At Saint Anselm College, American Studies majors choose their own courses from a variety of departments across campus. You will examine the people, the politics, and the culture of the United States from many different angles, and you will pursue your own research topic. The department also has opportunities for you to work with faculty on various research projects, and we encourage our students to do internships. (link to internship page here)
The skills you will develop as an American Studies major are in demand by employers. Graduates enjoy success in many different areas, including law and business, and the major prepares students for graduate school.
See the American Studies Major in the College Catalogue.
Alumni Spotlight
Katherine (Katie) Muzzy started at Saint Anselm College as a politics major, excited about the opportunities that the New Hampshire Institute of Politics could provide. However, on the first day of freshman orientation she switched her major to American Studies. She explains that the SAC Passages trip that allowed her to explore the history and culture of Gettysburg inspired her to change her major.
After graduation, Katie entered law school at the University of New Hampshire, where she received a Warren Rudman Fellowship that financially supports her desire to serve others. Katie is now a police attorney for the Nashua Police Department. She works with witnesses, defendants, judges, and other attorneys to prepare for trials and hearings. She says the interdisciplinary nature of the American Studies major helped to prepare her for this position.
"I chose law school because I want to help survivors of domestic and sexual violence. I don't yet know exactly what type of law career I will have, but I'm excited to take advantage of every opportunity I can while at UNH Law."
- Katherine Muzzy
Foundational Skills
- Learn to read critically, think analytically, argue cogently, and write clearly.
- Master different types of writing assignments (e.g., book reviews, film critiques, annotated bibliographies, essays, journals, and research papers).
Disciplinary Skills
- Understand and explain why and how American culture developed as it did and what influences shaped the nation’s identity.
- Identify the ways in which race, gender, social class, and religious identity produced the American society that we live in now.
- Understand the different disciplines included in American Studies and explain how those disciplines differ from one another and what each contributes to the knowledge of American identity.
- Demonstrate an ability to use the analytic tools of the various disciplines included in American Studies.
- Demonstrate an ability to view the American experience as a whole rather than through the lens of one discipline.