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LIB-20012 - Module Specification
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

LIB-20012 - The American South: US Summer School (Level 5)
Coordinator: Nicholas Seager Tel: +44 1782 7 33142
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

LIB-30006 The American South

Description for 2026/27

Study Southern US culture on location! The American South is a distinctive but difficult to define geographical and cultural entity, and attitudes to the South range from celebration to derision. Studying with others from a range of disciplines, you will think through historical and current constructions of the US South through its history, literature, film, and wider culture. You spend four weeks at one of our partner universities taught by Keele staff, shaping your own research project with their support.

Aims
To give students an interdisciplinary introduction to the American South.
To approach the American South through its history, literature, film, and culture.
To give students an international opportunity, a chance to study Southern culture at a Southern US university.

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically engage with understandings of the American South, produced in historical documents, film, or literature: 1
analyse the role of identity politics and the interplay between social, political, racial, and cultural contexts in understandings of the American South: 1
undertake original research using primary and secondary sources: 1
communicate ideas and arguments cogently and effectively in written work: 1

Study hours

24 hours of lectures, workshops, and seminars [weeks 1-2]
5 hours of online seminars [weeks 3-4]
1 hour of individual consultation [weeks 3-4]
60 hours of essay research and writing
60 hours of seminar preparation (film viewing, reading)

School Rules

A selection process will be applied if demand exceeds the number of places available.

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 100%
Research essay
2,000 word research essay chosen from a list provided by the tutor

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026