Course overview
This course gives you the opportunity to examine key periods, debates and ideas within American history and world history. In American and Canadian studies, you will examine issues surrounding American foreign policy, war, political protest, slavery, the penal system and the US presidency, among many other topics. The history side is broad, both in chronology (spanning from 500 CE to the present) and in areas covered, allowing you to focus on the periods of history that interest you most.
At the beginning of year two, you may apply to transfer to a four-year degree course with a year abroad, depending on availability of places and academic performance.
Year one
You will be introduced to the basic themes and events of American history and the key authors and texts of American literature. The history core is Learning History, a skill- and methodology-based module. The emphasis is on reflecting on the nature of history as a discipline and developing the skills required for the writing and debating of history.
Year two
You will broaden and deepen your understanding of both disciplines. A two-part course in American thought and culture complements the first-year surveys of history and literature, and a range of modules allow you to focus on certain periods, events, authors and texts.
The core element in History is provided by the Contemporary World since 1945, which deals not just with global developments, political and economic, social and cultural, environmental and demographic, but also explores key historical debates concerning the immediate origins of the world in which we now live. In addition, you will be able to select more specific optional modules from an extensive menu, covering an extremely wide chronological and geographical range.
International study year
Students registered for the four-year programme will attend a major North American university for one year.
Final year
You will continue and extend the process of specialisation, submitting a dissertation on a subject of your choice, choosing from a range of advanced-level modules and continuing to engage with the historiography in various debates, taking a critical approach to the use of primary source material.
More information
See also the
Department of History.
Entry requirements
A levels: AAB, including Grade A in History at A level.
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element)
TOEFL iBT 100 (no less than 20 in speaking and 19 in each other element)
Alternative qualifications
For details please see the alternative qualifications page
Flexible admissions policy
We may make some applicants an offer lower than advertised, depending on their personal and educational circumstances.
Modules
The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result, may change from year to year. The following list is therefore subject to change but should give you a flavour of the modules we offer.
Typical year-one modules
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American History 1: 1607-1900
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Learning History
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American History 2: 1900-Present Day
Typical year-two modules
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American Thought and Culture 1: Settlement to World War 1
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American Thought and Culture 2: 1917-Present
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Exploring Historiography
Typical year-three modules
A wide range of options is available in both subjects, from which students make up the rest of their degree course.
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Special subject in history
Please contact the Department of American and Canadian Studies for more information
Students registered for the four-year programme will attend a major North American university for one year.
Final-year (of both three- and four-year programmes)
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Special subject in history
Please contact the Department of American and Canadian Studies for more information.
Typical optional modules
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The CIA and American Foreign Policy
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FDR American President
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A History of Crime and Punishment
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Darwinism and Creationism in America
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Policing the City and the Frontier
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African American History
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American Presidency
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The Civil War and its Origins
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History of Civil Rights Movement
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Women in American History 1920-Present
Careers
You will have an in-depth and wide-ranging knowledge of key periods, movements and developments within American and international history, and will be highly proficient in research, essay-writing and presentation skills. If you spend a year abroad, you will have greater insights into North American society through first-hand experience and you will have proven yourself resourceful, adaptable and able to cope with new and challenging situations.
Average starting salary
The average starting salary for 2010/11 full-time graduates of the Department of American and Canadian Studies was £19,466 and for graduates of the Department of History it was £18,915*
Average starting salary from known destinations of first-degree leavers who studied full-time, 2010/11.
Careers Support and Advice
Studying for a degree at The University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take. Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.
Have a look at our Careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.
KIS
Key Information Sets (KIS)
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