American Studies, M.A.

Program Overview

Saint Louis University's M.A. in American Studies provides a comprehensive understanding of the field's origins and practices, emphasizing independent research and effective communication. The program's faculty strengths include cultural studies, urban history, religion, and American empire, preparing graduates for careers in arts and cultural institutions, libraries, and public humanities. Students demonstrate their knowledge through a portfolio paper, thesis, and oral examination, achieving learning outcomes in contextual understanding, power dynamics, and scholarly contribution.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Saint Louis University's M.A. program in American studies provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the field's origins, development, practices, and theoretical framework. The program emphasizes independent research and academic writing skills.

Objectives:

The program aims to achieve the following learning outcomes:

Contextual Understanding:

Students will be able to explain the historical, political, geographic, literary, artistic, social, and intellectual contexts that shape American cultural practices, expressions, and ideas.

Assessment:

The program utilizes the following assessment methods:

• Portfolio Paper: A 20 to 30-page article or literature review, typically a revised and expanded seminar paper, demonstrating the student's extensive knowledge of their field.
It is developed in conjunction with a two-person faculty committee over the summer following the first year of the program and during the second year.
• Thesis: A more developed project with an original argument, typically 60 to 80 pages in length, based on extensive primary and secondary research.
It is developed in conjunction with a three-person faculty committee over the summer following the first year of the program and during the second year.
• Oral Examination: After the student's committee has approved the final version of the portfolio paper or thesis, there will be an oral examination before three faculty members.

Teaching:

• Faculty: The program boasts award-winning faculty trained specifically in American studies, with most holding Ph.D.s in the discipline.
They are dedicated to teaching and research in the field.
• Interdepartmental Collaboration: The faculty maintains productive relationships with colleagues in other departments, allowing students to take carefully selected courses in related fields.
• Faculty Strengths: The faculty has particular strengths in cultural studies, the studies of cities, regions, and place, American religion, American musics, American education, and the study of U.S. empire.

Careers:

The M.A. in American studies is a stand-alone degree useful for work in various fields, including:

• Arts and cultural institutions
• Libraries
• Museums
• Historical societies
• Public humanities
• Nonprofit agencies
Some students may also pursue the M.A. as a prelude to further degrees, such as a professional M.A. or doctorate.

Other:

• Graduate Handbook: The program has a dedicated Graduate Handbook.
• Faculty Research Interests: Current faculty research interests include the intersection between American religion and the carceral state, interracial intimacy, St. Louis's civil rights history, literature and regional identity, environmental humanities and indigenous studies, and late 20th-century popular culture.
• Continuation Standards: Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.