Although there is a need to train people in specialized areas to deal with the complexities of modern life, many important problems associated with the origin, evolution, and destiny of our culture transcend the boundaries of traditional academic subject areas.  The American Studies Major is an interdepartmental program designed to allow students the opportunity to integrate studies in various fields into a broad understanding of American culture and its antecedents.

    The American Studies program allows students maximum freedom of choice in pursuing academic interests by providing options for an area of concentration and relevant courses from the offerings of other departments.  Areas of concentration include:  (1) American Institutions and Ideas, (2) American Art and Literature, (3) American Culture and Diversity, (4) American Folklore, (5) Nature and the Environment, and (6) Studies in the American West.

USU's American Studies Students

 Work with friendly and accessible faculty to design their own couse or study, drawing from a number of disciplines including English, History, Anthropology and other relevant fields.

Are eligible for teaching instructorships and overseas study opportunities, as well as internships or fellowships (that will help prepare students for museum work, publishing, and public folklore) with the following campus publications and institutions:  Western American Literature, the Western historical Quarterly, The Mountain West Center for Regional Studies, Museium of Anthropology, Fife Folklore Archives and annual Fife Conference Petroglyph, The American West Heritage Center, and Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Western Art.

Choose between the Standard American Studies program, the Folklore emphasis, or the Public Folklore emphasis.  Departmental strengths include western American studies and a renowned Folklore Department, which boasts the Fife Folklore Archives (one of the largest folklore archives in the US) and holds the annual Fife Folklore Conference.

Recent graduates have pursued Ph.D. programs in American studies, anthropology, English literature, history, and folklore at a variety of schools including the George Washington University, the University of Arizona, University of California--Berkeley, University of Oregon, and the University of Kansas.

Graduates have also received highly competitive jobs including positions at the National Museum of the American Indian, state parks agencies, state arts councils, state humanities councils, and cultural museums and living history centers.
 

For More Information Contact:

Or Write to:

Paul Crumbley, Acting Director of American Studies                                    pcrumbley@english.usu.edu; 435-797-3860                            Dr. Keith Grant-Davie, Director of Graduate Studies                        kgrant-davie@english.usu.edu; 435-797-3547                               Dr. Barre Toelken, Graduate Folklore Program                                           toelken@cc.usu.edu; 435-797-2728  Dr. Melody Graulich, Graduate American Studies Program    mgraulich@english.usu.eu  435-797-3855  Jana Kay Lunstad, Academic Advisor      jlunstad@english.usu.edu;  435-797-3856

American Studies  Department of English  Utah State University  3200 Old Main Hill  Logan, Utah  84322-3200

 

http://www.usu.edu/~folklo/gradinfo.html