- Explore the rich literary history and current creative scene of Manchester - a recently designated UNESCO City of Literature.
- Study more than 1,000 years of writing in English, engaging with literary and cultural theory, studying texts in their historical contexts and reflecting on different cultures and traditions.
- Explore US history, literature, politics, cultural theory, popular culture, and film.
Book your place on our October and November taster webinars to learn more about your subject areas!
BA English Literature and American Studies combines the study of American literature, history, and culture, with a wider exploration of global literature and training in English Studies.
This degree offers access to the traditional range of English Literature modules, covering the Anglo-Saxon period through to contemporary novels.
Additionally, it provides a solid foundation in the methods and debates of American Studies, equipping you with a broad array of analytical tools.
You will be introduced to the political, legal, and administrative structures of US politics and society, and become familiar with concepts that have significant relevance in today's global society. These include:
- mass incarceration;
- inequality;
- poverty;
- racial stratification;
- the logics of policing;
- the changing nature of work and leisure;
- radical organising;
- military power;
- cultural imperialism;
- urban politics;
- climate change;
- conspiracy theories;
- gender and sexuality;
- literature and film analysis.
Engaging with these concepts will refine your critical perspectives on literature, encouraging you to place these works within broader historical, political, and cultural contexts.
By working with materials from the worlds of film, music, and cultural debate, you will also think about where the boundaries of literature might lie.
On this degree, you are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities for study abroad, especially with our partner institutions in North America and Europe.
Find out more about our North American partners and European partners.
You'll also become part of a thriving community of students, lecturers, and writers at The University of Manchester, in the heart of a UNESCO City of Literature. This city has produced some of the world's greatest writers and has a lively literature and arts scene, including major events like the Manchester Literature Festival.
