American Studies

The American Studies Program presents a dynamic exploration of our nation, both as a geographical area, and a cultural and political space.

This interdisciplinary field draws on courses from 12 departments, giving a broad perspective of the history, art, politics, religion, popular culture, literature and other features of American life. You’ll learn in small classes with engaging faculty from a variety of departments and programs, including Africana studies; anthropology; art history; economics; English; gender, sexuality and women’s studies; history; modern languages and literatures; philosophy; political science; sociology; and theater and dance.

Courses

You will choose from among more than 160 courses as you analyze the diverse character of the American experience, shaped by gender, race, class, sexuality, geography and ethnicity. These experiences are studied within a context of global economic, cultural and political relations. For instance, you may examine issues in American education, learn about the American musical theater from vaudeville to Broadway, or take a seminar that traces New York City’s rise to become the preeminent urban center in the U.S.

Thematic concentrations

This highly individualized program tailors course work to personal interests and needs. Students develop a thematic core around which to build an innovative course of study. Themes may be centered on a specific era (e.g., antebellum America or the United States since the Cold War) or a topic (e.g., the emergence of mass culture or issues of ethnicity and race in American life).

Terms abroad

One unique opportunity students pursue is Union's Civil Rights Public History mini-term, a three-week tour of sites of the major civil rights actions in the American South. In unforgettable and unparalleled experiences, students visit iconic sites and meet with participants of the Civil Rights movement in numerous cities, from Charleston, S.C., to New Orleans, La.

After Union

As an American studies major, you will develop many of the same skills as other majors in the social sciences and the humanities, including writing, critical thinking and research, and therefore open up similar career paths for life after Union. Recent graduates have found positions in business, teaching and government service, while others have gone on to law school, M.B.A. programs, and M.A. and Ph.D. work in history, literature, visual arts, journalism, American studies and other disciplines.

What some of our graduates are doing: