Course overview
If you are fascinated by the Americas, North and South, and would like to explore the cultures of the United States and Canada alongside those of Spanish America and even Brazil, then this course is for you.
You will study Spanish language and the histories, literatures and cultures of the United States and Canada and many of the nations of Latin America.
By looking at different parts of the Americas – the United States, Canada and Latin America – alongside one another, you will develop a rounded understanding of the relationships between North and South America, in terms of history, culture, literature and politics.
We welcome beginners to Spanish and also students with an A-level in Spanish. For beginners, you could have no Spanish or a GCSE. If you have an A-level in Spanish, you may take beginners' Portuguese in your first year, after which you may continue studying the language into the final year. This gives you the chance to study Brazil in more depth.
Our non-language modules in Hispanic Studies cover the history, politics and cultures of Latin America, including the period of Spanish and Portuguese colonial expansion into the Americas.
In American Studies, you will learn about the history, politics, literature and culture of Anglophone North America.
Your departments
Find out more about what it's like to study with us:
- Department of American and Canadian Studies
- Department of Modern Languages and Cultures
Learning and assessment
How you will learn
You will be taught via a mixture of large-group lectures and smaller, interactive seminars. You might also be taught through tutorials and supervisions. These are one-to-one meetings or discussions with an academic tutor.
On the American Studies side of your course, you will benefit from a wide range of learning materials. This could include reading books, online journal articles, e-book chapters, shorter review essays, newspaper and magazine articles. It could also mean watching documentary films, and, on some modules, listening to music on YouTube or Spotify.
“I did a module called ‘The Pop Century’, which was on 20th century music, in second year. I loved that because you’d have a playlist every week and reading to go with it. We’d listen to songs and you’d choose your favourite one and link it to the historical context." – Liberty Jones, 2021 graduate
You will also have a personal tutor from the Department of American and Canadian Studies. This is someone who can:
- provide general support for your academic life
- give you the opportunity to raise concerns and discuss issues
- support you with personal issues
Peer mentor scheme
First-year students can benefit from being paired with a 'peer mentor'. This is an existing student from your department who helps you settle in, get to know your peers and advise on student life.
Find out more about the support on offer
Teaching quality
100% of our class of 2020 students graduated with a 1st or 2:1 degree classification. Source: UoN student outcomes data, Annual Monitoring (QDS) Analyses 2020.
Teaching methods
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Tutorials
- Oral classes
How you will be assessed
Assessment methods
Assessment is based on a combination of coursework, including essays and dissertation projects, seminar participation and oral presentations, and formal examinations. The precise assessments vary from one module to another and across the years of your degree.
Study abroad
This course includes a period of study or work abroad between the second and final year. Your language skills and cultural understanding are assessed through a mix of presentations and written assignments upon your return to Nottingham.
Feedback
The opportunity to discuss ideas and coursework with your tutor is an integral part of your studies at Nottingham. Whether by giving feedback on an essay plan, or discussing the results of an assessment, we help you work to the best of your ability. Each tutor offers weekly support and feedback hours, while feedback on coursework is also posted online via our tailored teaching and learning platform.
Assessment methods
- Commentary
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Presentation
- Reflective review
- Written exam
- Oral exam
Contact time and study hours
You’ll have at least the following hours of timetabled contact a week through lectures, seminars and workshops, tutorials and supervisions.
- Year one: minimum of 12 hours
- Year two: minimum of 9 hours
- Final year: minimum of 8 hours
Your tutors will also be available outside these times to discuss issues and develop your understanding. You will have a personal tutor from the Department of American and Canadian Studies. You will also be allocated a joint honours advisor from the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures.
We reduce your contact hours as you work your way through the course. As you progress, we expect you to assume greater responsibility for your studies and work more independently.
Your lecturers will be qualified academic staff. Some of your classes may be run by temporary teaching staff who are also experts in their field.
Class sizes vary depending on topic and type. A weekly lecture on a core module may have 50-60 students attending, while a specialised seminar may only contain 10 students.
As well as scheduled teaching, you’ll carry out extensive self-study such as independent reading and research. As a guide, 20 credits (a typical module) is approximately 200 hours of work (combined teaching and self-study). Each 20-credit module typically involves between three and four hours of lectures and seminars per week. You would ideally spend 8-10 hours doing preparation work.
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