IN HISTORY HIS-1A26 20
WITCHCRAFT, MAGIC AND BELIEF IN EARLY MODERN EUROPE HIS-1A22 20

Option A Study (20 credits)

Students will select 20 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
AMERICA AND VIETNAM AMSA2H01 20
CONTEMPORARY US FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AMSA2H41 20
GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN THE NEW REPUBLIC AMSA2H06 20
NATIVE AMERICANS AMSA2H15 20
NEW YORK CITY: HISTORY AND CULTURE IN THE 20TH CENTURY AMSA2H10 20
PROTESTING THE AMERICAN CENTURY: DISSENT AND US FOREIGN POLICY AMSA2H13 20
RACE AND RACISM IN THE USA AMSA2H32 20
THE COLD WAR AND AMERICAN CULTURE AMSA2H44 20

Option B Study (40 credits)

Students will select 40 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
ADOLESCENCE IN AMERICAN CULTURE POST-1950 AMSA2S53 20
AMERICA AND VIETNAM AMSA2H01 20
AMERICAN MASCULINITIES AMSA2S02 20
AMERICAN MUSIC AMSA2S45 20
CONTEMPORARY US FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AMSA2H41 20
DOING IT YOURSELF: PUNK AND AMERICA AMSA2S05 20
FILMS THAT MADE US AMERICAN: THE 1980S THROUGH THE MOVIES AMSA2S03 20
GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN THE NEW REPUBLIC AMSA2H06 20
LOOKING AT PICTURES: PHOTOGRAPHY AND VISUAL CULTURE IN THE USA AMSA2S48 20
NATIVE AMERICANS AMSA2H15 20
NEW YORK CITY: HISTORY AND CULTURE IN THE 20TH CENTURY AMSA2H10 20
PROTESTING THE AMERICAN CENTURY: DISSENT AND US FOREIGN POLICY AMSA2H13 20
RACE AND RACISM IN THE USA AMSA2H32 20
THE COLD WAR AND AMERICAN CULTURE AMSA2H44 20

Option C Study (40 credits)

Students will select 40 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND, C. 500-1066 HISH2A93 20
ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND, C. 500-1066 (CW) HISH2A93C 20
CONSPIRACY AND CRISIS IN EARLY MODERN ENGLAND HISH2H08 20
CONSPIRACY AND CRISIS IN EARLY MODERN ENGLAND (CW) HISH2H08C 20
EARLY MEDIEVAL EUROPE HISH2B13 20
EARLY MEDIEVAL EUROPE (CW) HISH2B13C 20
FROM AGINCOURT TO BOSWORTH: ENGLAND IN THE WARS OF THE ROSES HISH2B18 20
FROM AGINCOURT TO BOSWORTH: ENGLAND IN THE WARS OF THE ROSES HISH2B18C 20
HERITAGE AND PUBLIC HISTORY HISH2H05 20
IMPERIAL RUSSIAN AND SOVIET HISTORY 1861, - 1941 HISH2D89C 20
IMPERIAL RUSSIAN AND SOVIET HISTORY, 1861-1945 HISH2D89 20
LANDSCAPE I: STRUCTURES OF LANDSCAPE HISH2A51 20
LANDSCAPE I: STRUCTURES OF LANDSCAPE HISH2A51C 20
LANDSCAPE II (CW) HISH2A52C 20
LANDSCAPE II : BUILT AND SEMI-NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS HISH2A52 20
LATER MEDIEVAL EUROPE HISH2A94 20
LATER MEDIEVAL EUROPE (CW) HISH2A94C 20
LATIN FOR HISTORIANS HISH2A62 20
MEDICINE & SOCIETY BEFORE THE 17TH CENTURY HISH2B95C 20
MEDICINE AND GENDER HISH2B97 20
MEDICINE AND GENDER (CW) HISH2B97C 20
MEDICINE AND SOCIETY BEFORE THE 17TH CENTURY HISH2B95 20
MEDICINE AND SOCIETY IN MODERN BRITAIN HISH2B96 20
MEDICINE AND SOCIETY IN MODERN BRITAIN (CW) HISH2B96C 20
MODERN GERMANY, 1866-1945 HISH2D53 20
MODERN GERMANY, 1866-1945 HISH2D53C 20
MODERN ITALY, 1860-1945 HISH2E08 20
MODERN ITALY, 1860-1945 HISH2E08C 20
NAPOLEON TO STALIN: THE STRUGGLE FOR MASTERY IN EUROPE HISH2D02 20
NORMAN AND PLANTAGENET ENGLAND, 1066-1307 HISH2B12 20
NORMAN AND PLANTAGENET ENGLAND, 1066-1307 HISH2B12C 20
QUEENS, COURTESANS AND COMMONERS: WOMEN AND GENDER IN EARLY MODERN EUROPE HISH2F25 20
QUEENS, COURTESANS AND COMMONERS: WOMEN AND GENDER IN EARLY MODERN EUROPE (CW) HISH2F25C 20
REFORMATION TO REVOLUTION HISH2H01 20
REFORMATION TO REVOLUTION HISH2H01C 20
SEMESTER STUDY ABROAD (AUTUMN SEMESTER) HISH2X05 60
SEMESTER STUDY ABROAD (SPRING SEMESTER) HISH2X04 60
THE BRITISH EMPIRE, 1857-1956 HISH2B74 20
THE BRITISH EMPIRE, 1857-1956 HISH2B74C 20
THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE TO NANCY ASTOR: WOMEN, POWER AND POLITICS HISH2H12 20
THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE TO NANCY ASTOR: WOMEN, POWER AND POLITICS HISH2H12C 20
THE ENGLISH CIVIL WARS HISH2H10 20
THE ENGLISH CIVIL WARS (CW) HISH2H10C 20
THE PAPACY, CHRISTIANITY AND THE STATE, 1050-1300 HISH2A10 20
THE PAPACY, CHRISTIANITY AND THE STATE, 1050-1300 HISH2A10C 20
THE POWER OF THE PAST: MEMORY AND HISTORY HISH2E02 20
THE RISE AND FALL OF BRITISH POWER HISH2B57 20
THE RISE AND FALL OF BRITISH POWER HISH2B57C 20
TUDOR AND STUART ENGLAND HISH2B35 20
TUDOR AND STUART ENGLAND HISH2B35C 20
TWENTIETH-CENTURY BRITAIN: 1914 TO THE PRESENT HISH2G01 20
TWENTIETH-CENTURY BRITAIN: 1914 TO THE PRESENT HISH2G01C 20
VICTORIAN BRITAIN HISH2B73 20
VICTORIAN BRITAIN HISH2B73C 20
WAR AND PEACE SINCE 1945 HISH2G02 20
WAR AND PEACE SINCE 1945 HISH2G02C 20

Free Choice Study (20 credits)

Students will select modules worth 20 credits from the course catalogue with the approval of their School

Compulsory Study (120 credits)

Students must study the following modules for 120 credits:

Name Code Credits
AMERICAN STUDIES SEMESTER ABROAD: AMERICA AMSA2Y03 60
AMERICAN STUDIES SEMESTER ABROAD: AUSTRALIA AMSA2Y02 60
AMERICAN STUDIES YEAR ABROAD AMSA2Y1Y 120

Compulsory Study (30 credits)

Students must study the following modules for 30 credits:

Name Code Credits
AMERICAN STUDIES YEAR ABROAD DISSERTATION AMSA3Y05 30

Option A Study (60 credits)

Students will select 60 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
ANIMALS IN AMERICAN HISTORY AMSA3H3Y 60
FIRST PEOPLES, COLONIZERS AND THE USA AMSA3H7Y 60
THE ENGLISH IN AMERICA 1607-1692 HIST3J2Y 60

Option B Study (30 credits)

Students will select 30 credits from the following modules:

Name Code Credits
'REDCOATS': BRITISH MILITARY POWER IN THE AGE OF THE FIRST GLOBAL WARS, 1754-1783 HISH3F87C 30
A WORLD AT WAR HISH3F01 30
BRITISH INTELLIGENCE IN THE 20TH CENTURY - MYTH AND REALITY HISH3F97C 30
BRITISH INTELLIGENCE IN THE 20TH CENTURY - MYTH AND REALITY (CW) HISH3F96C 30
CASTLES, CANNON AND CONCRETE: LANDSCAPES OF FORTIFICATION FROM THE MIDDLE AGES TO THE COLD WAR HISH3K06 30
CHAMBERLAIN, CHURCHILL AND APPEASEMENT, 1935-1940 (CW) HISH3G13C 30
DEATH, BODY AND DISEASE: THEMES IN MEDICAL & SOCIAL HISTORY HISH3F91 30
DISSERTATION IN HISTORY HISH3P2Y 30
EDWARDIAN BRITAIN HISH3E56 30
GENDER IN AMERICAN CULTURE AMSA3S22 30
LANDSCAPE III FIELD COURSE HISH3P4Y 30
MADNESS AND MEDICINE HISH3F62C 30
NAPOLEONIC EUROPE HISH3K01C 30
NATIVE AMERICAN WRITING AND FILM AMSA3S02 30
OLIVER CROMWELL AND THE PURITAN WORLD (CW) HISH3K05C 30
POWERFUL WORDS: EDUCATION, CULTURE AND POLITICS IN THE MIDDLE AGES HISH3K14 30
RUSSIA IN REVOLUTION 1905-1921 HISH3F18 30
THE AMERICAN BODY AMSA3S30 30
THE CRUSADES HISH3A61C 30
THE NORMAN CONQUEST HISH3K10 30
TUDOR REBELLIONS HISH3K08 30
TWENTIETH CENTURY SPORT HISTORY HISH3F76 30
TYRANNY AND REVOLUTION: THE AGE OF RICHARD II HISH3K17 30
US INTERVENTIONISM, THE CIA AND COVERT ACTION AMSA3H26 30
VICTORIAN UNDERWORLDS HISH3H12 30
WORKING IN THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT HISH3H1Y 30
YOUTH IN MODERN EUROPE HISH3J04C 30

Disclaimer

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules and regular (five-yearly) review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff or sabbatical leave. Where this is the case, the University will endeavour to inform students.

Year Abroad

All students on our four year degree courses spend their third year studying abroad, choosing from a range of over 40 institutions. Our Year Abroad programme has been running for over 30 years, enabling students to study in the USA or Canada for a full year, or choose to split the year between North America and Australasia, and so experience American Studies from a Pacific Rim point of view as well as the Atlantic perspective gained while at the University of East Anglia.

For more information on Study Abroad, please visit our Study Abroad site

Entry Requirements

Qualification:
BA (Hons)
A Level:
AAB-ABB including History
International Baccalaureate:
33-32 points including 5 in History
Scottish Highers:
At least one Advanced Higher preferred in addition to Highers
Scottish Advanced Highers:
AAB-ABB including History
Irish Leaving Certificate:
AAAABB-AABBBB
Access Course:
Please contact the university for further information
HND:
Please contact the university for further information
European Baccalaureate:
80-75%

Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students from all academic backgrounds. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading). Recognised English Language qualifications include:

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in Reading and Writing with no less than 5.5 in any component)
  • TOEFL: Internet-based score of 88 overall (minimum 20 in Reading and Speaking components, 19 in Writing component and 17 in Listening components.
  • PTE: 62 overall (minimum 55 in Reading and Writing components with no less than 51 in any component).

If you do not meet the University's entry requirements, our INTO Language Learning Centre offers a range of university preparation courses to help you develop the high level of academic and English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.
 

Interviews

The majority of candidates will not be called for an interview. However, for some students an interview will be requested. These are normally quite informal and generally cover topics such as your current studies, reasons for choosing the course and your personal interests and extra-curricular activities.

Students will have the opportunity to meet with an academic on a Visit Day in order to gain a deeper insight into the course(s) you have applied for.

Gap Year

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year.

Deferred Entry
We also welcome applications for deferred entry, believing that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry and may wish to contact the appropriate Admissions Office directly to discuss this further.

Special Entry Requirements

Students applying for this course must have a grade B or above in History A Level.

Intakes

The School's annual intake is in September of each year.

Alternative Qualifications

If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact university directly for further information.

GCSE Offer

Students should have GCSE Mathematics and English at Grade C or above.

Assessment

For the majority of candidates the most important factors in assessing the application will be past and future achievement in examinations, academic interest in the subject being applied for, personal interest and extra-curricular activities and the confidential reference. We consider applicants as individuals and accept students from a very wide range of educational backgrounds and spend time considering your application in order to reach an informed decision relating to your application. Typical offers are indicated above. Please note, there may be additional subject entry requirements specific to individual degree courses.

Fees and Funding

In each year, the School of American Studies offers up to 25% of its students on a Year Abroad, a £1000 Arthur Miller Scholarship.  Those students scoring top marks in their A level exams will be considered for one of these awards.

University Fees and Financial Support: UK/EU Students

Further information on fees and funding for 2012 can be found here

University Fees and Financial Support: International Students


The University will be charging International students £11,700.00 for all full time School of American Studies undergraduate programmes which start in 2012.

Please click to access further information about fees and funding for International students.

How to Apply

Applications need to be made via the Universities Colleges and Admissions Services (UCAS), using the UCAS Apply option.

UCAS Apply is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time Undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom. It is made up of different sections that you need to complete. Your application does not have to be completed all at once. The system allows you to leave a section partially completed so you can return to it later and add to or edit any information you have entered. Once your application is complete, it must be sent to UCAS so that they can process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.

The UCAS code name and number for the University of East Anglia is EANGL E14.

Further Information

If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances with the Admissions Office prior to applying please do contact us:

Undergraduate Admissions Office

Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk

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