- Undergraduate
Undergraduate studies
FINAL YEAR STUDENTS PLEASE CLICK ON THE BANNER LINK BELOW TO TAKE YOU TO THE NATIONAL STUDENT SURVEY WEBPAGE
History, Literature and Cultures of the Americas is a four-year degree, which includes an integral Year Abroad. The first year consists of introductory core courses designed to provide a good grounding in the study of the Americas. Since all students take these courses, you will quickly get to know your fellow students. In your second year you will choose from among a varied selection of courses on the history, literature, film, and politics of the Americas. (For a list of current options, see the Warwick undergraduate prospectus or our website). You will spend your third year at a university in the Americas, taking advantage of the different courses on offer to you there. On your return to Warwick for the fourth year, you have the chance to take specialised courses that focus in depth on particular subjects and periods.
All this makes History, Literature and Cultures of the Americas an 'American Studies' degree of extraordinary scope. By the end of your course you will have gained an outline grasp of North and South American history, and studied subjects as varied as (for example) the literature of the Caribbean, the Aztec empire, the politics of the USA, slavery in the American South, food in Latin American history, Hollywood film, and Indians in the Americas.
As a History, Literature and Cultures of the Americas' student you will also study Spanish language, which forms part of the degree for the first three years. First year students take an introductory Spanish course, providing the basics of vocabulary and grammar. (If you already have 'A' level Spanish, you'll take a more advanced course instead.) In the second year, you will continue Spanish language, and have the opportunity to study Spanish American literature and poetry. If you spend your Year Abroad in Latin America, you will use Spanish every day, and also submit some written work in Spanish. If you are at a university in the English-speaking world, you will take a semester-long Spanish course. There is also some optional Spanish language tuition for fourth-year students.
The staff you work with are leading researchers in their own fields and provide high quality teaching. Tuition takes place in small seminars and lectures that allow for close contact between staff and students. Students write short essays during the year, receiving feedback on their work, and modules are assessed by a combination of unseen exams and long essays.
We aim to foster in students a keen interest in their subjects, the development of self-reliance and critical ability, and a wide range of attributes valuable in life and in a career: analytical skills; proficiency in written and oral presentation; independent research and report writing; and competence in Spanish, one of the world's major languages.
