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American Studies, BA

Location
  • New York City
Associated College
Dyson College of Arts and Sciences
Other Study Options
American Studies (Minor)
Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies (Minor)

AN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY OF AMERICAN CULTURE

The BA in American Studies is an interdisciplinary and individualized degree in the social and cultural analysis of the United States and its borderlands. Through coursework and independent projects, you will learn to exercise the freedom to develop your own areas of expertise and pursue answers to your own questions about American ideals and contradictions.

This self-directed, “do-it-yourself” major equips students with strong analytical and rhetorical skills, the ability to integrate knowledge about diverse fields and subjects, and the capacity for civic and community engagement that signifies leadership in a variety of professional fields not limited to: politics and government, economics, social work, education, journalism, business, psychology and counseling, law, digital and print media, non-profit work, theater, the arts, and activism.

View Curriculum

A DEGREE TAILORED TO YOU

  • Students choose from among three concentrations to engage a range of scholarly interests and prepare for a variety of careers. The Cultural Studies, Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies, or Law tracks allow you to customize your degree with courses selected from across the University.
  • The American Studies program connects you to a broad network of faculty and departments, making it easy to double major and to complete one or more minors, and it features personalized academic advising by the director of the program.
  • At Pace, learning extends beyond the classroom. Our dedicated professors are often working professionals who bring their expertise to Pace students. With the Big Apple as your backdrop, you can achieve anything.

TAKE COURSES LIKE…

Concentrations

Cultural Studies Concentration:
Students create their own interdisciplinary path through any or all of the following areas: American Arts, American Publics, and Transnational America.

Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies Concentration:
Students design an education that strengthens their antiracist analysis, appreciation of global cultural and ethnic diversity, and capacity to lead much-needed conversations about racial justice and social change.

Law Concentration:
Students choose coursework that prepares them with a multifaceted understanding of the law and its relationship to justice from the perspective of arts and culture, business and technology, and the social sciences—a unique preparation for law school and political work.

ADD OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES

The American Studies major provides an opportunity for motivated, independent thinkers seeking professional preparation for careers in a variety of fields to round out their studies with internships. Our students have gained real-world experience in the following areas:

Media (Publishing, Music, Journalism)

  • Bar/None Records
  • The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Veteran Immersion Program)
  • Penguin Group (Managing Editorial Intern)
  • Levine Greenberg Literary Agency (Reader and Editorial Intern)
  • Super Duper Records
  • The Fashion List
  • Warner Music Group

Government and Law

  • Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
  • Legislator Dave Mejia’s campaign office
  • Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom, LLP

Nonprofit Organizations

  • 34th Street Partnership and Bryant Park Corporation
  • Firefly Theater Works
  • Battery Park City Authority
  • DonorsChoose.org
  • National LGBTQ Task Force (NGLTF)

CHOOSE YOUR CAREER

WHERE GRADUATES ARE EMPLOYED

Full-time jobs secured by recent American Studies graduates include:

  • Development Assistant, Committee to Protect Journalists
  • Editorial Assistant, Oxford University Press
  • ESL Instructor, Kaplan International
  • Foreign Rights Manager, The Friedrich Agency
  • Legal Assistant, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP
  • Marketing Coordinator, Mediaocean Advertising