American Studies, BA (Hons)

Study the Culture, History and Politics of the United States

Mount Rushmore

Course Overview

To understand America’s history, culture and politics is to appreciate the forces that shape the world today.

American Studies explores the culture, history and politics of the most influential country in the world, from colonization to the present. It addresses some of the most pressing issues in our contemporary world, including globalization and struggles for racial justice.

You can shape the degree to your own interests, whether in US popular culture or political protest. You also have the chance to study for a year or a semester in the United States, discovering the subject first hand.

Why American Studies at Swansea?

Based on our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, our American Studies programme is highly regarded by employers. It includes the option of studying in the United States for a semester or a year, further enhancing your student experience and career prospects. 

American Studies at Swansea is ranked:

  • 3rd in the UK for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2026)
  • 100% Overall Satisfaction (NSS 2025)*

*American and Australasian Studies, Q28, NSS 2025

Your American Studies Experience

We offer varied and flexible course content, so you can tailor the degree to your own interests, whether in film, music, race, gender, migration and urbanization, social, economic and military history, terrorism, or civil rights and political protest.

Our interdisciplinary approach means you can make connections between a range of subject areas – from visual culture and music to history and politics.

Teaching is informed by our world-leading interdisciplinary research in a wide range of subject areas, from civil rights, US foreign policy, and the Cold War to the American Civil War, contemporary US fiction, and the Harlem Renaissance. 

During your time at Swansea University, you will have the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of clubs and societies. The American Studies Student Society organises a range of social and cultural events.

American Studies Employment Opportunities

The breadth of American Studies fosters transferable skills valued by employers, including creative thinking, critical awareness, team working, and advanced oral and written communication skills. American Studies 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

Modules

We're currently reviewing our curriculum to enhance your learning experience and embed skills that will benefit your future career. This means that some modules may be subject to change.

Entry Requirements

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications.

Typical A level Offer

ABB-BBC

American Studies, BA (Hons)

American Studies with a Year Abroad, BA (Hons)

American Studies with a Year in Industry, BA (Hons)