American Studies

The Program in American Studies is an interdisciplinary program fostering the in-depth study of American cultures from a variety of perspectives. Students choose their path through the major or minor based on their own intellectual commitments. Through course offerings, colloquia, and research opportunities, students examine questions of power and conflict, experience and identity, and tradition and social change–both within and beyond the territorial borders of the United States and the Americas. The program allows study at the local, subnational, national, and global levels, from in-depth investigation of Nashville communities to research on transnational nongovernmental organizations. Matters of class, race, region, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, law, migration, environment, technology, politics, and the arts are central to the curriculum. Students participate in a robust set of extracurricular events, including Road Trips, City Walks, and discussion of current events through the Beyond the Headlines series. The program also encourages and provides opportunities for on- and off-campus research, internships, study abroad, and individual and group projects under the guidance of participating faculty in the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

• All required parts of the Common Application or Coalition, powered by Scoir, including the personal essay and short answer
• $50 nonrefundable application fee, or fee waiver for qualified students
• Official high school transcript
• Counselor letter of recommendation
• Two academic teacher letters of recommendation
• Optional for students applying for fall 2024 entry: SAT or ACT scores (SAT code: 1871 / ACT code: 4036)

Three Ways to Apply:

• Coalition, powered by Scoir
• Common Application
• QuestBridge

Choose the application system that is right for you - we do not prefer one over the others. Do not submit an application through more than one system. Choose one application, and submit all required materials through that method.