BA in American Studies in College Park United States | University of Maryland, College Park

American studies students gain a solid foundation in theories and methods applicable to the investigation of American culture and society, past and present. The American studies major provides flexibility by enabling students to pursue a supporting area such as English, history, sociology, African American studies, women's studies or media studies, in conjunction with coursework in American studies.

The undergraduate program of American studies offers an interdisciplinary approach to the cultural complexities of the United States and the people, places, literary and visual arts, ideas and institutions that comprise it., Our interdisciplinary focus on cultural constructions and identity is complemented with courses outside the American studies department. Through majoring in American studies, students will gain transferable skills in critical thinking, verbal and written communications, analytical thinking and research, all of which are sought by employers and advanced degree programs. Two broad themes inform the department's teaching and research: the social construction of difference and the culture of everyday life. The former speaks to the ways in which affiliations are created and sustained, the latter focuses on patterns of belief and value that give form and meaning to the lived experience of Americans, past and present. Through these emphases, the program aims to help students develop knowledge about American society and culture that is critical, contextual and informed by a high degree of personal awareness.