American Studies Major

American Studies is a major for students who want to carve out their own path in the eclectic terrain of American culture. Unlike traditional majors, American Studies asks students to combine and cross disciplines in their study of American culture, past and present. American Studies explores the core narratives of the United States as well as the diversity of American social and cultural life. The American Studies Department teaches students to read critically, to articulate ideas clearly, to conduct research and to write effectively. It challenges students to develop these abilities within an interdisciplinary curricular framework that requires them to encounter diverse peoples, types of cultural expression and patterns of social interaction. Students are involved in research and internship opportunities in the local community as well as in more traditional scholarship. The American Studies Department is committed to the advancement of these goals through effective teaching and active scholarship by its faculty. American Studies prepares students for a wide range of careers, including education, museums, nonprofit management, law, community organizing, media, public relations, marketing and branding.