Department of American Studies
Introduction
The Department of American Studies is one of the oldest interdisciplinary programs at UNC–Chapel Hill, with roots in the study of folklore and the American South going back to the 1920s. A formal program in American studies was established in 1968. In the past two decades, the department has developed strengths in sub-fields within American studies including American Indian and Indigenous studies and Southern studies. The Department of American Studies has a tradition of vigorous teaching and an innovative curriculum that offers stimulating opportunities to study the diversity and influence of American peoples, institutions, expressions, performances, and places. The department’s commitment to interdisciplinary approaches empowers students to value the nation’s complexity by engaging with a variety of historical, literary, artistic, political, social, cultural, legal, racial, ethnic, and ethnographic perspectives within and beyond the United States. American studies majors graduate with a comprehension of the dynamics of American cultures that prepares them to make a responsible and critical difference in the variety of professions they choose to pursue.
Advising
All majors and minors have a primary academic advisor from the Academic Advising Program. Students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with their advisor and review their Tar Heel Tracker each semester. The department’s director of undergraduate studies works with current and prospective majors and minors by appointment. Further information on courses, opportunities, and honors theses may be obtained from the department’s website.
Graduate School and Career Opportunities
American studies builds a solid basis for a variety of career choices, including public service, business, law, teaching, museum curation, and journalism. It is an excellent liberal arts major that prepares students for graduate and professional school study in fields such as American history and literature. After receiving the baccalaureate degree, American studies majors have been accepted in law and business schools, which are interested in students with a critical, interdisciplinary undergraduate education. Additionally, students have designed pathways that have prepared them for graduate school in anthropology, communication, journalism, music, and folklore, as well as for planning careers in museum curation, public arts presentation, and music production.
Majors
- American Studies Major, B.A.
- American Studies Major, B.A.–American Indian and Indigenous Studies Concentration
Minors
Graduate Programs
- Ph.D. in American Studies
- M.A. in Folklore
- Graduate Minor in American Studies
- Graduate Minor in Folklore
Courses
Professors
Daniel Cobb, Amanda Cobb-Greetham, Elizabeth Engelhardt, Sharon Holland, Blair Kelley, Timothy Marr.
Associate Professors
Gabrielle Berlinger1, Seth Kotch, Michelle Robinson, Patricia Sawin1.
Assistant Professors
Kelly Alexander, Ben Bridges, Amanda Martinez, Soham Patel, Antonia Randolph.
Adjunct Professors
Daniel Anderson (English and Comparative Literature), Fitzhugh Brundage (History), Maggie Cao (Art History), Claude Clegg (African, African American, and Diaspora Studies; History), Kathleen DuVal (History), Philip Gura (English and Comparative Literature), Glenn D. Hinson (Anthropology)1, Heidi Kim (English and Comparative Literature), Jocelyn Neal (Music)1, Michael Palm (Communication), Eliza Richards (English and Comparative Literature), Jane Thrailkill (English and Comparative Literature), Timothy Tyson (Center for Documentary Studies at Duke), Ariana Vigil (Women’s and Gender Studies).
1 Core members of the Folklore program
Affiliated Faculty
Anna Agba-Davies (Anthropology), María DeGuzmán (English and Comparative Literature), Candace Epp-Robertson (English and Comparative Literature), Rebecka Rutledge Fisher (English and Comparative Literature), Juliane Hammer (Religion), Jillian Hindterliter (Women's and Gender Studies), Danielle Hiraldo (Director, American Indian Center), Jordynn Jack (English and Comparative Literature), Martin Johnson (English and Comparative Literature), Scott Kirsch (Geography), Valerie Lambert (Anthropology), Hasan Melehy (Romance Studies), Danielle Purifoy (Geography), John Sweet (History), Lindsey Taillie (Nutrition), Matthew Taylor (English and Comparative Literature), Katherine Turk (History), Benjamin Waterhouse (History), Harry Watson (History), Molly Worthen (History).
Professors Emeriti
Robert Allen, Marcie Cohen Ferris, William Ferris, Peter Filene, John Kasson, Joy Kasson, Daniel W. Patterson, Theda Perdue, Rachel Willis.
