The Department of American Studies at Saint Louis University is committed to excellence and originality in research, teaching and service. Our Ph.D. program combines the rigors of training in theory and methods with the development of skills in critical analysis, writing and research design. At the same time, we provide flexibility in our curriculum for students to pursue their own focused interests, and to connect their work with scholarly communities and public institutions. Finally, we maintain a strong commitment to the sound, ethical and broad professional development of every graduate student that comes through our department. Faculty and graduate students work toward these goals by building strong mentoring relationships by establishing dynamic and innovative classroom experiences, and by disseminating research through conferences, workshops, exhibits and publications. Our award-winning faculty members are trained specifically in the discipline, most have earned a Ph.D. in American studies, all have worked extensively in the field as scholars and teachers. Our time and effort as teaching faculty are focused on American studies students. At the same time, we enjoy productive and cordial relations with our colleagues in other departments who teach and conduct research in related fields, and students may take carefully selected courses in those departments, as students in other departments do in American studies.