The Best American Studies PhD Programs

American studies is an academic discipline that uses an interdisciplinary approach to study American culture and society. Although it has traditionally been focused on North America, recent scholarship has begun to examine American culture in a global context, seeking to understand how American culture interacts with cultures around the world. The following American Studies Ph.D. programs offer a strong core curriculum, active faculty and a number of funding opportunities for Ph.D. students.
  1. Purdue University

    • The American Studies Ph.D. Program at Purdue University is one of the most comprehensive programs in that its curriculum emphasizes the role of American studies in a transnational context. This program draws on faculty from nine different departments, including English, History and Sociology. They offer a number of funding opportunities to incoming students, including the Frederick N. Andrews Fellowship, the Lynn Fellowship, and the Purdue Doctoral Fellowship.

      American Studies
      Beering Hall, Room 1289
      100 North University St.
      West Lafayette, IN 47907
      765-496-9629
      cla.purdue.edu/american-studies/

    College of William and Mary

    • The American Studies Ph.D. Program at the College of William and Mary offers its students the resources and intellectual rigor of a major research university and the individual attention of a smaller, liberal arts college. This program's faculty have a number of specialties, including African American Studies, Literature, History of the Book, Cultural Studies and Visual Studies. The program also offers a number of stipends and assistantships to admitted Ph.D. students, typically for three years of funding.

      Director of Graduate Studies
      American Studies Program
      PO Box 8795
      The College of William & Mary
      Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
      757-221-1275
      wm.edu/as/americanstudies/

    University of Maryland College Park

    • The Ph.D. Program in American Studies at the University of Maryland focuses on two distinct areas: cultures of everyday life and cultural constructions of identification and difference. Students typically pursue these interests in a variety of areas, including literature and society, culture and media studies, and body and sexuality. Students in the program can take classes with both faculty in the department and in associated departments. A number of fellowships are available for outstanding students, and the department also offers numerous teaching assistantships.

      American Studies
      University of Maryland
      1102 Holzapfel Hall
      College Park, MD 20742
      301-405-1354
      amst.umd.edu/

    Indiana University

    • Although originally closely linked with English and History, the Ph.D. Program in American Studies at Indiana University has become increasingly interdisciplinary. Furthermore, the department contextualizes American studies in a hemispheric context, exploring the ways that American culture interacts with that of both Central and South America. However, students seeking admittance to the Ph.D. program in American studies must also be granted admission to "home department" such as English or History. Faculty in the department have a number of specialties, including comparative literatures of the Americas, film, histories of race and American popular culture. The American Studies Department at Indiana University also offers a number of financial aid opportunities, including fellowships and teaching assistantships.

      American Studies Program
      Ballantine Hall 521
      1020 E. Kirkwood Ave.
      Bloomington, IN 47405
      812-855-7718
      indiana.edu/~amst/index.shtml

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