ENG-1120 | UiT

Type of course

This course may be taken as a single course.

Admission requirements

Higher Education Entrance Qualification (generell studiekompetanse) or prior learning and work experience (realkompetanse).

Application code: 9199 - Enkeltemner (ikke realfag), lavere grad (Nordic applicants).

A good grasp of oral and written English is recommended.

Course overlap

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

ENG-1120 Liberty, Equality and Power: American Culture in Text and Film 10 ects

Course content

The course provides an introduction to American literature and culture. It represents a historical, highly selective survey course of American literature from colonial times to the present, with primary emphasis on texts from the Romantic Age to the present. Texts from the various periods are analyzed closely and discussed in their socio-cultural contexts. The course thus attempts to integrate the study of literature and culture. The major genres of literature are represented in the course, and it provides students with the basic methods and tools of textual analysis, designed to make them more proficient in close reading.

Objectives of the course

The students have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge of:

the history of American literature and culture
different literary genres of American writing
methods and concepts for the study of literary and cultural texts
a variety of samples of fiction, poetry, and drama

Skills:

ability to explain one's ideas in a succinct, coherent manner and support them with close reading of texts
acquisition of advanced skills for the close reading of texts

Language of instruction and examination

English.

Teaching methods

Teaching consist of 11-13 lectures followed by seminars.

Quality assurance

All courses undergo a halfway evaluation once in a 3-year period at the bachelor's level. The study programme leader determines which programme options will be evaluated per year, and which courses will be evaluated by the students and the teacher per year.

Information to incoming exchange students

This course is open to incoming exchange students.

Study Level: Bachelor's

This course should be taken as part of a course package.

This course has admission prerequisites, which are listed under the Admission requirements section. Please review this information carefully before adding the course to your Learning Agreement.

For details on how to apply for exchange, course selection guidelines, or to contact the Incoming Admissions Team, please visit: Admissions for Student Exchange.

Schedule

Examination

Examination:	Duration:	Grade scale:
School exam	6 Hours	A–E, fail F
Coursework requirements: To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements:
Essay		Approved – not approved
Attendance		Approved – not approved
AkS		Approved – not approved

UiT Exams homepage

More info about the coursework requirements

One essay (1200-1500 words) that focuses on one or more of the texts on the reading list. This is a two-part assignment: the essay is to be submitted once in draft form and once in final form.
Completion of the AkS course (Akademisk skriving) through the university library.
In addition, 60 % attendance at seminar groups is required. Students may miss no more than four seminar group meetings during the course of the semester

Re-sit examination

Students who do not pass the previous ordinary examination can gain access to a re-sit examination.

autumn 2026 ENG-1120 Introduction to American Studies - 10 ECTS