Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English and American Literature

at Keele University United Kingdom

On this course you’ll develop a solid foundation of theory and practical skills, building to cover advanced concepts and contemporary issues in chemistry in later years. You’ll learn to use chemistry in problem solving, and to present your theories and findings confidently and imaginatively. You may have the opportunity to tailor your studies to reflect your interests, and learn how to pursue your own research. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore scientific instruments and techniques, and enjoy access to dedicated IT facilities.

For the Forensic Science element of the course, you will be taught by academics and forensic professionals, as well as gaining valuable lab and crime scene experience, helping you to stay ahead in this fast-moving science. You will be taught in our modern laboratory facilities and have access to equipment and our dedicated Crime Scene House.

We will equip you with the skills to tackle a range of increasingly problematic and complex issues which may include our ever growing and ageing human population, our medical problems and the impacts our actions have on each other and on life on Earth.

Combining Biochemistry and Biology gives you the chance to approach problems from the molecular and organismal level. The Biochemistry element of the course covers mainly mammalian Biochemistry and has a focus on health and disease. You’ll have the opportunity to engage in additional opportunities which may include field courses and research projects. You may also have the opportunity to apply for a placement.

You will develop an understanding of how neuroscience can help us to explore and understand medical problems and improve quality of life. Working in diverse ways, you’ll develop independent research skills as you learn to acquire, interpret and analyse data from multiple sources. Your degree will open up exciting careers in sectors as varied as healthcare, scientific research, pharmacology, IT, publishing and more.

Single Honours Neuroscience enables you to focus your studies on an in-depth coverage of a wide range of topics. If you choose to study Neuroscience with another subject (Combined Honours) you will combine the key principles of neuroscience with the ability to choose specific areas of another subject that may interest you.

By taking this combined programme, you will study educational practices and processes from a variety of perspectives. You will define, describe and work with key concepts such as equality of opportunity, class, gender, marketization and social exclusion. You will learn to relate contemporary education policy to wider processes of global, economic, cultural and social changes and have opportunities to observe how these processes affect teaching practice by doing placements.

The compulsory sociology modules will provide you with a grounding in the key areas of the discipline: inequalities, social theory, and research methods. Our programme also covers a wide range of topics such as families, activism and protest, social media, globalisation, and belief systems. Studying Sociology enables you to think independently, critically, and imaginatively about the issues that shape our everyday lives and our futures.

Studying History and Politics at Keele will enable you to develop your appreciation of various global histories and political arenas, whilst enjoying the rich history of our local area. In your spare time, you might find yourself exploring the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon metalwork most likely deposited in the 7th century in the then Kingdom of Mercia. The Staffordshire Hoard provides a window to England in the 6th and 7th centuries and also to the warrior elite that existed during these times and now rests less than 5 miles away from Keele.

Whether interpreting acts of resistance, assessing economic change, describing environmental behaviour or understanding acts of oppression, an appreciation of the past is essential to understanding where we are today and how we’re attempting to shape the future. Even societies in the very distant past can be highly relevant in this respect, which is why history and politics work very well together as subjects. You will learn the skills of the historian as you deepen your understanding of eras, continents and cultures from political, social and religious perspectives, and you will learn to use that knowledge to analyse the way in which societies govern themselves today. You’ll develop an understanding of different approaches to history and politics, developing a range of methods used in their pursuit. 

Physics is a fundamental, curiosity-driven discipline, with applications in many other areas of science and technology. You will gain an understanding of the subject fundamentals such as quantum mechanics, relativity and electromagnetism, and will apply this knowledge to solve problems, plan investigations and report your work.

By combining Physics with Education, you will learn how social, political and economic factors may impact on the application of physics knowledge in schools. You will explore the present and future developments in education and professional practice, which will prepare you for a career in teaching.

Studying Physics for three years as part of a combined programme will lead to a degree accredited by the Institute of Physics.

This combined honours, Geography course at Keele allows you to focus specifically on your preferred area of human geography. Our staff's diverse research interests and creative methods reflect a modern human geography that can develop your skills to address contemporary societal issues such as climate change, sustainability, health and migration from political, economic, social and cultural perspectives. You will develop interdisciplinary perspectives, problem-solving skills and the ability to research, evaluate and synthesise information from diverse sources. What you learn here will equip you for future employment and for a lifelong appreciation of the world around you.

Politics is of vital importance to all of us in our daily lives. It concerns fundamental choices about the ways in which societies are organised and the way we are governed. Politics is not just the concern of politicians. It is about big issues such as the environment and human rights. Political engagement can change lives and encourage changes in government in the UK and elsewhere.

Politics at Keele seeks to understand society and the events and forces which shape it, engaging with questions of power, justice, conflict, legitimacy, accountability, and governance. You will explore a range of topics which may include why citizens are increasingly disillusioned with politics; what a democracy is; when and how it’s legitimate to protest; and the effects of different models of government. You can tailor your studies to your interests, whether theoretical, historical or oriented to specific issues. Politics at Keele is informed by our research expertise which currently includes environmental politics, security studies, European and American politics.

Biology at Keele focuses on the amazing world of organisms – from how they’ve evolved to their relationships with the environment and each other. Keele takes a broad approach to biology, examining the diversity of life and its evolution from the geological past. You’ll consider a range of biological concepts which may include the complexity of biological processes and mechanisms at molecular, cellular, organismal and ecosystem levels, and the related philosophical and ethical issues.

You’ll engage in activities to strengthen your skillset which might include sampling, recording and analysing data in the field and in our well-equipped labs. Complete this course over three years, or it may be possible (subject combination dependant) to add an extra year with an applied life sciences work placement or a one year study abroad placement between the second and third year.

The Keele geology degree is broad-based and may examine the Earth, its structure, formation, composition, history, processes, hazards and materials. This course covers a range of topics which may include looking at rocks, minerals and fossils and geological processes. Beyond that, a range of optional modules allow you to tailor your degree towards your individual interests and/or career aspirations. Our courses are strongly aligned to the role of geoscience in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

You may investigate geological processes such as plate tectonics and explore geological resources such as oil, gas, metals and minerals. You also might have the opportunity to study broader subjects such as geoscience and society, forensic geoscience and Earth systems.

On this course, we aim to focus particularly on applied research skills which will encourage you to collect, analyse and interpret different types of geological data, and to carry out your own research using specialist software and equipment. Furthermore, you may have the oppportunity to complete a comprehensive and integrated fieldwork programme with no cost options.

You will acquire a wide range of transferable skills, including communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, evaluate and synthesise information from diverse sources. You will develop subject specific-skills like the ability to manipulate, analyse and present geospatial data using industry standard GIS and drawing software.

You’ll learn to use technology to create new opportunities and to solve a wide range of problems, benefiting every aspect of society from the home to business, government and beyond.

Our teaching is informed by our cutting-edge research, and we also reflect what’s happening now in industry. There’s a strong emphasis on programming – but don’t worry if you don’t have A Level Mathematics, as the course covers what you need to know.

You’ll have access to our own computing labs, based on Microsoft Windows and Linux, plus a wide range of software. Our excellent central location is ideal for industrial placements, with over 40 companies situated on the Keele Science Park alone.

Computer game development requires a deep understanding of the architecture of computer systems, a thorough knowledge of practical software engineering in multimedia contexts and a strong ability to program complex graphical applications in C++. By following the 'Games' route through our undergraduate programme you will gain these skills and more, strengthening your CV and solidifying your understanding of high-performance Computer Science. You will have the opportunity to explore your interests in this area extensively, and will have the option to tailor your dissertation project to showcase your learning in a large project.