American Studies

University of California, Berkeley

Overview

The interdisciplinary American Studies program takes as its subject the cultures that have developed in what is now the United States, understanding "American culture" as the interplay of material practices and the realm of ideas. It considers technology, economy, urbanism, and ecology, as well as literature, the arts, and political and geographic history. American Studies takes a particular interest in cultural hybridity, cultural layering, and American culture exported abroad.

The goal of the Interdisciplinary American Studies program is to utilize the enormous and varied resources of the institution to teach students how to ask and answer scholarly questions; to formulate and undertake a focused interdisciplinary course of study; and to design and execute a substantial integrative research project. In doing this, we build upon several generations of scholars across disciplines who have advocated the critical study of race, class, gender, sexuality, and mass culture, as well as the examination of America as part of an increasingly globalized world.

Undergraduate Program

American Studies: BA, Minor

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Courses

American Studies

Contact Information

American Studies Program

265 Evans Hall

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Program Director

Mark Brilliant, PhD

Phone: 510-642-2118

mbrill@berkeley.edu

Associate Director and Faculty Advisor

Kathleen Moran, PhD

241 Evans Hall

kmoran@berkeley.edu

Faculty Advisor

Christine Palmer, PhD

253 Evans Hall

clpalmer@berkeley.edu

Faculty Advisor

Michael Cohen, PhD (Department of African American Studies)

241 Evans Hall

mmcohen@berkeley.edu

Student Academic Advisor/Administrative Office

Laura Spautz, MPH

amerstd@berkeley.edu

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