American Studies Program at Georgetown University offers an interdisciplinary major that encourages students to ask critical questions about power, identity, history, and American culture. The program provides a strong core of courses that help students develop new ways of thinking about the narratives and ideas that define this country. Students examine American ideals, such as equality and democracy, but they also consider how differences and conflicts challenge those ideals. In American Studies, students consider how cultural artifacts and practices, ranging from art and pop culture to protests and political campaigns, reflect and influence social trends. In our courses, students might trace how eighteenth-century paintings comment on political divisions, how nineteenth-century dime novels challenge assumptions about gender and class, or how contemporary music responds to race relations, among other things. In addition to core courses in American Studies, students select courses from related fields History, Art, English, Music, Sociology, Government, Philosophy and more to create individualized degree plans based on their own interests. The major culminates with a year-long senior thesis project. With guidance from faculty mentors, students develop the deep knowledge to construct insightful critical arguments that can take many forms, from a traditional academic thesis to a multimedia or artistic project.
Because the program is small and our courses emphasize discussion and hands-on learning, students develop a strong sense of community through the creation of cohorts for each year group. This is enhanced by extracurricular activities, including field trips, social events, and lectures. Recent field trips have included a visit to a special exhibit of Thomas Cole's paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a multi-site tour of Baltimore, and a visit to Richmond, VA. Every academic year, the annual Richardson Lecture in American Studies brings nationally-known writers, scholars, and artists to campus, and these events always include opportunities for students to talk in small groups with the speakers.
The American Studies major is well-suited for intellectually curious and independent students whose interests cross disciplines and departments. The American Studies major is designed to help students develop an integrated and intensive understanding of the social, historical, material, and aesthetic aspects of American cultures. This highly flexible major allows students to identify and pursue their interests while working collaboratively with a cohort of students and faculty. Field trips and on-campus events help to build a strong intellectual community that undergirds each student's experience.
