The 30-credit MA program provides advanced training in the interdisciplinary study of American history, culture, and society. Students gain a broad understanding of American Studies as an academic field, including its historiography, theories, and methods. They also acquire a general knowledge of U.S. history across periods and themes training in subfields of the students interest, and advanced skills in research. The interdisciplinary nature of the program allows freedom and flexibility to tailor the course of study to students own interests and goals while also grounding them in the field of American Studies.<br>In the core sequence and electives, students garner an understanding of American Studies both as a stand-alone field and an interdisciplinary nexus of varied approaches to scholarship, from history to anthropology to media studies. Students also gain perspective on the historical formation of American society and culture, from the conquest and colonial period to the present. By the completion of their coursework, students will have developed professional writing and research skills, plus expertise in a specific subfield or topic area.