Undergraduate Course
History and American Studies BA (Hons)
Study history in a city where the past is all around you, while also exploring the history, culture and politics of the USA.
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American Studies is a varied academic subject which takes in literature, popular culture, politics, film and much more. Through this joint honours degree you will gain a deep understanding of America’s history, alongside a wider appreciation of historical debates and research.
100% History students responded with a 100% positivity score for how often teaching staff make the subject engaging. (National Student Survey 2024)
95% History students responded with a 95% positivity score for how well their course developed knowledge and skills that they will need for the future. (National Student Survey 2024)
York campus
- UCAS code – VT17
- Duration – 3 years full time, 6 years part time
- Start date – September 2025, September 2026
- School – School of Humanities
Minimum entry requirements
104 UCAS Tariff points
3 GCSEs at grade C/4 (or equivalent) including English Language.
Tuition fees
UK 2025 entry £9,535 per year full time
International 2025 entry £12,100 per year full time
Application Support Session
Tuesday 21 January 2025, online
Book a place on our UCAS January Deadline Application Support Session. You'll hear from our Admissions team, get guidance on your application and be able to ask us questions about York St John.
Discover studying at York St John University
History
Dr Alice Brumby introduces us to History at York St John University.
American Studies
Dr James Cooper introduces us to American Studies at York St John University.
Course overview
On this degree you will study many different historical periods, as well as considering the USA from many different angles. This makes it a great choice if you have varied interests and prefer not to be tied down to a single academic subject.
By studying American literature, cinema, and popular culture alongside its history, you will build a comprehensive understanding of the USA as a cultural construct and a world power. You will explore America’s place within the world throughout history, and its impact on global culture and politics today.
Alongside your American Studies modules, you can study others spanning many different historical periods and locations, from Ancient Rome to Mao’s China. In your final year you will also contribute to some of the ongoing research taking place within the department, taking advantage of the new developments being explored by our academic team. Currently this includes research in the fields of American presidential history, American crime culture, and the history of the Vietnam War.
Through our workplace learning modules you will build employable skills and take advantage of some of the great opportunities which come from studying in a city with such a rich history. Our connections include York Museums Trust, York Explore and the Yorkshire and North East Film Archive. Through these partnerships you can explore archived treasures, create historical exhibitions and build professional networks.
You can also choose to study abroad in your second year, experiencing America for yourself. You will gain valuable experience of living in another country, developing your independence and initiative.
Course structure
Year 1
Our academic year is split into 2 semesters. How many modules you take each semester will depend on whether you are studying full time or part time.
In your first year, if you are a full time student, you will study:
- 3 compulsory modules in semester 1
- 3 compulsory modules in semester 2
If you are a part time student, the modules above will be split over 2 years.
You can find out which modules are available in each semester on the Course Specifications.
This is a joint honours degree which means you must study at least 1 module from each subject every semester.
Optional modules will run if they receive enough interest. It is not guaranteed that all modules will run every year.
Modules
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will develop the key skills needed to be a successful historian. Focusing on analytical interpretation rather than historical narrative, this module will prepare you for independent study at degree level . You will explore how historians:
- Examine primary sources
- Write and engage with secondary sources
- Construct arguments and apply theories
- Work with established historical concepts
- Question conventions and established time periods in history.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
This module will introduce you to American Studies as an interdisciplinary academic subject. We will give you an overview of American literature and culture from the nineteenth century to the present day. You will investigate how American identity has been constructed in relation to the broad social, technological and economic changes which have taken place in this period. The themes we explore will include colonial politics, independence, the myth of the Frontier, issues of race and gender, consumerism and popular culture.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
This module explores the use of film as a source of historical evidence for cultural, social and political change. American Studies is always interdisciplinary in its approach, and film is one of the many mediums we use to explore American history, identity and culture. On this module you will learn the skills of cinematic analysis, which will allow you to make the best use of this important medium. We will also discuss the importance of cinema within American society.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
This module will give you a broad understanding of the history of the USA, from both a domestic and an international point of view. You will learn about America’s gradual emergence as a leading international power, economically, militarily and politically. We will explore historical developments in the American experience, including political, social and economic changes. You will consider the continuing tension between unity and diversity in American history, exploring topics such as the Civil War, industrialisation, consumer culture, foreign policy and immigration.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will explore how human societies and the natural world have interacted and reshaped each other through time. This involves simultaneously taking environmental, social and cultural approaches to history. You will discover how nature has influenced society and people’s understanding of their place in the world, and evaluate the impact that social developments have on environmental issues. Through this you will learn about important concepts in social history, considering contemporary approaches to gender, race, power and the history of emotions.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will focus on how war impacts society. Examining different types of war from different periods will build your skills in comparative analysis. You will also engage with contemporary historical debates about the relationship between war and society. We will examine case studies to discuss themes such as:
- The causes of war
- Who wins wars and why
- The effect of war on technological and historical development
- The role of citizens
- The importance of the state.
Year 2
In your second year, if you are a full time student, you will study:
- 1 compulsory module and 2 optional modules in semester 1
- 3 optional modules in semester 2
If you are a part time student, the modules above will be split over 2 years.
You can find out which modules are available in each semester on the Course Specifications.
You must choose at least 1 module from each subject every semester.
Optional modules will run if they receive enough interest. It is not guaranteed that all modules will run every year.
Modules
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will consider the relationship between American literature and the physical and symbolic spaces of its settings. In American culture concepts of space and setting have a particular relevance that dates back to events such as the declaration of independence, the founding of civic spaces, and the Californian gold rush. You will be challenged to think creatively, critically, and innovatively about physical space and literature. In doing so we will explore the relationship between American socio-economic history and the development of a specifically American literary tradition.
Credits: 20
Optional module
This module is a great opportunity to improve your employability and start thinking about your career. You will consider how history, and the skills you have developed by studying it, relate to potential career paths. As part of this module you will participate in a 75 hour work placement. You will need to secure this placement yourself with staff support, but you can take advantage of the many connections we have established with heritage organisations in York and the wider region.
Credits: 20
Optional module
This module builds on the Year 1 module Research and Presenting the Past, helping you to develop your research skills even further. You will do this by conducting project work in groups and engaging in independent research which will prepare you for the Dissertation module in your final year. We we will discuss the importance of primary sources for understanding an event, period or theme, as well as exploring various schools of historical theory and methodology. The module may also include opportunities to work with local archives.
Credits: 20
Optional module
Despite the horrors of the Black Death, devastation of famine, and the ravages of the Hundred Years War, 14th century England was also full of artistic and literary achievement. On this module you will explore the ideals and ideas existing alongside the trauma of conflict. This will also involve assessing developments in political culture, to better understand the challenges and achievements of the period.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will learn about early modern English society, from the beginning of the Reformation in the 1540s to the Restoration in the 1660s. We will explore how people negotiated their everyday lives in a world that was becoming ever more watchful of their political loyalties and personal morality. You will investigate this period through a range of primary sources, engaging with them in creative ways to understand the everyday lived experiences of the time. These could include:
- State papers
- Court records
- Petitions
- Documents relating to parish life.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will take a cultural and gender-focused approach to 16th century British history. This is a fascinating period in which to study the changes in power, autonomy and image of women. You will find new perspectives on a much discussed period in history, exploring how political and religious movements affected the lived experiences of women from across society. Through this we will consider how these women presented themselves, and how they have been represented since.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will study the history of the Soviet Union, from the October Revolution in 1917 to the collapse of the Soviet experiment in 1991. In doing so you will identify the underlying reasons for both the rise and the fall of the Soviet state, as well as assessing its impact on the rest of the world. This will involve examining Soviet communism from various different perspectives, taking in political, economic, social, military and cultural history.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will study the Victorian period from a social and cultural historical angle, exploring food and eating from various overlapping perspectives. You will consider how food and eating were shaped by broad historical changes such as:
- Colonialism
- Industrialisation
- Science and technology
- Medical advancements
- Print culture
You will also examine cookbooks as historical documents, along with other primary sources relating to food production and consumption in Britain, France and their empires. Through case studies you will engage with debates about the connections between food and everyday life, class, gender, race and civilisation.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will learn about the social and political history of Britain from the union of Scotland and England in 1707 until the crowning of Queen Victoria. This was a period of enormous political, social and economic change, which also saw Britain rapidly assuming a leading position amongst the world’s major powers. Topics you cover may include:
- The Hanoverian succession
- The Jacobite rebellion
- Imperial expansion
- Industrialisation
- Trade, commerce and capitalism, including the slave trade
- The American Revolution
- The Napoleonic Wars.
Credits: 20
Optional module
The 1960s were a turbulent time for the USA. President Lyndon Johnson was embarking on a series of reforms aiming to create “the Great Society” at the same time as the seemingly endless war in Vietnam. It was also a time of great achievements, with America leading the first moon landings. Topics you will cover on this module include:
- The image and domestic policies of the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon presidencies
- Radicalism and dissent, including counterculture, urban riots and student protests
- The domestic impact of the Vietnam War.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will examine the traumatic history of China throughout the lifetime of Mao Zedong. You will confront and evaluate the historical debates surrounding China’s transition from the world’s oldest imperial power to a revolutionary Communist state. In doing so you will consider the political, ideological, economic, military, social and cultural forces that shaped these events. Given China's modern status as a major world power, learning about its turbulent past and Mao's legacy will help you to understand wider global developments.
Credits: 20
Optional module
This module will focus on the Roman Empire in the first century AD, exploring what life was really like under imperial rule across society and across the empire. This will mean looking in depth at famous figures like Tiberius, Caligula and Nero, known for their violence and cruelty, as well as those like Vespasian whose legacy is more favourable. You will engage closely with different kinds of primary materials, including archaeology, art, coins and inscriptions as well as written sources.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will examine, confront and evaluate the historical debates surrounding the American Civil War. You will learn about the campaigns and strategies of the war itself, as well as its social and political impact and its lasting cultural legacy. You will also consider the social and political forces that have shaped how this period has been retold in historical and pop culture representations. This will open wider discussion about how wars are remembered and commemorated.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will focus on the experience of African Americans both as enslaved people and in the years following the abolition of slavery. You will learn about the origins, development and abolition of slavery in the USA, assessing the impact and nature of the American slave system. We will discuss contemporary responses of both African Americans and white Americans to slavery, relationships between races after slavery ended, and the emergence of cultural expression among African Americans.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will examine the history of the United States since the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. You will explore a range of issues that have impacted American politics, culture and society in the years since these events. Your learning will be informed by the wider ideological, cultural and political history of the United States.
Topics may include:
- The War on Terror
- Fake news
- LGBTQ+ rights
- American conspiracies such as the birther movement and Q-Anon
- Response to crises such as 2008 recession and the Covid 19 pandemic
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will encounter varied and interesting texts produced within and written about major conflicts of the 20th and early 21st centuries. We will start with depictions of the mechanised horror of the Western Front and progress through representations of:
- The Second World War
- The Spanish Civil War
- Vietnam
- The Troubles in Northern Ireland
- 9/11 and the War on Terror
We will read texts by writers as diverse as Martha Gellhorn, George Orwell and Kurt Vonnegut and examine the complex relationship between language, experience and memory.
Year 3
In your third year, if you are a full time student, you will study:
- A Dissertation module across semesters 1 and 2. This can be focused on either History or American Studies
- 2 optional modules in semester 1
- 2 optional modules in semester 2
If you are a part time student, the modules above will be split over 2 years.
You can find out which modules are available in each semester on the Course Specifications.
You must choose at least 1 module from each subject every semester.
Optional modules will run if they receive enough interest. It is not guaranteed that all modules will run every year.
Modules
Credits: 40
Compulsory module
This year long module will involve working independently to research a topic of your choice, using primary sources, cultural literature and advanced secondary sources. It is the culmination of your degree studies, and your chance to explore a topic that you are passionate about. A dissertation supervisor will help you define and develop your project throughout the year.
Credits: 40
Compulsory module
You will make a concentrated study of a specialised topic in Ancient Roman History. The topic or topics offered will be closely related to staff research interests; they will foster a familiarity with current research and a critical awareness of recent scholarship in the area under study. This will allow you the opportunity to work on a specialised topic at an advanced undergraduate level, and deepen your understanding of historical knowledge and methods.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will explore American history, culture and politics as you consider the ideas and values behind the USA’s military past. We will investigate how Americans have experienced war, and how this experience has been represented in film, literature, music and more. Some of the topics you will encounter include:
- War and American national identity
- Early American war and colonisation
- American military strategy and leadership
- War and rhetoric in American political culture
- The Traumatic impact of war on American soldiers and veterans
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module we will explore issues surrounding gender and sexuality. We will debate whether various elements of gender are natural or cultural, as well as how different genders and sexualities are presented in film and literature. We will investigate how do different cultural groups use popular culture and literature to reinforce, challenge, transgress or disrupt traditional gender expectations. This module challenges you to draw on all of the skills, theories and approaches encountered throughout your degree to interrogate the representation of gender roles and sexuality in popular culture.
Credits: 40
Compulsory module
This module will examine a selection of texts from 20th century American literature, and relate these works to their cultural, social and political backgrounds. We will focus on texts that demonstrate formal innovation and experimentation, and the selection will reflect the variety of twentieth century American experience. You will read Native American, African American and Chinese-American texts alongside literature produced in the wake of radical social change such as Beat writing, Vietnam narratives, and responses to 9/11.
Credits: 40
Compulsory module
This is an opportunity to study a specialist area relating to American Studies, in this case focusing on detective fiction in literature and film. The topics chosen for Special Subject modules are closely related to staff research interest, meaning your work will be aligned with current research.
Credits: 40
Compulsory module
On our Special Subject modules you will investigate an area which our team has a particular specialism in, contributing to research and developing specialist research skills. This Special Subject will focus on the politics, policies and developments related to the office and holders of the American presidency.
Credits: 40
Compulsory module
On this module you will focus on one of the most politically volatile periods of English history. Your research skills will be strengthened as you evaluate primary sources of evidence and their uses within your research. Your knowledge will develop from the previous modules in your previous years, particularly Tyranny and Majesty: Kingship in Late Medieval England, 1300-1450.
Credits: 40
Compulsory module
The focus of this module is post-1945 international history. This module builds on your knowledge and capabilities you developed in the level four and five History modules, and especially Researching and Presenting the Past and Making History. It complements the other Special Subject modules in offering and will allow a focused approach.
Credits: 40
Compulsory module
Other specialist area modules include:
- Special Subject in War Studies: The Vietnam War
- Special Subject in Early Modern British History: The English Revolution
- Special Subject in European Early Modern Social and Cultural History: Exile, Movement and Identity in the Early Modern World
- Special Subject in European History, 1700-1900: Britain Against Napolean
- Special Subject in Social and Cultural History, 1750-1900: Prisons and Prisoners
- Special Subject in the History of the Cold War: The Korean War
- Special Subject in the History of the Soviet Union: Stalinist Society, 1928-38
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning
On this course will experience many different teaching methods and techniques. From lectures and interactive workshops to seminars, we encourage both independent and collaborative learning. As well as working with others, you will have opportunities for 1 to 1 meetings with tutors, who will provide you with additional support.
Your learning will also be enhanced through field trips within the historic city of York to uncover the past in our archives and the built environment all around us.
Alongside your timetabled contact time, you will be expected to study independently. This will ensure that you get the most out of your degree, as well as building valuable time management skills.
You will be encouraged to use the widest possible range of resources for your studies, including:
- Books
- Journals
- Visual material
- Archives
- Museums, galleries and historic buildings
Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.
Assessment
A wide range of assessment methods are used throughout your degree. This includes:
- Essays
- Primary source exercises
- Reviews
- Academic journals
- Site reports
- Open and closed examination
- Reflective pieces
- Coursework portfolios
During the final year of your degree, you will complete a research Dissertation on a subject of your choice. This is where you will bring together all of the key historical and academic skills you will have built throughout the degree.
Career outcomes
Your future with a degree in History and American Studies
Your future with a degree in History and American Studies
This broad, interdisciplinary degree opens up a wide variety of career options. This course teaches you to solve complex problems through independent critical thinking, use varied sources of information to form conclusions, and present your arguments both verbally and in writing. These are valuable skills in diverse professional settings.
This degree could be the first step toward your career in:
- Historical research
- Journalism
- Heritage and tourism
- Historic building conservation
- Law
- Archives and curation
- Teaching and education
Discover more career options on Prospects careers advice pages.
You could also progress onto a postgraduate degree and take your learning even further.
Postgraduate degrees at York St John University
PGCE at York St John University
Further your education and work towards a rewarding career in teaching by studying for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) after you graduate. For over 180 years, we have worked with enthusiastic individuals who want to shape the future of young people across both primary and secondary school settings. You'll spend a lot of time in schools, developing your practice by teaching. You will graduate with Qualified Teacher Status and become part of the well respected alumni of York St John educators.
Whatever your ambitions, we can help you get there.
Our careers service, LaunchPad provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:
- Employer events
- LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
- Workshops on application writing and interview skills
- Work experience and volunteering opportunities
- Personalised career advice
This support doesn't end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain experience and confidence to succeed.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
Minimum entry requirements
104 UCAS Tariff points
3 GCSEs at grade C/4 (or equivalent) including English Language.
Calculate your UCAS Tariff points
International students
If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.
Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.
If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.
This course is available with a foundation year
If you do not yet meet the minimum requirements for entry straight onto this degree course, or feel you are not quite ready for the transition to Higher Education, this is a great option for you. Passing a foundation year guarantees you a place on this degree course the following academic year.
Mature Learners Entry Scheme
If you have been out of education for 3 years or more and have a grade C GCSE in English Language or equivalent, you are eligible for our entry scheme for mature learners. It's a scheme that recognises non-traditional entry qualifications and experience for entry onto this course. Information on how to apply can be found on our dedicated page.
Terms and conditions
Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.
Fees and funding
To study for an undergraduate degree with us, you will need to pay tuition fees for your course. How much you pay depends on whether you live inside the UK, or internationally (outside the UK).
Tuition fees are reviewed annually and may be increased in line with inflation, prior to the start of each academic year, and subject to the fee cap set by the UK government. Such increases to fees will be at the Retail Price Index (RPI) forecast rate, as advised by the Office for Budget Responsibility and the Office for Students. The only exception to this would be where government legislation deems otherwise.
If a rise in the tuition fee becomes necessary, we will endeavour to inform you as soon as possible and we will explain the reason(s) for the increase. Any tuition fee increase will only be applied from the start of the next academic year and will not be applied 'in year'.
UK 2025 entry
The tuition fee for 2025 entry onto this course is:
- £9,535 per year for full time study
- £7,145 per year for the first 4 years if you study part time
These prices apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students
You can find out more about funding your degree by visiting our funding opportunities page:
Placement year funding
If you choose to take a placement year, and your course offers it, you can apply for the Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loan for your placement year. How much you are awarded is based on the type of placement being undertaken and whether it is a paid or unpaid placement. The tuition fee for your placement year will be reduced.
Tuition fees
UK 2025 entry £9,535 per year full time
International 2025 entry £12,100 per year full time
International 2025 entry
The tuition fee for 2025 entry to this course is £12,100 per year for full time study.
This price applies to all students living outside the UK.
Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a Student Visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.
Find out more about funding your degree:
Additional costs and financial support
There may also be some additional costs to take into account throughout your studies, including the cost of accommodation.
Course-related costs
While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.
Study Abroad
For more information on tuition fee reductions and additional costs for studying abroad, please visit our study abroad pages.
Accommodation and living costs
For detailed information on accommodation and living costs, visit our Accommodation pages.
Financial help and support
Our Funding Advice team are here to help you with your finances throughout your degree. They offer a personal service that can help you with funding your studies and budgeting for living expenses.
For advice on everything from applying for scholarships to finding additional financial support email fundingadvice@yorksj.ac.uk.
Course highlights
Experience the USA for yourself
Immerse yourself in American culture by choosing to spend a semester studying with one of our partner universities in the USA.
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Community placements
From creating exhibitions about York's Roman past to producing online resources that depict York's filmed history, our connections with local organisations mean you can work on city-focused projects.
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History and American Studies Blog
Follow our blog to find out more about the field trips, placements and other opportunities studying History and American Studies can offer you.
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Eloise History and American Studies
York St John provides a lot of opportunities for voluntary work, work experience, and other activities and events that can really help you springboard into the right career. In my second year I went on a placement to the Yorkshire Film Archive, where I was able to put the analytical and research skills I had developed during my degree to practical use.
Sarah History and American Studies
The history lectures make studying at York St John extra special, and they always put an interesting spin on the topics. York’s ancient architecture and old heritage sites make it a perfect city to study history. My History course is combined with American studies, a course that I was very keen to do. Not many other universities seem to teach American Studies so York St John was more unique in that respect.
More to explore
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Join us in 2025
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Open Days
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