Our courses engage multifaceted histories of indigenous communities; settlement; colonialism; migration; and social, economic, cultural and political change. Majors develop the methodological, theoretical and research skills to conduct independent interdisciplinary research. The American Studies department is also distinct in our commitment to community-based learning.
Department Highlights
The Major
Students design an individualized course of study and conduct independent interdisciplinary research.
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Community Engagement
The department fosters critical analysis by engaging with local community partners in teaching, researching and promoting active civic engagement.
Race and Ethnicity
The American Studies Department has become increasingly focused on issues of race, ethnicity and transnationalism.
Latino Studies
Our courses offer many opportunities to explore the rich and diverse experiences of Latinos.
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Our History
Founded in 1948, we are one of the oldest American Studies departments in the United States.
Our Alumni
Our majors go on to graduate work in history, English, art history, museum studies and other fields and are working in law, academe, non-profit, business and government.
American Studies Courses
Current Courses
AMST 155
The Social Construction of American Society
Description
Explore how our daily, social environment in the United States is constructed and shapes our lives, including what effect culture has on our behavior and why there are class, gender, and racial inequalities.
AMST 208
Asian Pacific American Sports: Clever Headers and Warriors
Description
In this course, we will study the diffusion of Western sports in Asia and across the Pacific, the development of Asian Pacific American sports in Hawai’i and the mainland, and the increasing transnational nature of sports in historical contexts.
AMST 358
Indigenous American Epics
Description
This course will delve deeply into Indigenous literatures of “Turtle Island,” or North America, enabling us to consider how the temporal and spatial boundaries of America are both defined and extended by colonization.