Our department uses dynamic interdisciplinary methods to examine the United States of America and the larger Americas. We help you understand, analyze, and participate in ideas and methods from across the humanities and social sciences, practicing a form of engaged citizenship.

A Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in American Studies gives you the skills to critically analyze historical, political, social, and cultural dimensions of the Americas. This comparative approach enables you to differentiate between and use methodologies from various disciplines. You learn to examine issues from multiple perspectives, to pay attention to the distribution of power and privilege, and to hone your own arguments on the basis of research.

While focused on the Americas, we use a transnational approach that teaches you to situate the United States in a global context. Your teachers are experts in a variety of fields, trained in a wide range of disciplines. You have the opportunity to create a path through your coursework that zeros in on issues and ideas that are most compelling to you.

We also offer minors in American Studies and American Experience that pair well with other subject areas. The minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS), which was previously housed within American Studies, can now be found on the NAIS website.