American Studies

The American Studies program promotes an awareness of the complex cultural, political, and economic structures at the root of the social organizations that have existed throughout the history of the Western Hemisphere.  Our studies range from the first immigrants across the land bridge from Siberia, to the colonization of the Americas by Europeans, to the nationalist movements of the 18th and 19th centuries, to the present day.  Other areas of concentration may include the ways in which literary, musical, and visual artists have articulated cultural concerns, and the study of our changing understandings of new world geography and ecology.  Students are encouraged to fashion a course of study that will allow them to pursue their particular interests and prepare for graduate study or careers in education, law, policy, marketing, or business.