American City (T7066)

15 credits, Level 5

Spring teaching

Explore the history, culture and significance of a particular US city in detail.

You’ll compare the myths of the city to its realities, from its foundation to its current manifestation. We’ll contextualise the city in terms of the development of the United States and:

• its colonial and expansionist histories
• the urban economy
• its relationship to changing American populations.

We take an interdisciplinary approach. You’ll study history, film, literature, and music to firmly locate the city in its relationship to the national story.

Possible cities include New York, New Orleans, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, depending on teaching in the academic year.

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 2026/27. 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.

Courses

This module is offered on the following courses:

• American Studies (with a study abroad year) BA
• American Studies and English (with a study abroad year) BA
• American Studies and Film Studies (with a study abroad year) BA
• American Studies and History (with a study abroad year) BA
• American Studies and Politics (with a study abroad year) BA