What shapes the American character?
For you, it’s not enough to know facts – you’re driven to explore how they interconnect and play off one another. Major in American Studies at UMW and you’ll examine the United States’ complex character, and engage with some of the most pressing public issues and debates in modern American society. In this interdisciplinary program, you’ll draw insight from departments across campus, including history, geography, religion, political science, music, art history, sociology, and others. The research, writing and critical thinking skills you hone can launch careers in law, journalism, education, government or business.
Degree Awarded
Students majoring in American Studies who complete all requirements earn the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in General Liberal Arts and Studies.
Areas of Study
UMW’s American Studies curriculum is interdisciplinary, student-centered, and flexible. You can focus on a thematic area of interest, such as gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, cultural expression, human rights, politics and society, or space and place. You’ll choose from a diverse range of courses such as American Foodways, Museums in the US, Labor Economics, Southern Literature, US History on Film, Contemporary American Politics, Race & Place in America, and Perspectives in Sexuality.
Career Opportunities
With the strong knowledge base and hands-on experience you’ll gain through UMW’s American Studies program, you’ll be prepared to work in business, education, law, government, library science, media, and many other fields. American Studies students are career-ready changemakers, prepared to ask important questions and seek answers through rigorous research and critical analysis, and to present their ideas with clarity.
Learn more about how UMW history and American studies majors have put their degrees to work.
Internships
UMW’s American Studies majors may find internships at Smithsonian Institution sites such as the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of American History. Other opportunities come from the National Park Service, City of Fredericksburg, Monticello, and the Marine Corps Archives at Quantico. Internships are encouraged, and up to three academic internship credits may be applied toward the major.
To be considered for honors in American studies, you must have a GPA of at least 3.5 in the major and submit and defend a senior thesis.
A major in American Studies requires four core courses plus eight American Studies electives offered by affiliated departments. To demonstrate the ability to transcend disciplinary boundaries, five of your elective courses will be connected to a thematic area of focus. To ensure breadth, no more than three of the eight elective courses may be from a single affiliated discipline. One of the electives must also deal with the United States prior to 1900; another must explore conceptualizations of race and/or gender. Six of your electives must come from 300- or 400-level courses.
American studies majors may qualify for numerous scholarships and awards for excellence.