Department of American Studies

Graduate Degree Program

Master of Arts Program

The Master of Arts program in American Studies is designed to enable students to study American culture from a broad, interdisciplinary perspective, combining basic cultural studies with advanced professional training. Drawing upon the graduate resources of the University at large, students develop individually tailored programs of coursework that reflect their own interest. Students may pursue an academic track or a professional track. Our graduates have used the M.A. in American Studies as preparation for positions in journalism, public relations, library service, historical preservation, community organizing, private foundations, law, and education.

General Degree Requirements:

Plan I: 24 semester hours PLUS a thesis

Plan II: 30 semester hours

Under either plan, the student’s program must include the following 21 hours of American Studies courses: AMS 585, 586, 587, 595, 596, 597, and six hours of seminars. A student may take up to 9 hours outside of the department, choosing a single disciplinary or cognate area (literature, history, broadcast and film, women’s studies, journalism, the South, etc.), or two minor areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

When is the application deadline?
Although we have a rolling admissions process (no set deadline), those who submit their application by February 15 will get full consideration for fellowships and assistantships

Do I need to submit an Academic Statement of Purpose or a Personal Statement?
We require that you submit an Academic Statement of Purpose. An academic statement of purpose is a statement about your academic and research background, your career goals, and how the American Studies Department at the University of Alabama will help you achieve your goals. Be sure to tell us what you want to work on and who you want to work with in our department. We do NOT want a personal statement. Personal statements usually discuss your background and life experiences.

How long should my writing sample be?
Your writing sample should not be more than 15 pages long. Although your writing sample does not need to by on the subject of your proposed study, it should demonstrate your ability to research and write in areas related to American Studies.

Who should write my letters of reference and how many should I submit?
You should submit three letters of recommendation. They should all be from people that can speak directly to your potential to succeed as a graduate student. We prefer that your letters be from professors who can evaluate your writing, research, and analytical skills.

How do I start my application?

Start your online application by going to the UA Graduate School’s Online Application Center.

More Useful Links:

INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE/FUTURE GRADUATE STUDENTS

Main Page: http://graduate.ua.edu/prospects.html
Financial Support: http://graduate.ua.edu/financial/
Online Prospect Inquiry Form: http://gradservice.aa.ua.edu/inquiry/prospect.aspx

INFORMATION FOR GRADUATE APPLICANTS

Main Page: http://graduate.ua.edu/applicants.html
Detailed Instructions for each class of Graduate Applicants (application fee amounts are mentioned here):http://graduate.ua.edu/application/applicationtypes.html
Application Deadlines: http://graduate.ua.edu/application/appdeadlines.html
Application Checklist: http://graduate.ua.edu/application/checklist.html
Application Forms and Supporting Documents: http://graduate.ua.edu/application/forms/
Graduate Catalog: http://graduate.ua.edu/catalog/
Information for International Applicants: http://graduate.ua.edu/info/index_int.html

INFORMATION FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS