{"id":6057,"date":"2024-01-09T14:42:01","date_gmt":"2024-01-09T14:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/?p=6057"},"modified":"2024-01-09T14:42:01","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T14:42:01","slug":"why-i-chose-to-study-american-studies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/2024\/01\/09\/why-i-chose-to-study-american-studies\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I Chose to Study American Studies"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Hi! My name is Roxie and I\u2019m a second year American Studies student at Manchester. When I initially started the uni application process,\"\" I began by looking into courses such as History and English Literature but didn\u2019t immediately find anything that I fully engaged with. After doing some research, I came across this course and discovered that it essentially incorporated every aspect of history, film and literature that had interested me at A Level. From modules like \u2018Jamestown to James Brown: African-American History and Culture\u2019 to \u2018American Film Studies\u2019, there\u2019s something for everyone in this course. Therefore, if you\u2019re a humanities student who\u2019s trying to find their niche, American Studies is definitively one to check out.<\/p>\n

In terms of the actual course structure, semester one of first year\u2019s modules are compulsory and are designed to help you settle into the course and learn the essential skills needed in American Studies. The second semester progresses chronologically in the American history and literature modules \u2013 giving you an in-depth foundation of America\u2019s history and culture. From this, my favourite module from first year was \u2018Twentieth Century American Literature\u2019 which covered literature from Fitzgerald\u2019s \u2018The Great Gatsby\u2019 to Adrienne Rich\u2019s poetry. Additionally, you have the option of a free course unit which extends to multiple other courses in different subjects. In general, due to its interdisciplinary nature, the course structure is flexible enough for you to choose your preferred area of study when choosing your modules. And having only completed a year at Manchester, I\u2019m sure I have yet to discover so many incredible modules that this course has to offer.<\/p>\n

One of my favourite aspects of this course is the American Studies faculty themselves. During my first term of uni, the faculty put on multiple events that created a space and time for the students to socialise and network with both each other and the staff. These included an American Studies pub quiz with both the staff and students and hosting the amazing Roe v Wade roundtable discussion \u2013 both of which made me feel so welcome and proud to be part of this course. There are so many other opportunities that this course has to offer \u2013 with the prospect of the integrated study abroad option perhaps being the most enticing. America has always been a place that has interested me through the mass range of popular culture I\u2019ve been exposed to through film and TV. Having the opportunity to be able to study out there for a year or semester therefore heavily appealed to me, and I\u2019m looking forward to applying this semester.<\/p>\n

Since moving to Manchester, I have made so many incredible friends and got involved with the music sector of the student paper which has allowed me to interview some of my favourite artists and review gigs across the city. From the city\u2019s rich culture and history to the amazing night life, Manchester has so much to offer for all students, and I couldn\u2019t recommend it enough.<\/p>\n

Written by Roxie Rees, a 2nd year BA American Studies student\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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