Are you fascinated by American culture? If so, American studies could be for you. This interdisciplinary degree involves the study of American culture, literature, history and politics. Many courses offer the opportunity to spend a semester or even a year at an American university. American studies graduates go into a wide range of jobs, including marketing and PR, the arts and business project management.
Here's a guide to what to expect from the application process - also check individual university entry requirements, as these may differ.
January application
October application
Personal statement
Portfolio
Interview
Entry test
Work experience
Audition
Personal statement advice
Your personal statement is a core part of your university application, and getting it just right takes time. Before you start work on yours, take a look at our five quick tips on writing a personal statement. We'll help you past that writer's block!
Just 620 UK students graduated with American studies degrees in 2012, so it's one of the smaller subjects in terms of student numbers. The recession has been rough on graduates from these degrees and the unemployment rate is currently higher than we'd expect in better economic conditions, but this should get better as the economy improves. Most graduates stay in the UK once they graduate, and about one in five go into further study, mostly to take Masters degrees in subjects like history, journalism, politics and business. Graduates tend to go into any general graduate jobs, in management, education, marketing and PR, the arts and business project management.
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals
Longer term career paths
Jobs where this degree is useful
Hospital doctor
Public relations officer
Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL)
Advertising copywriter
Other real-life job examples
Events manager
Periodical editor
Retail manager
What employers like about this subject
Students of American studies will learn subject-specific skills in understanding American culture and history, and the way America interacts and influences the world, along with the skills to understand, analyse and criticise a range of forms of cultural expression including literature, media and film. Transferable skills you can develop include excellent communication, research, critical thinking and project management. American studies graduates find jobs in publishing, education, advertising, retail management, consultancy and government.
Promoted
University of Aberdeen | Aberdeen
