American studies

American studies provides you with a variety of skills that are marketable to employers in many sectors, including heritage, publishing, media and marketing

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Advertising account executive
• Broadcast journalist
• Digital copywriter
• Digital marketer
• Magazine journalist
• Media buyer
• Public relations officer
• Secondary school teacher

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Business development manager
• Event manager
• Information officer
• Marketing executive
• Museum/gallery curator
• Social media manager
• Web content manager
• Writer

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Gaining experience through volunteering, joining societies, or completing work placements can be invaluable for building essential workplace knowledge and skills. For instance, many students participate in student journalism, radio, or TV, or contribute to charities, museums, or political causes. These experiences can also help you explore potential career paths and build useful contacts, which may even lead to a permanent job opportunity.

The skills you develop during work experience enhance your CV and provide strong examples to showcase in job applications and interviews. For American studies graduates, roles in PR, marketing, social media, and administration are particularly popular. Your interests and chosen specialisation may also be shaped by the structure and focus of your degree programme.

Work experience abroad is also popular, and many students apply for summer placements through organisations such as BUNAC. Some American studies degrees include a year studying at a partner institution in the United States. If you take this route you can use the opportunity to look for voluntary work or internships while you're there to build your skills and international knowledge. Learning a language may also help boost your chances.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

As an American studies graduate you can find employment in a range of organisations, such as:

• accountancy and banking firms
• advertising, marketing, PR and social media agencies
• charities
• event management companies
• film, television and media
• schools and higher education institutions
• local and national government
• management consultancies
• museums and galleries
• publishing companies
• retail organisations.

Find information on employers in marketing, advertising and PR, media and internet, public services and administration and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

American studies is an interdisciplinary subject, in which you'll study the history, literature, politics and culture of the United States. The strength of this degree lies in its diversity, allowing you to develop the ability to approach ideas and issues from multiple perspectives. During your studies, you'll develop a range of skills valued by employers, such as:

• analytical and critical thinking
• strong verbal and written communication
• the ability to approach and engage with a topic from multiple approaches, and be flexible in your thinking
• the capacity to develop coherent and persuasive arguments founded on well-researched evidence
• self-direction and the ability to manage deadlines
• collaborative working skills, to work effectively on group projects or presentations.

If your degree includes a period of study abroad, this can help you to adapt to new surroundings and approaches to learning.

Further study

Some American studies graduates choose to develop their academic knowledge further by studying for an MA or PhD, often specialising in American literature or history. You could also consider applying for MA programmes in the US, although this is a process that requires a lot of planning, and financial support.

Depending on your career choice following your degree you may want to take a vocational course that will help you to secure a job. Postgraduate courses are available in areas such as marketing, journalism, event management, museum studies, human resource management, publishing or teaching. Do your research to find out what qualifications are essential for your chosen career so you can make sure you take the right path.

For more information on further study and finding a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in American studies.

What do American studies graduates do?

6% of American studies graduates are employed as public relations professionals. Other popular occupations include sales and retail assistants (6%), secondary education teaching professionals (4%) and educational support assistants (3%).

Find out what other American studies graduates are doing 15 months after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.