BSc in Humanities - American Studies in Cambridge United States | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT's American Studies program enables students to combine courses from diverse disciplines (including history, anthropology, literature, political science, music, art, architecture, and urban planning) to create customized interdisciplinary programs that provide a comprehensive view of American society and culture. Participants can specialize in numerous areas such as American literature, folklore and popular culture, African American history and culture, gender studies, U.S. history, political systems, legal studies, the evolution of science and technology, or American visual arts, architectural movements, and musical traditions. This makes American Studies excellent preparation for advanced study across humanities disciplines as well as professional fields like law, urban development, business administration, architectural design, engineering, medical practice, education, and media careers.

Whether your passion lies in American literary works, folk traditions and mass media, African American heritage, gender research, U.S. historical developments, political systems and legal frameworks, technological progress, or American creative expressions in visual arts, building design, or musical forms, American Studies could be your ideal academic path. This major allows you to examine American civilization through multiple lenses - historical, literary, artistic, political, scientific, and musical - by designing cross-disciplinary programs tailored to your specific academic interests.

A primary goal of American Studies is to help you comprehend the fundamental belief systems shaping all facets of American culture - its narratives, social structures, governance, written works, and distinctive aspirations and traditions. The program also seeks to develop your ability to evaluate various analytical approaches and academic fields as instruments for examining cultural complexities. Equally important is fostering an understanding of contemporary America in context with its historical foundations. Beyond these core objectives, you'll have the opportunity to establish your own academic goals within the program.