American Studies is a diverse and fascinating discipline. It is the perfect program for students who want to learn more about the history, culture, literature, politics and art of the United States. It examines the formation of the American culture, its many subcultures and the American influence around the world.

American Studies is an interdisciplinary subject that uses a wide range of fields and disciplines like Anthropology, Literature, History, Ethnic Studies, Religion, Political Science, Sociology and Urban Studies. This allows students to gain a deep understanding of the country and its complexities with the course being based on a historical perspective. Students will be able to analyse American history and gain insight into the diversity of cultures, ideas and institutions of the various communities in America, including Indian Americans, Asian Americans and African Americans.  

In depth, the course module includes, American literature, American history, American film and television culture, American politics and society, America during the Cold War, international politics, ethnicity and diversity in America, and American modernity, slavery, history and culture, to name a few. A degree in American Studies equips students with the skills to critically analyse the history, politics, culture and social aspects of America. Additionally, students acquire the knowledge and skills to apply what they learn to real-world problems.

Study levels:

American Studies is most commonly offered at the undergraduate level, but students can also study the subject as a post-graduate. PhD programs are also available, with studies taking between three and five years.

The different programs offered at different universities include:

• Bachelor of Arts in American Studies
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with Emphasis on American Politics
• Bachelor of Arts in Mexican American Studies
• Bachelor of Arts in English and American Studies
• Bachelor Degree in American Ethnic Studies
• Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies
• B.A. in American Indian Studies
• B.A. in English and American Literature
• LLB in American Law
• Pre-Bachelor Degree in African American and African Diaspora Studies
• Bachelor of Arts in United States Studies
• B.A. in American Studies and Film Studies
• Master of Arts in American Studies
• Master of Arts in North American Studies
• M.A. in United States Studies- History and Politics
• LLM in American Legal Studies
• Master of Arts in American Politics and Foreign Policy
• Master of Science in International Relations of the Americas
• M.A. in African American Studies
• M.A. in Latin American Studies
• Pre-Master Degree in U.S. Law and Policy
• Ph.D. in American Studies
• Ph.D. in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
• Ph.D. in English and American Studies

Specialisations:

Specialisations in American Studies are for students interested in American art, literature and media. Delving into a specific field of specialisation will train students to consider cultural artifacts in terms of aesthetic forms and the historical, social and political contexts that determine and identify those forms. Overall, it is about the question of how history has shaped art and media, and how art and media has shaped the way people think and behave.

The different areas of specialisations include:

• American Cultural Studies
• American Literature
• American History
• American Political Institutions
• American Democracy
• American Movie Industry
• American Slavery
• Civil Rights Movement
• Politics and American Communities
• African American Studies
• Native American Studies
• Law in America
• Gender in America
• Nature and Environment in American Culture
• Politics and Media
• Religion in American Life

Employability:

A degree in American Studies will equip students with a range of skills that are marketable to most employers. In that way, graduates can find jobs in many sectors and the different job options include:

• Advertising account executive
• Broadcast journalist
• Digital copywriter
• Digital marketer
• Magazine journalist
• Media buyer
• Public relations officer
• Secondary school teacher

Graduates can also find work in other related areas with different job roles such as:

• Business development manager
• Event manager
• Information officer
• Marketing executive
• Museum/gallery curator
• Social media manager
• Web content manager
• Writer
• Coordinator
• Translator