SC361-6-SP-CO:
American Society: Ethnic Encounters in the Making of the USA

The details
2025/26
Sociology and Criminology
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 12 January 2026
Friday 20 March 2026
15
27 September 2024

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BA MT26 Criminology and American Studies (UK Study),
BA MT27 Criminology and American Studies (Including Year Abroad),
BA MT28 Criminology and American Studies (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA MT2R Criminology and American Studies,
BA MT3R Criminology and American Studies (Including Placement Year),
BA MT62 Criminology and American Studies (UK Study) (Including Placement Year)

Module description

In this module, we will examine the social, political and economic encounters between the European settlers, American Indians, African-Americans and Latino migrant groups that have shaped the social and political development of the United States.

Module aims

The Spring term is divided into two sections – Black-White Racial Politics (Weeks 16-21) and Immigration and Borders (Weeks 22-25). We will start our focus on the relationships between Euro-Americans and Afro-descended peoples, examining how the European idea of race was a shaping constituent of the experience of white and black people from enslavement to the present. We will look at the contemporary and historical aspects of slavery then concentrate more recent histories of racial segregation, the civil rights and anti-poverty reforms of the 1960s, racial justice and the ongoing racial disparities in health. The second section will look at the US-Mexico border as a flash point of ethnic and cultural conflict. This conflict is played out in the very history of the region – annexed by the US in 1848 – and continues through the need of the US economy for cheap labour. Throughout we will describe and analyse immigration policies from the Bracero guest worker’s to Trump’s ‘beautiful wall’. All along we will emphasize how the past and the present cannot be separated.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Further understand American Society and Ethnic Encounters in the making of the United States 

Module information

SC361-6-SP Spring
Available as an Outside Option
Available for third year students

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • One 2-hour seminar each week.

Face-to-face attendance is expected.

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Colin Samson, email: samsc@essex.ac.uk.
Professor Colin Samson
Jane Harper, Student Administrator, email: socugrad@essex.ac.uk, telephone: 01206 873052

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
Yes

External examiner

Dr Aneira Edmunds
School of Law, Politics & Sociology
Senior Lecturer
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 18 hours, 18 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

 

Further information
Sociology and Criminology

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