American Studies with a Foundation Year, BA (Hons)

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Key Course Details

UCAS Code: T70A
Mode of Study: Campus Based
Typical Offer (view equivalents): CDD / DDD
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2025	£ 9,250

4 Year Full Time With a Foundation Year

UCAS Code: T70A
Mode of Study: Campus Based
Typical Offer: CDD / DDD - More Information
Location: Singleton Park Campus

Start Date	Tuition Fees - Year 1
Sep 2025	£ 18,400

American Studies with a Foundation Year, BA (Hons)

Start your American Studies Journey with a Foundation Year Degree

Course Overview

To understand America’s history, culture and politics is to appreciate the forces that shape the world today.

American Studies explores the culture, history, and politics of the most influential country in the world, from colonization to the present. It addresses some of the most pressing issues in our contemporary world, including globalization and struggles for racial justice.

The Foundation Year gives you an exciting introduction to Higher Education, setting you up with the skills, confidence, and knowledge that you’ll need to be successful on your undergraduate degree. It’s ideal if you need a little more support after Further Education or are returning to education after a gap.

You will have the chance to explore American history, literature, politics and culture, stretching from colonization to current presidencies.

You can shape the degree to your own interests, whether in US popular culture or political protest. You also have the chance to study for a year or a semester in the United States, discovering the subject first hand.

Why American Studies with a Foundation Year at Swansea?

Based on our stunning Singleton Park campus, in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, our American Studies programme is highly regarded by employers. It includes the option of studying in the United States for a semester or a year, further enhancing your student experience and career prospects.

American Studies at Swansea is ranked:

3rd in the Uk for Graduate Prospects (Times Good University Guide 2025)
Top 5 in the UK for Teaching Quality (Times Good University Guide 2025)
2nd in the UK for Student Experience (Times Good University Guide 2025)
1st in the UK for Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2025)
5^th in the UK for American Studies (Complete University Guide 2025)

Your American Studies with a Foundation Year Experience

During your Foundation Year, you will learn the key skills you’ll need to make your degree a success while developing knowledge of your subject area and how it relates to the humanities and social sciences.

You will start the degree course in your second year, when we offer varied and flexible course content, so you can shape your American Studies degree to your own interests, whether in American popular culture, civil rights or political protest.

Our interdisciplinary approach means you can make connections across a range of subject areas – from visual culture and music to history and politics.

Teaching is informed by our world-leading research and you can attend seminars organised through our guest speaker programme. You will have a personal tutor for any pastoral and academic support you may need.

During your time at Swansea University, you will have the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of clubs and societies. The American Studies Student Society organises a range of social and cultural events.

American Studies with a Foundation Year Employment Opportunities

The breadth of American Studies fosters transferable skills valued by employers, including creative thinking, critical awareness, team working, and advanced oral and written communication skills. American Studies graduates are known for their adaptability and creativity because the course requires students to make connections between disciplines and traditions.

Our graduates enter careers in a wide range of sectors including:

Education
Marketing
Government
Research
Events management

Modules

In your Foundation Year, you will take a selection of modules that will provide you with key study skills, subject knowledge, and awareness of the importance of the humanities and social sciences.

You’ll then progress to your degree where the early part will introduce you to the history, politics, culture and literature of America.

You will then choose your pathway by selecting modules to suit your own interests, before focusing in depth on your chosen research project to produce a dissertation.

Year 0 (Level 3)

Entry Level 3 / Foundation Year

Compulsory Modules

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Academic Writing and Skills Development	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-011
Introduction to Being Human	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-012
Introduction to Research	September-January (TB1)	20	FY-015
Critical Reflection and Problem Solving	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-014
Research Essay	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-016
History, Memory and the Creation of Identity	January-June (TB2)	20	FY-018

Year 1 (Level 4)

FHEQ 4 Undergraduate / HECert

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Introduction to American Studies	September-January (TB1)	20	AM-117
American History and Politics	January-June (TB2)	20	AM-100
Introduction to American Literature and Culture	January-June (TB2)	20	AM-113

Optional Modules

Optional Modules - Semester 1

Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select two modules

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
Europe of Extremes, 1789-1989	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH121
Living Well and Doing Good - An Introduction to Ethics	September-January (TB1)	20	HUP104
Politics and the People	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-119
Introduction to International Relations	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-126
Introduction to Politics	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-131

AND

Optional Modules - Semester 2

Choose Exactly 20 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select ONE module

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The Early Modern World, 1500-1800	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH118
Political Philosophy	January-June (TB2)	20	HUP133
Hollywood: A History of American Film	January-June (TB2)	20	MSS106
War and Peace in the Nuclear Age	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-118

Year 2 (Level 5)

FHEQ 5 Undergraduate / HEDip

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

None found.

Optional Modules

Optional Module Choices - Semester 1

Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select 60 credits for semester 1. NOTE: Students will be expected to take 120 credits for the year: 60 credits in Semester 1 and 60 credits in Semester 2. An optional 20 credit ‘elective’ module can be chosen from within the School of Culture and Communication.

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The Making of Transatlantic America	September-January (TB1)	20	AM-217
Race and Ethnicity: American Perspectives	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-243
America in a Nutshell: A History of Pennsylvania from William Penn to Donald Trump, 1631-2016	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH2016
The Global First World War	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH293
Globalisation	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-222
America in Crisis: From the Tet Offensive to Trump	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-258

AND

Optional Modules - Semester 2

Choose Exactly 60 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select 60 credits for semester 2.

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code	Guidance
Re-Thinking the South: Southern Culture and History, 1865-1955	January-June (TB2)	20	AM-218
American Word / American Image	January-June (TB2)	20	EN-244
History Work Placement	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH281
Stori America Ar Ffilm a Theledu, 1607-1867	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH283W	Suitable for fluent Welsh speakers only. Cannot be taken with HIH283
Britain, Slavery and the Slave Trade, c. 1500 -1833.	January-June (TB2)	20	HIH292
The History of Political Thought	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-245
British Politics and Public Policy	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-281

Year 3 (Level 6)

FHEQ 6 Undergraduate / Honours

Students choose 120 credits from the following:

Compulsory Modules

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
American Studies Dissertation	September-June (TB1+2)	40	AM-336

Optional Modules

Optional Module Choices - Semester 1

Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Please select two modules from semester one (from this box), followed by two modules from semester two ( from the box below) You may select HIH3378 or HIH3378W but not both. One 20 credit ‘elective’ module can be chosen from within the School of Culture and Communication in consultation with your programme director

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
African American Literature 1910-1940: The Harlem Renaissance	September-January (TB1)	20	EN-3061
The Story of the USA on Film and Television, 1865-2008	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH3378
Stori yr Unol Daleithiau ar Ffilm a Theledu, 1865-2008	September-January (TB1)	20	HIH3378W
Parliamentary Studies	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-3121
Capitalism and Justice	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-3325
Clear and Present Danger: America and Terrorism	September-January (TB1)	20	PO-3333

AND

Optional Modules - Semester 2

Choose Exactly 40 credits from the following Modules:

NOTE : Select two modules for TB2 which alongside two modules in TB1 (from the box above) make up the total credits for the year. One 20 credit ‘elective’ module can be chosen from within the School of Culture and Communication in consultation with your programme director in either TB1 or TB2 (but not both)

Module Name	Module Duration	Credits	Module Code
The American Civil War in History and Memory	January-June (TB2)	20	AM-335
Contemporary American Fiction	January-June (TB2)	20	EN-3062
Shadow Wars: US Presidents and covert action from the Cold War to Trump	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-3316
America and the Bomb	January-June (TB2)	20	PO-3334
Overlord: War, Societies, and the Battle for Normandy, 1944	January-June (TB2)	20	WS-306

Entry Requirements

Our standard entry requirement is CDD-DDD at A-level or equivalent. We require a minimum of 5 passes at Grade A*-C, including Welsh/English Language. Entry requirements are flexible and all offers are made following a review of the application form, predicted/achieved grades and subjects, the reference and personal statement. The course is also a widening access programme and has been developed to support those who may not have been able to otherwise gain access to HE.

How You're Taught

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.

Practical skills sessions, seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations.

Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.

This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

Welsh Provision

Some provision

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study some elements of this course through the medium of Welsh but there is not yet enough provision to reach 40 credits in each year.

Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We can offer you:

Access to generous Welsh-language study scholarships or bursaries.
Access to modules taught wholly or partly in Welsh.
Access to the Arwain mobile app for the latest information about Welsh-medium courses and modules available to download free on the App Store and Google Play.
An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
Opportunity to be a member of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

To learn more about the above and all the opportunities available to you through the medium of Welsh, visit Academi Hywel Teifi's undergraduate pages.

If you study at least 5 credits in Welsh and it is listed as an eligible course on the webpage, you can apply for the Academi Hywel Teifi Bursary (£100 for 1 year) at the beginning of term (after registration).

Meet Your Lecturers

Our degrees are taught by experts, who have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to our students.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on our staff pages.

Tuition Fees

Start Date	UK	International
September 2024	£ 9,000	£ 17,500
September 2025	£ 9,250	£ 18,400

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate EU/International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

Funding and Scholarships

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

Travel to and from campus
Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
Purchase of books or texts
Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Careers and Employability

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Academic Support

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

Academic writing
Maths and statistics
Critical thinking
Time management
Digital skills
Presentation skills
Note taking
Revision, memory and exam techniques
English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

We care about our students and our aim is to ensure that you achieve the best degree classification. We have a personal mentoring system where you will be allocated a personal tutor. We also have an “open door” policy where our academic teachers are available to talk to you at any time about any queries or academic concerns you may have.

Study Abroad and Global Opportunities

To learn more about study abroad, visit our Go Global webpages. Enrolment on a programme with a semester/year abroad does not guarantee you a semester/year abroad placement. Spaces are limited and subject to a competitive selection process. In the event you do not secure a semester/year abroad placement, you will be transferred to the standard variant of your degree scheme without a semester or year abroad.

International summer programmes are open to students from all schools. Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as Sri Lanka, South Korea, Fiji, Bali, the USA and across Europe. For more information about programmes and eligibility visit our Summer Abroad webpages.

This is a degree that supports you to study in the United States or Canada. You will have the opportunity to study at a wide variety of institutions, to take new courses, and will benefit from the wider opportunity to travel, undertake internships and experience your subject first hand.

International summer programmes are open to students from all colleges. Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as China, Zambia, South Korea, Japan, Canada and across Europe. For more information about programmes and eligibility visit our Summer Abroad webpages.

To learn more about study abroad opportunities, visit our Go Global webpages.

How to Apply

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

Application Deadlines

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.