Teaching and Learning

All the members of the Centre are firmly committed to teaching in diverse and exciting ways, combining a mixture of formal lectures, group seminars and one-to-one tutorials. Not only do we strongly encourage discussion in seminars and interaction between staff and students, but specific sessions dealing with a number of key skills are embedded in the degree – including Essay Writing, Oral Skills, Group Work and Research Skills – to help you develop your talents in an academic environment.

The University has extensive computer facilities including open-access terminals across the campus, while the Arts Faculty has a dedicated MultiMedia Centre (including computers, scanners and DVD technology) for the use of American Studies students.

In the most recent Teaching Quality Assessment Exercise we achieved a score of 23 out of a maximum of 24, and a commendation of 'Excellent', placing us nationally in the premier band for our teaching performance.

At the Centre we emphasise student participation with an active Staff Student Consultative Committee (with student members from each year) that meets each semester to discuss issues arising from the degree such as modes of assessment and the availability of library resources. We take the views of our students very seriously and consider any suggestions in our Planning Committee meetings.

American Studies at Leicester was rated in the "Top 2" amongst UK Universities by The Guardian in both 2007 and 2008, and in the "Top 2" by The Times and The Independent in 2008.

The American Studies degree at Leicester helped me to develop a variety of linguistic and analytical skills which have stood me in very good stead in my working life and with my postgraduate studies.
Stephen Hall, Graduate (see more in Graduate Career Stories)