American Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that provides a home for students with wide-ranging academic interests. Our graduates pursue equally wide-ranging career paths. Two common choices focus on law and education. Others work in library science, museums, non-profit organizations, social work, small businesses, and state and local government agencies.
Our alumni hold positions at the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the National Park Service, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the World Wildlife Fund, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, Google Fiber, the McWane Science Center, the Arkansas Treasurer of State, the Tennessee School for the Blind, just to name a few!
FLEXIBILITY
Tailor your educational experience to align with your interests, broaden your perspective, and maximize your potential.
ELEVATION
In the last 10 years, over 90% of our majors who applied to law school were accepted. Several have even been awarded funding!
CAREERS
Develop skills highly valued across industries to excel in various roles and navigate future challenges in an ever-evolving world.
Skills you learn as an American Studies major are transferable in many aspects of your life, and I value my time at UA more than anything solely because of the work and growth I have completed brought forth to me by the countless opportunities the AMS Department has to offer.
I found that most of my interest areas were met within this major, such as my passion for history, politics, the environment, and Native American history studies.
I joined American Studies because I already loved American history and was excited by the idea of going deeper to understand American culture.
“My American Studies major has allowed me to learn and grow academically, providing me with the opportunity to better understand a variety of topics regarding art, culture, politics, and history, approaching each with a unique interdisciplinary approach.”
“The true value of an education in American Studies lies within its fundamental composition as an interdisciplinary realm of study. It aims to challenge the traditional academic model by eliminating boundaries between disciplines and instead draws from a wealth of knowledge and perspectives.”
“In American Studies, you don’t just learn about American history; you are immersed in the cultural atmosphere of the nation since its inception until the present.”
“With the help of dedicated instructors, American Studies courses offer students an opportunity to get the full story; to understand how America, for better or worse, has forged its ever-evolving character through a series of pivotal moments in time.”
“Gaining deeper understanding of American culture has revealed how it interacts with the rest of the world, enabling me to better engage with other cultures in my professional future.”
I have always been very enamored by the nuanced ways that we interact with one another in society across different cultures within the United States.