History

American Studies at Georgetown University is an interdisciplinary major that encourages students to make connections across diverse fields of study. The core American Studies curriculum explores the evolution of American Society from European colonization to the present with a special focus on the intellectual and cultural dimensions of the American experience. Students develop a course of study that integrates academic work in a range of disciplines, which can include history, literature, theology, political science, theater and performance studies, the fine arts, economics, philosophy, sociology, science, social justice, and anthropology. 

Founded in 1969, Ameican Studies at Georgetown is amoung the oldest and most respected undergraduate American Studies programs in the country. American Studies is remarkable because of its beginning, the major became part of The College driven by a group of students and faculty who believed that there were important questions to be asked about the American experience, and that the interdisciplinary nature of the field would be benefical to students, and the University generally. The program strives to provide a personalized experience for its majors. The classroom curriculum is enriched by fall and spring semester field trips that coincide with the material covered in the core course sequence. Innovative approaches to teaching and learning are integrated into the curriculum. A senior thesis project is the capstone of the American Studies experience, allowing each student to explore in detail a topic of particular interest. 

The program has always fostered a close knit community with field trips, social gatherings, and lectures. A half-century  after its founding, American Studies at Georgetown University remains committed to challenging its students with a demanding curriculum that propels students into careers in a wide variety of fields, including law, jounralism, teaching, government, musueum curation, national security, new media and television, non-profit work, and business, amoung others, as well as preparing students for advancd study at the masters or doctoral level. 

The Jesuit Plantation Project

If you’re looking for information on the American Studies Jesuit Plantation Project, please do not hesitate to email amst@georgetown.edu for more information.