You will examine key aspects of social class, 'race' and gender in the contemporary USA. Drawing on Sociology and related disciplines you will analyse the debate on the nature of social classes in the USA and major recent changes in occupation structure and social mobility. You will examine changes amongst Afro-American people, the emergence of the Latino population and other non-white groups and the major changes in the position of women in US society. As a necessary part of these studies you will examine changes in the US economy, crime, culture and religion.

20 hours will be taken up with class contact with another 4 hours available for individual tutorials. 126 hours will be guided independent learning. Whole group contacts will consist of formal lectures and part group contact will be seminars linked (a) to the material in the lecture course and (b) to preparation for assessment , guidance to work outside of class and guidance over source materials.

Duncan, Russell & Joe Goddard (2003) Contemporary America (Palgrave)
Hartley, John & Roberta E. Pearson (eds) (2000) American Cultural Studies (Oxford UP)
Moore, Michael (2002) Stupid White Men...and Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation (Penguin)
Putnam, Robert D. (2000) Bowling Alone: the collapse and revival of American community (Simon & Shuster)
Singh, Robert (ed) (2002) American Politics and Society today (Polity Press) [320.973]

OHP, Internet, e-mail, VCR play back facilities.

A portfolio of 2000 words will consist of answers to seminar questions which we will discuss in class. Precise details will be provided in your handbook but the portfolio will typically contain 4 answers, each approximately 500 words in length, with references and bibliographies. The bibliography will not count in the word count.