Introduction

This course provides a comprehensive study of contemporary culture. It includes issues such as race, gender, identity, youth culture and media, and examines the ways in which those issues have been represented in literature and society.

Course Content

Depending on whether the course is taken as a joint Honours or a major/minor combination, the balance of the two subject areas varies. There is the opportunity to take two modules in language teaching. At Year 3 (Credit Level 6) you can complete a dissertation in English literature or cultural studies.

English Literature

You will be able to take modules in literature from Shakespeare to the present day, including texts outside the accepted canon. There are also modules in literary theory and the history of ideas, ranging from classical philosophy to contemporary debates. Seminars are available in a wide range of option topics such as contemporary Britain, theatre studies, writing and gender, American literature, Gothic, Romanticism, and post-colonial writing. Through these modules, you will develop a deep understanding of English society and the place of literature within it, by investigating the codes and conventions that have emerged in a variety of socio-historical contexts and the ways in which these have guided both literary and non-literary representation. You will also be able to relate the study of English literature to the broader context of Western history and thought.

Cultural Studies

The modules provide an introduction to the major theoretical perspectives and methods of cultural studies, including historical and comparative analysis, and enable the application of the theory and methods of cultural studies.

Associated Careers

You will have the skills and knowledge to enter a career in teaching, the creative and cultural industries, journalism, publishing, or work in social policy.

Entry Requirements

• Qualification type Grade/points
• A Levels BB/BCC including English
• International Baccalaureate 30 points including a minimum of 5 in Higher English
• BTEC National Diploma DMM