American Studies

Immerse yourself in American culture and history

American Studies majors will examine the breadth and diversity of the American experience. American Studies is an interdisciplinary program that integrates the study of literature, history, geography, media, politics, popular culture, art and religion in order to critically analyze American society, culture, institutions and intellectual traditions.

As an American Studies major, you’ll be encouraged to question what constitutes American culture, and how cultural expressions reflect and reveal American values, beliefs, prejudices, pleasures and perceptions.

American Studies majors will gain competency in American cultural studies by mastering the theoretical and intellectual frameworks of their concentrations and by learning to interpret and analyze primary documents. Students in other interdisciplinary programs find American Studies a common double major or minor when combined with majors such as history, communication, anthropology, English, political science or sociology.