BA American Studies and Politics,
About this course
BA in American Studies and Politics, a joint honours degree exploring political institutions, culture, history, and international relations across the United States and the wider world. Core topics include Research Methods and Policy Analysis. Students complete a final-year dissertation alongside subject-specific research modules. The first year introduces foundational themes through compulsory modules such as Locating American Studies, Politics and the People, and Who Sings America? Literature and Culture of the United States. The second year examines institutional structures and theoretical frameworks via compulsory modules including The State and Political Institutions and The History of Political Thought. Optional modules across the programme allow specialisation in areas such as international security, political philosophy, film history, and regional American culture. Final-year study features advanced research training supported by options ranging from American Studies Dissertation to Global Environmental Politics and Shadow Wars: US Presidents and covert action from the Cold War to Trump.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
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What students say
Based on about 8 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 91%
- Learning opportunities: 70%
- Assessment and feedback: 86%
- Academic support: 93%
- Organisation and management: 100%
- Learning resources: 76%
- Student voice: 79%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 7 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 35%
- Working and studying: 45%
- Further study: 10%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 20%
- Natural and social science professionals: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 60%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 45%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 325 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 2%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 6%
- East of England: 6%
- London: 11%
- South East: 11%
- South West: 13%
- Wales: 47%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 95%
- Access course: 5%
Modules
- Locating American Studies
- Politics and the People
- Interpreting Politics: The Faces and Uses of Power
- Who Sings America? Literature and Culture of the United States
- Forging a Nation: US History and Politics
- Disinformation, Ideology, and Bias: Researching and examining political data
- The Colour Line: Race and Racism in World Politics
- Freedom Justice and Equality: Key Debates in Political Philosophy
- The State and Political Institutions
- The History of Political Thought
- Disunited Kingdom? Class, Race, Gender and Social Division in Twentieth-Century Britain
- Philosophy of the Enlightenment
- Anarchy and Order: Theories in International Relations
- Global Justice and Human Rights in the Age of Globalisation
- Investigating Gender
- Devolution, Policy Making and Social Change
- Poverty and Social Justice
- The Global First World War
- A Matter of Life and Death: Exploring Existential Philosophy
- Contemporary Moral Controversies
- International Security
- Global Summit Simulation
- Contemporary Wars and Conflicts
- British Politics and Public Policy
- The Global South in International Relations: Diplomacy, Development, and Resistance
- America in a Nutshell: A History of Pennsylvania from William Penn to Donald Trump, 1631-2016
- The Making of Transatlantic America
- Race and Ethnicity: American Perspectives
- America in Crisis: From the Tet Offensive to Trump
- Re-Thinking the South: Southern Culture and History, 1865-1955
- American Word / American Image
- The Story of America on Film and Television, 1607-1867
- Stori America Ar Ffilm a Theledu, 1607-1867
- Researching Politics 1
- American Studies Dissertation
- Dissertation
- Senedd Cymru/The Welsh Parliament
- The Russian Civil War
- Philosophy, Mental Health and Illness
- Parliamentary Studies
- Capitalism and Justice
- Genocide
- The Rise and Fall of Wales? Politics, Culture and Society, 1847-1939
- The Philosophy and Politics of Identity
- Digital Futures
- Shadow Wars: US Presidents and covert action from the Cold War to Trump
- Researching Politics 2
- Global Environmental Politics
- African American Literature 1910-1940: The Harlem Renaissance
- The Story of the USA on Film and Television, 1865-2008
- Stori yr Unol Daleithiau ar Ffilm a Theledu, 1865-2008
- Clear and Present Danger: America and Terrorism
- The American Civil War in History and Memory
- The Cold War
- America and the Bomb
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA American Studies and Politics, at Swansea University earn?
The median salary is £28,000 after 15 months, £22,000 after 3 years, £26,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £22,500 and £32,000. The £26,500 median after five years is £7,500 less than the UK median for Politics.
What do graduates of BA American Studies and Politics, at Swansea University do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA American Studies and Politics, at Swansea University?
91% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA American Studies and Politics, at Swansea University?
The average entrant had 100 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA American Studies and Politics, at Swansea University?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.