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Is American Studies a "mickey mouse" degree?

~Sam~

15

Even if it's at a respectable uni such as Warwick or Nottingham for example?

Reply 1

ChloeChloe

I was wondering the same myself about History of Art. Like at Cambridge, Oxford or UCL or something. Does anyone happen to know if it is a particularly resepected degree or not?

And sorry, I don't know the answer to your question.

Reply 2

~Sam~

OP

15

ChloeChloe

I was wondering the same myself about History of Art. Like at Cambridge, Oxford or UCL or something. Does anyone happen to know if it is a particularly resepected degree or not?

And sorry, I don't know the answer to your question.

I think it is respected, because it's a traditional subject. Especially at good unis such as the ones you mentioned.

Reply 3

viviki

14

I know it bloody isnt mickey mouse having studied modules in it. American studies = American literature and American history. so its no more mickey mouse than any literature or history course.

Reply 4

~Sam~

OP

15

viviki

I know it bloody isnt mickey mouse having studied modules in it. American studies = American literature and American history. so its no more mickey mouse than any literature or history course.

That's what I think too, but I know a lot of people don't respect it. I don't know why that is...maybe because it contains the word 'studies'? Do you think it would offer good career prospects if you did a degree in it?

Reply 5

VoodooDoll

8

i wouldn't call american studies or history of art mickey mouse degrees.both have a large literature component and involve lots of essays. american studies covers american hisoty, literature and film, so i imagine it's not only a challenging degree but a very broad and interesting one. AND you get to go to america - can't beat it really :smile:

Reply 6

~Sam~

OP

15

VoodooDoll

i wouldn't call american studies or history of art mickey mouse degrees.both have a large literature component and involve lots of essays. american studies covers american hisoty, literature and film, so i imagine it's not only a challenging degree but a very broad and interesting one. AND you get to go to america - can't beat it really :smile:

Exactly! Which is why I'm considering studying it (or combined with English). I just want to make sure that it isn't totally disrespected.

Reply 7

LongGone

18

I'm sure some of the traditionalist will stick their noses up, but then they always do. It certainly sounds like an interesting degree (I briefly considered it among a lot of other things), but if you do it at a respected Uni I don't think there'd be any problems, especially if you combined it with English Lit.

Reply 8

viviki

14

~Sam~

That's what I think too, but I know a lot of people don't respect it. I don't know why that is...maybe because it contains the word 'studies'? Do you think it would offer good career prospects if you did a degree in it?

the same as any other arts subject probably better if you get a year in America out of it.

Reply 9

muncrun

1

Mickey mouse. Through and through.

Little fact I picked up a while back: A greater percentage of students from American Studies go on to work in McDonalds than from any other degree.

Reply 10

viviki

14

muncrun

Mickey mouse. Through and through.

Little fact I picked up a while back: A greater percentage of students from American Studies go on to work in McDonalds than from any other degree.

And your source for that is...??
Funny I dont know anyone who did American Studies that worked in McDonalds after graduation.

Reply 11

~Sam~

OP

15

muncrun

Mickey mouse. Through and through.

Little fact I picked up a while back: A greater percentage of students from American Studies go on to work in McDonalds than from any other degree.

I'll believe that if you give me reliable statictics. Just out of interest Viviki, what kind of jobs have people you knew go on to have?

Reply 12

viviki

14

all sorts grad jobs - management schemes that kind of thing, journalism, admin, teaching, theatre postgrad courses. Basically your typical arts jobs.

Reply 13

Dr. Blazed

16

People who say it's Mickey Mouse are the same people who deride history ("But...it's all in the past!"), music ("It's just sounds!") and art ("What do you mean, you don't do any essays?").

Reply 14

VoodooDoll

8

Dr. Blazed

People who say it's Mickey Mouse are the same people who deride history ("But...it's all in the past!"), music ("It's just sounds!") and art ("What do you mean, you don't do any essays?").

well said

Reply 15

~Sam~

OP

15

Thanks for the replies :smile:

Does anyone else have a view on this?

Reply 16

hester

1

Only ignorant ppl would think that it was.

You won't be working for ignorant people (not if you do well!! ) and therefore its fine.

A lot of ppl think its just looking at america.. a girl at my school went to an open day for it and one person asked if they looked at why Americans were obese.. only ppl like that would think it was a mickey mouse degree.
Once u know what its about you realise.. hmm.. no.. intelligent ppl..

lol

Reply 17

AmyBlue

all i know is that i know two people with a 2:1 in American Studies who can't get jobs because apparently 'employers don't really see the point of it'

mind you they did both go to Liverpool (no) Hope......... so maybe that is a factor!