Our Joint Honours course in English Literature and American Studies allows you to combine the study of literary texts across a broad geographical and chronological range with a specific focus on the literature, culture, history, and politics of North America.
Through inspired teaching and intellectual debate, we will nurture your passion by developing your creative and critical thinking. You will learn how to communicate effectively and solve complex problems as you develop an awareness of how past cultures, societies and texts shape our present and future.
How does Literature & American Studies course help with employability?
Studying Literature and American Studies at Northumbria lets you bring together your passion for human stories while making practical steps into your future career.
You will have opportunities to engage with the heritage industry through department field trips, guest lecturers, and academic partnerships. And we introduce you to the world of publishing and book-making, potentially leading to our unique MA in Publishing with partners Hachette and New Writing North. Meanwhile, for those looking to inspire the next generation of literature lovers, you can opt to begin your teaching experience with a module focused on learning how to be a tutor of students in schools or colleges.
Northumbria's English Literature learning experience
Your voice is vital in our seminar groups and small discussions. We bring students together to read and talk about texts and stories from day one. We introduce you to themes of huge relevance today, such as gender and equality, or the power of poetry to capture a cultural moment or a new social obsession. All your work leads up to your major creative writing project or dissertation, where you make your own mark in the world of literary studies and showcase your creativity.
Students will also have the option to extend their studies, either taking a placement year in industry or opting to study abroad in the likes of mainland Europe or North America.
Why choose Northumbria to study English Literature and American Studies?
The uniqueness of our Literature & American Studies degree lies in how it brings together the study of stories and US history and culture, with a contemporary focus on your career, helping you take your cultural understanding into the twenty-first century world of work.
Student Rated: 100% of Students studying English Literature at Northumbria believed their course positively challenged them to achieve their best work (NSS, 2024) and 95% of students studying History believed they had chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth (NSS, 2024).
Research Power: English at Northumbria is ranked 21st for research power in the UK, out of 92 institutions (REF, 2021). This is a rise of 5 places since 2014. Meanwhile History at Northumbria is ranked 26th in the UK for research power, out of 81 institutions (REF, 2021).
See other similar courses you may be interested in: English Literature and Creative Writing or discover all of our English Courses to find the one that suits you.