PhD in American Studies in Albuquerque United States | University of New Mexico

The American Studies program at UNM equips students with analytical frameworks to examine their personal experiences through lenses of identity, location, and societal structures. Our curriculum presents innovative methods to both comprehend systems like racism, colonialism, capitalism, nationalism, and gender/sexual norms affecting our daily lives, and to drive meaningful change in our communities.

Moving beyond traditional cultural studies, American Studies prompts students to ground their learning in local contexts, challenging established power dynamics that shape conventional worldviews. From its inception, UNM's American Studies Department has balanced a hemispheric/global outlook with dedicated scholarship on the Southwest and New Mexico regions.

The program provides students with both structure and freedom to pursue specialized interests. Our interdisciplinary approach draws faculty from diverse academic backgrounds, offering training across historical, literary, visual, and ethnographic methodologies. Key areas include Indigenous studies, ethnic studies, Black studies, gender/sexuality studies, religious studies, legal/social systems, cultural analysis, and social justice movements (encompassing prison reform, decolonization, racial/gender equity, migrant rights, and LGBTQ+ advocacy).

American Studies originated during the 1930s global upheavals, founded on the principle that understanding modern society demands multiple scholarly perspectives.