Why Major in American Studies?
Interested in how social media changes our lives? Classic rock lyrics? Immigration history or national policies toward global terrorism? Fugitive slaves in Pennsylvania? Great novels of the past? Constructions of dramatic events in American memory? Views on the environment past and present?
Welcome to American Studies, an interdisciplinary field of study that draws its analytical strength from history, literature, political science, and cultural and media studies. In this major, you learn to think across the disciplinary lines that often divide one of these things from another, so that history and literature and politics and popular culture begin to make sense together. By studying American culture of the past and present, you will gain a vital perspective on the diversity of the nation you live in.
Build a great liberal arts foundation for rich and diverse career opportunities Through a variety of course work and interaction with professors and fellow students, American Studies majors develop critical and analytical thinking skills that will be of value in the rapidly changing workplace of the twenty-first century. Many employers want workers who can think and write in complex situations of just the sort that an American Studies major examines. The major also provides excellent preparation for further work in graduate or professional school, for instance in law, education, or the American Studies field itself.
Graduation and Beyond
American Studies offers the foundation for developing one's expertise throughout life. Graduates find positions in a variety of fields, including:
- Educational programs at museums and tourist sites
- Business
- Journalism
- Political advocacy
- Secondary education
Graduates may also choose to pursue a law degree or complete a degree at the master's or doctorate level.
