English with American Literature BA (Hons)

- Join a community passionate about the study of American literature and the broad subject of English- Tailor a programme to your interests from a diverse range of English and American writers, genres and historical periods- Immerse yourself in US culture on a two-week field trip to America, involving visits to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, the Navajo Reservation and other places of interest- Attend the University of Winchester Writers’ Festival and Winchester Reading Series — an opportunity to ... READ MORE

- Join a community passionate about the study of American literature and the broad subject of English- Tailor a programme to your interests from a diverse range of English and American writers, genres and historical periods- Immerse yourself in US culture on a two-week field trip to America, involving visits to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, the Navajo Reservation and other places of interest- Attend the University of Winchester Writers’ Festival and Winchester Reading Series — an opportunity to meet authors, publishers and agentsThe literary cultures of the British Isles and North America mostly share the same language and are profoundly interrelated. It is impossible to understand the development of American literature without knowing about the long history of English literature. But likewise, modern British literature often shows a strong influence from across the Atlantic.On our English with American Literature programme you study how these great traditions have developed their own distinct voices, but also at times inspired each other and shared common themes. This wide-ranging and flexible course could involve studying texts from Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens and Emily Dickinson, through to American crime fiction, chick-lit, African American literature, or the modern American novel.Subjects are usually closely related to the research interests of teaching staff and engage with cutting-edge developments in the discipline.In Year 1, you develop skills in the analysis of literature and explore the most significant approaches to the study of the discipline. You select two modules that deal with American material and also place written texts in relation to wider aspects of American society and culture. In addition, each year you can study modules in Creative Writing, or focus on the historical development and current usage of the English language.In your second year, you build on key issues by studying broad-based modules encompassing the literary traditions of Britain and the US. You choose two modules from a range dedicated to American materials, including American Gothic, American Science Fiction, and Work and Money in American Literature. The modules examining English materials focus on major periods and genres, ranging from medieval literature to Postcolonial Fictions and The Postmodern Age.In Year 3, you write a dissertation and complete a Creative and Critical Extended Study in areas of your choice. You study two modules dedicated to American material and choose from a whole host of topics covering the English literary canon from Old English to contemporary fiction.A degree in English and American Literature opens many doors. Your ability to think analytically across different periods, cultures and genres from a number of perspectives, along with well honed research and writing skills enable you to excel in a variety of fields not just confined to the arts. The course is a great preparation for a variety of careers and our graduates have gone on to become teachers, lecturers, journalists, writers, actors, publishers and producers.