Theoretical Concepts for American Studies (T7055)

15 credits, Level 5

Autumn teaching

This Year 2 core module provides theoretical tools for interpreting literary, historical, and cultural objects that you are likely to encounter in your modules and during the year abroad.

This module is also intended to familiarise you with important concepts that you may encounter in your secondary reading and independent research, and apply these concepts accurately and appropriately. Topics covered may include historical materialism, ideology and ideology critique, cultural capital, sexuality, nationhood/nationalism, biopower, intersectionality, and neoliberalism.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 22 hours of contact time and about 128 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.