When you major in American Studies, youll undertake a unique and broad interdisciplinary study of American society, gaining critical perspectives on past and contemporary issues and topics. Courses offered by the department explore a wide range of topics, including popular culture, politics, migration, religion, history, race, gender, and sexuality, as well as important issues such as Americas changing place in the world, foreign policy, the events of 9/11, and economic crises and inequality. Students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty, allowing you to use your skills and knowledge to conduct original research or creative work.
The College of Liberal Arts Advantage: More than a major
When you study American Studies at the University of Minnesota, you gain the added advantage of a College of Liberal Arts education. At CLA, the liberal arts mean you get more than just a degree in one major or another; it means you will be exposed to different areas of study, to different ways of thinking and learning. In fact, the liberal arts teach you how to learn—how to ask the right questions, how to problem solve, and how to innovate. The liberal arts highlight the complexities of our world, because here at CLA you will study not just, say, politics or art but also where politics and art intersect, where science and ethics intersect, where economics and the environment intersect.