Does the complexity of American culture fascinate you? The American studies major uses many lenses to understand the complicated, messy and diverse lives of people in the United States and beyond. As an interdisciplinary department, the major pulls from several disciplines — history, literature, environmental science, food science, sociology — to explore U.S. culture.

Major Requirements

As an American studies major, you will begin with lower division course work in ethnic and cultural studies, history and literature as well as introductory courses in American studies. At the upper division level, you will take seven in-depth classes. Small group seminars on key works in culture studies prepare you to pull together what you have learned in other classes. Advanced work in at least two other departments or programs allows you to emphasize a period, a problem or a subject tailored to your personal educational goals. You may choose to undertake an individual project or thesis in your senior year.