Undergraduate Major in American Studies

Established in 1967, the American Studies Program at Michigan State University offers the opportunity to examine American culture in all its diversity from an interdisciplinary perspective. We encourage our students to combine disciplines by drawing upon the resources of the entire university and using methods from literary, historical and cultural studies, as well as sociology and political science. Because of the program's flexibility, you may pursue your intellectual interests in areas as diverse as history, women's studies, ethnomusicology, film studies, literature, ethnic studies, material culture, television, and visual arts.

American Studies majors are encouraged to work with faculty from a variety of disciplines and departments. The Department of Writing, Rhetoric and American Cultures administers the major. The American Studies Advisory Board, which oversees the program, also includes faculty from History, English, Music, James Madison College, and the MSU Museum. The American Studies major is grounded in a set of required core courses that includes cultural studies, U.S. history, and American literature. The program encourages studies of American culture that stretch beyond the geographic borders of the United States. American Studies courses can be taken as part of Study Abroad programs already established or under development. We also encourage students to think about their academic pursuits in the context of their communities, forging links between what they do in the classroom or library and what is going on beyond the campus.

American Studies provides rigorous training for professional careers. Students will obtain an excellent background in techniques of historical and literary research and analysis, and cultivate writing skills necessary for graduate school, journalism, corporate research, law school, non-governmental organizations, and education. American Studies is also a diverse and well-rounded degree for students seeking careers in museums, libraries, advertising, politics, public relations, and community service.