This pathway offers an opportunity to specialize in American Literature within the overall structure of the English Literature MA.

With a focus on contemporary American literature, the pathway consists of modules on Urban and postmodern literature, the cold war, life-writing, race, gender, and animal studies. There is also an opportunity to select the core module, Approaches to the American Past, from the American History MA.

In addition to those who have a general fascination with America, this pathway may be of particular interest to students considering a PhD in American literature or culture. A previous background in American literature is not required.

Course Structure

You select four 30-credit modules plus you submit a 15,000-word dissertation. Some of the modules use online learning techniques integrated with face-to-face teaching.

Here are some examples of the modules from which you can choose:

• ‘Tales of the City’: The Living Space in Contemporary American Fiction.
• Exchanging Letters: Art and Correspondence in Twentieth-Century American Culture.
• Shelling Lives: Literary Biography in Theory and Practice.
• Memory and Trauma.
• White like Me: Reading Whiteness in American Literature.
• Interpret the Brutes: The Animal in Postcolonial Writing.
• Approaches to the American Past (Dept. of History).

Assessment Methods

Essays and a 15,000-word dissertation.

Staff

The American pathway brings together faculty members with research reputations in all fields of American Literature. Recent books include, Adam Piette, The Literary Cold War, 1945 to Vietnam; (Edinburgh, 2009); Jonathan Ellis, Art and Memory in the Work of Elizabeth Bishop (Ashgate, 2006) ; Sue Vice, Jack Rosenthal (Manchester, 2009), McKay, Killing Animals (Illinois, 2006).

All staff are committed specialists in Research-Led Teaching, making students into active researchers themselves. The high quality teaching has resulted in Senate Teaching Awards (McKay, van Oostrum) and a National Teaching Fellowship (van Oostrum).

The contemporary nature of the American pathway allows students to work at the fore-front of American literature, enabling publication and further research.

Further details of the staff who will teach you.

Fees

Fees for this programme are set centrally.

General information on fees

To find the fees for this programme follow the link below and enter "MA English Literature " in the box marked 'Programme'. Be sure you select whether you are a "Home" or "Overseas" student.

Find the fees for this programme

Information on Scholarships

 Entry Requirements

Students wishing to take this programme should have a good first degree (2:1 or above, or the equivalent) in English literature, language, linguistics, or a related discipline (e.g. history, philosophy, modern languages).

International students whose first language is not English are required to provide proof of English language proficiency. As the study of literature depends on a deep understanding of language, we ask for a high level of competency in English, e.g.:

• IELTS: 7.5 minimum
• ToEFL paper test: 630 minimum score, with a Written English Score of 5
• ToEFL computer test: 267 with a Written English Score of 5
• ToEFL internet based test: 113
   

The University of Sheffield also offers a language qualification, USEPT (University of Sheffield English Proficiency Test). We accept applicants with a USEPT score of 75 or above.

Further details of USEPT