{"id":8776,"date":"2026-02-09T15:55:58","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T20:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/?page_id=8776"},"modified":"2026-04-07T22:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T02:10:12","slug":"american-studies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/american-studies\/","title":{"rendered":"American Studies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Visit the full American Studies site<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What does it mean to be \u201can American?\u201d How does our understanding of American culture, and our relation to it, differ depending on historical context, social position, and the interpretive and ideological perspectives we bring to bear? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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American studies pursues these questions using a variety of interdisciplinary approaches, texts, performances, and material culture as points of departure for a wide-ranging exploration of American culture. By analyzing race, gender, sexuality, social class, disability, and other identities \u2014 and reflecting on their own connections to these topics \u2014 students examine what it means to belong, hold privilege, or face exclusion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Contact Us<\/h5>\n\t

Matt Von Vogt, Academic Administrative Assistant
\n4 Andrews Rd
\nPettengill Hall
\n Phone: 207-786-8296\n<\/span>mvonvogt@bates.edu<\/a><\/span><\/p>

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What You Will Learn<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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To analyze the production, circulation, and critical reception of material culture and the American identity<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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To consider the ways that performances in everyday life, such as cooking and dress, produce cultural meaning<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How to communicate effectively in writing and speech<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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To consider intersectionality as a tool of critical analysis<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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To examine the distributions of rights, privileges, and citizenship, and the allocation of economic resources<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How to foster ethical engagement in larger communities \u2014 local, national, and international<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Life After Bates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Program in American Studies prepares students for fulfilling careers in a variety of fields, including research and teaching; policy, advocacy, and community work; law; cultural organization and curating; and digitization and management. Graduates have attended law school and gone on to work in philanthropy or for major law firms; serve as administrators in both public community-based education and charter schools; and work in athletics, beauty, and the performing arts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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94%<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

of 2020-2024 Bates graduates are employed and\/or attending graduate school \u2014 settled into their next opportunity within 6 months of graduation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Selected Places of Employment\/Service<\/h6>\n\n\n\n