BA in American Studies in Rochester United States | University of Rochester

The American Studies Bachelor of Arts (BA) program enables students to explore U.S. history, culture, and society through an interdisciplinary lens. By incorporating perspectives from faculty in diverse fields including English, political science, art history, religion, music, anthropology, philosophy, and modern languages, the program facilitates in-depth examination of subjects such as:
The role of arts in American culture
Dimensions of American identity including race, class, gender, ethnicity, and religion
Foundational ideas and systems that have influenced the nation throughout history
Global viewpoints that extend beyond conventional U.S.-centric approaches
This major encourages interdisciplinary exploration while allowing students to develop specialized expertise. Participants also analyze America's position in international affairs.
The curriculum culminates with a capstone research project, fulfilled through either a departmental course or independent study, which meets half of the advanced writing requirement through a substantial research paper.