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2014/2015  BA-BEOKO1023U  British and American studies

English Title
British and American studies

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Course period Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BA in English and Organisational Communication
Course coordinator
  • Kevin McGovern - Department of International Business Communication (IBC)
Main academic disciplines
  • Language and Intercultural Studies
Last updated on 12-01-2015
Learning objectives
At the end of the course, the student should be able to
  • Accurately describe aspects of British and American society within the syllabus
  • Draw upon central concepts and theories from the course to analyze aspects of British and American societies
  • Account for and discuss differences and similarities in British and American politics and society
  • Structure answers with clarity and purpose
  • Communicate knowledge in clear, correct and idiomatic English
Examination
British and American studies:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Written sit-in exam
Individual or group exam Individual
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration 4 hours
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Summer Term
Aids allowed to bring to the exam Limited aids, see the list below and the exam plan/guidelines for further information:
  • Allowed dictionaries
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If the number of registered candidates for the make-up examination/re-take examination warrants that it may most appropriately be held as an oral examination, the programme office will inform the students that the make-up examination/re-take examination will be held as an oral examination instead.
Description of the exam procedure

The exam is a written exam which is conducted by use of CBS computers.
Aids: None besides access to the electronic version of Danish-English English-Danish dictionaries: Gyldendals røde ordbøger, dansk-engelsk og engelsk-dansk

Examination language: English
Course content and structure

Course participants work with analyses of political, social and cultural relations in two major English-speaking countries, the United Kingdom and the United States. Where possible and relevant, analyses are conducted in a comparative framework, while drawing on relevant theoretical and historical perspectives. The topics studied may include:

  • Population groups and identities
  • The political system and the political parties
  • The media and their role in politics and society
  • Social and education policy
  • Labour market relations
  • Political and economic relations with the world
Teaching methods
The course is organised around a series of lectures, followed by more in-depth analysis and discussion of the issues in classes. Students have term assignments which in combination reflect the shape of the final written exam.
Student workload
Teaching 25 hours
Preparation 62 hours
Independent studies 25 hours
Term papers 20 hours
Examination, including revision 75 hours
Further Information

No special prerequisites, beyond the ability to follow the course in English.
Expected literature

• Malene Djursaa og Charlotte Werther (2011). Rose and Crown: Ideas and Identities in British Politics and Society, 3rd edn. København: Handelshøjskolens Forlag.
• Russell Duncan and Joseph Goddard (2013). Contemporary America, 3rd edn.UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
• In addition, a number of supplementary articles are used.
Last updated on 12-01-2015