History and American Studies

History and American Studies is a combination that recognises how closely intertwined the study of the past and the study of the United States have always been. The United States is itself a historical creation, shaped by colonialism, revolution, slavery, migration, and industrialisation, and understanding it requires the full toolkit of historical analysis. American Studies broadens that frame beyond political and economic history to encompass literature, culture, film, race, gender, and the many ways ordinary people have experienced and contested American life.

Together the two disciplines develop sophisticated skills in evidence-based argument, archival research, and cultural interpretation.

At the University of Manchester, you will study this combination over three years, full time. History at Manchester gives you the analytical and methodological foundations of the discipline, ranging across different periods, regions, and thematic concerns, and building your skills in working with primary sources and engaging with historiographical debate. The American Studies strand deepens your engagement with the United States specifically, examining its history from colonial settlement through the twentieth century and into the present, and drawing on literary, cultural, and theoretical perspectives alongside historical ones.

You will study the experiences of diverse communities within the United States, including questions of race, class, gender, and immigration, and examine how American culture has been produced, consumed, and contested at home and globally.

Graduates of History and American Studies programmes pursue careers in journalism, publishing, broadcasting, education, the civil service, law, think tanks, cultural institutions, and international organisations. The combination of historical rigour and cultural breadth is valued in many sectors, and Manchester's research environment and graduate network support strong employment outcomes. Further study options include postgraduate degrees in history, American studies, cultural studies, politics, international relations, and journalism, as well as professional routes in law and public affairs.