The latest National Student Survey shows American Studies at Essex has the highest student satisfaction levels in the UK with 100% of students saying they are happy with their course.
Essex has been a major teaching and research institution for American Studies since the University was founded in 1964. We offer interdisciplinary courses that combine study of the US through the humanities and the social sciences, with undergraduate modules available in literature, film, history of art, history, politics and sociology.
Director of American Studies Dr Matt Lodder said: “At Essex, staff contributing to the American Studies degree boast expertise and lead modules in subjects as diverse as New Orleans literature, the history of the Vietnam war, the American political system, and the particular sociological experiences of African-American women.
“Our interdisciplinary approach also means that students can also hook their specific American knowledge into a wide variety of more international courses such as human rights, international relations, and conflict resolution.
“Our American Studies students benefit from a compulsory period of study in the USA, which can either be a year or a term, from a selection of partner institutions right across the States. While abroad, they broaden and deepen their knowledge across their disciplinary specialisms, including politics, history, criminology, sociology, literature and film.
“We are proud that our degrees empower students and allow them to deepen their existing interests and to develop new ones in a challenging, stimulating and supportive environment."
American Studies is part of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities which aims to encourage and promote collaboration between various study disciplines, and encourage new and unpredictable cross-disciplinary alliances. CISH offers exciting courses spanning the United States, Europe, Latin American and the humanities.
Dr Lodder said: "Our courses in the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities (CISH) are unique insofar as they are truly interdisciplinary, built from an enormous number of modules from across the faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences, depending on each individual student's interests, expertise and future life and career plans.
"We know our students value and benefit from the choice and the intellectual ambition under this distinctive model, which was built into the University's ethos and even its architecture when we were founded.""Our courses in the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities (CISH) are unique insofar as they are truly interdisciplinary, built from an enormous number of modules from across the faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences, depending on each individual student's interests, expertise and future life and career plans.
"We know our students value and benefit from the choice and the intellectual ambition under this distinctive model, which was built into the University's ethos and even its architecture when we were founded."
The University as a whole is also second overall for student satisfaction and is ranked in the top 25% across a number of key categories including assessment and feedback, personal development, academic support, organisation and management, and learning resources.