American Studies

Stephen Brauer, Coordinator (English)
Professors Browder, Dorsey, Herrera, Jackson Sow, Oware, Tilton, and Winiarski
Associate Professors Diaz, Love, and Sackley, 
Assistant Professors Fernandez and Payne
Director of the Digital Scholarship Lab Nelson

As a discipline, American Studies focuses on the complexity of the social, cultural, and political lives in – and in relation to – the United States. In doing this work, American Studies research can include multiple methodological approaches and theoretical lenses as scholars engage in the process of analyzing how Americans have defined such key concepts as individualism, community, nation, empire, identity, and citizenship in the past and in the present day.

At the University of Richmond, our approach to American Studies combines coursework from a variety of departments into a single major as we encourage students to craft a distinctive program of study that meets their intellectual interests.

The major consists of nine courses, including a topical survey open primarily to first-year students and sophomores (AMST 201), and a junior-senior seminar that joins theory and practice in a capstone project (AMST 301). Our program emphasizes the importance of understanding American culture and history through both “local” and “global” contexts, requiring students to investigate the American experience through a course centered on community studies and community-based learning (AMST 381) and also through coursework that challenges them to recognize the multidirectional flows of peoples, ideas, and goods across political and geographical borders (AMST 391). 

A core group of American Studies faculty specialize in American history, politics, literature, media, religion, anthropology, sociology, music, dance, and theater.  Majors work closely with program faculty to determine a specialized course of study for the remaining five electives, two of which must be taken at the 300 level or higher.

The discipline of American studies increasingly emphasizes explorations of U.S. culture and society in relation to international politics, the global economy, and population migrations. For this reason, students who study abroad are strongly encouraged to pursue coursework related to their American studies majors.

In addition to completing the standard requirements for the major, qualified students may elect to write an honors thesis (AMST 401) during the spring semester of their senior year. Theses are written under the supervision of a sponsoring faculty member and require the prior approval of a formal prospectus submitted to the American studies advisory board before November 15.

Students interested in learning more about the American studies major are encouraged to contact the program coordinator for more information.