American Studies allows you to understand the United States from a literary and historical perspective. On this course, you’ll study landmark historical events, novels, films, comic books, photographs and paintings. In doing so, you’ll gain in-depth critical insight into the key moments and debates that have animated the history and culture of the United States. 

You’ll discover the events and forces that shaped the United States, deepening your understanding of how this powerful nation moulds and influences the cultural, political and economic lives of its own peoples and the world. 

You’ll explore the subject through a mix of seminar classes and academic tutorials. You’ll engage in debate and creative discussion, while choosing your own specialist pathway though the subject. 

If your background is in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary American studies, we can support you as you continue to specialise in this vibrant field and find exciting new areas to pursue. 

If you’re a graduate of literature or history, or another discipline, we’ll not only provide a place to explore the United States in depth, but offer new theoretical and conceptual perspectives that can enliven your existing learning. 

UEA has been a pioneering centre of American Studies for more than 50 years. We’re one of the most well established and highly regarded departments of this kind in the UK, with a long heritage of researching and teaching all aspects of life and culture in the United States. We continue to be at the forefront of the field today. 

You will graduate from the MA American Studies with expert communication skills and a well-honed ability to evaluate and organise large amounts of information. As a graduate of this course you will therefore be able to put your skills and knowledge to a huge range of uses, including further study at doctoral level; commercial and policy-related research; editing and content writing; and marketing and social media communications, to name just a few. You will be particularly good at working independently and initiating, developing and successfully completing projects, and will be an invaluable part of any team. 

CAREER DESTINATIONS

• Publishing and journalism 

• Civil service 

• Marketing and advertising 

• Cultural industries 

• Teaching/lecturing 

• Commercial/policy research