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All Majors & Minors

American Studies

Degree

Bachelor of Arts, Major, Minor

School/College

College of Arts & Sciences
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Explore how the concept of America has been culturally imagined and debated throughout history, both within and beyond its borders. Reflect on your own role, involvement, and responsibilities in the ongoing narratives of America in a global context.

What You'll Learn and Do

Create your own line of study.

Offered as both a major and a minor, our course variety allows you to create your own line of study or pursue a double major, combining American Studies with a traditional academic discipline. Doing so has the potential to give you some extra advantages towards future careers in business, law, education, public service, or graduate studies.

Unpack America's sociocultural identity.

The American Studies program at Fairfield University engages students with the idea of America as something that is culturally imagined and socially contested throughout history, both within and beyond U.S. national borders. As part of this engagement, the program explores the idea of America within cultural contexts such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, legal status, environment, and class.

America's identity and your role.

At the same time, the program challenges students to think about the processes by which these contexts have shaped America and its identities. Students also consider their own place, engagement, and responsibilities as participants in the unfolding narratives of America within a global context.

Learn through a wide array of courses.

Interdisciplinary in its goal, the program draws from a wide range of courses in the arts, humanities, and social sciences in order to help students develop the ability to read America, in all its manifestations, as a rich and dynamic cultural artifact.

A man addresses an audience in a well-lit room, engaging them with his speech and gestures.

American Studies Conference

Each year, the American Studies program hosts a conference featuring scholarly and multimedia presentations by Fairfield University students on timely themes in U.S. history. Past topics have included "Democracy and Citizenship" and "The History of Protest," among others. The conference concludes with a keynote address from a distinguished scholar, with past speakers including Professor David R. Roediger and Professor Matthew Jacobson.

Find Out More

Course Requirements

American Studies Major

30 credits

American Studies Minor

15 credits

Contact Us

Undergraduate Admission
admis@fairfield.edu
(203) 254-4100

All of my professors have proven to be incredible sources of knowledge. They challenge me to ask broader questions and are supportive of my academic interests. Because American Studies is an interdisciplinary major, the faculty members represent a variety of different fields. Yet they all hold a common interest in making sure my studies are truly interdisciplinary, and that I am utilizing other aspects of my learning both in and out of the classroom. The faculty push you - the questions they ask are meant to prompt the student to ask their own.

Olivia McEvoy, '19

Learning Objectives

Engage

Engage the idea of America by framing questions for research and inquiry.

Synthesize

Distinguish, summarize, and synthesize the idea of America through the intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, legal status, environment, and class.

Analyze

Critically analyze and interpret cultural artifacts using interdisciplinary theories, methodologies, and discipline-specific knowledge.

Evaluate

Construct oral arguments and generate debate to evaluate the processes that shape and reshape America and its identities.

Write

Write informed, critical essays and larger research papers.

Examine

Examine and interpret students’ places, engagement, and responsibilities in the unfolding narratives of America, within a global context.

Produce

Produce a final culminating project appropriate to the undergraduate and graduate curricula.

Resources for Student Success

As students proceed through their academic journey, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Office of Career and Professional Development offers advising, counseling, programming, and experiential opportunities to help students discover their strengths, explore career paths, and build essential skills needed to succeed in their professional career.

Learn More

Fairfield supports the scholarly success and intellectual growth of our students by providing various resources on campus including the Science Center, Writing Center, DiMenna-Nyselius Library, and more.

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Get Started at Fairfield

Get In Touch

  • 1073 North Benson Road
    Fairfield, CT 06824

  • (203) 254-4000

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60 minutes
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