American Studies (AM)

American Studies is an interdisciplinary major that focuses upon life and culture in the United States, past and present, using the resources, techniques, and approaches of a variety of disciplines. The major examines the diversity of Americans as well as their commonly shared experiences, and frequently emphasizes gender, sexuality, class, race, and ethnicity as categories of cultural analysis. The major is structured to allow students to take courses about the United States and related global topics in several departments and to integrate that material into the interdisciplinary courses that the faculty of the American Studies Department teach. Our majors have found American Studies a strong background for careers in journalism, publishing, museums, historic preservation, archaeology, education, government, law, and business, and working with NGOs and the non-profit sector, as well as useful preparation for further study in graduate and professional school programs.

The department encourages students to develop "areas of concentration" within the major as early as the sophomore year and to select courses in anticipation of a major research project in the required senior year seminar (AM-374). The department also encourages students to study abroad or to participate in the Washington Semester for at least one term, normally in the junior year, although majors should be aware that AM-221: Methods and Approaches can be taken only in the spring term of the sophomore or junior years.

Students interested in exploring the field of American Studies should take AM-101: Introduction to American Studies in the first year, if possible. A variety of 200-level electives are also open to first-year students during fall and spring semesters.

American Studies site

3rd Floor, Tisch Learning Center