BA in American Studies - Politics, Institutions and Values in Chicago United States | DePaul University

The Politics, Institutions, and Values concentration enables students to analyze how structural and cultural forces influence power dynamics, resource allocation, and cultural significance within U.S. society. This program investigates key American systems and social phenomena, including government structures, economic frameworks, education, healthcare, legal institutions, and various cultural domains. Through coursework spanning traditional fields like Political Science and Sociology to interdisciplinary areas such as Women's and Gender Studies and American Studies, students explore the interconnected nature of these systems.

This academic track specifically promotes historical examination, helping students grasp how individuals, communities, and subcultures interact with evolving institutions across different eras. Historical analysis also facilitates comparisons between traditional, modern, and current approaches to understanding American society. Students in this concentration ultimately cultivate analytical abilities to assess intricate tensions among institutions, their participants, power structures, and the gap between theoretical frameworks and tangible societal outcomes.