American Studies, PhD

This is the first version of the 2023–24 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.

Learning Outcomes

Students must demonstrate:

  • comprehension of the history, values, and methods of interdisciplinary scholarship in the discipline of American studies, and (for sport studies subprogram students) this involves a knowledge of the current and foundational theory and methods in critical sport studies, as well as of the contributions to sport studies to American studies and vice-versa;
  • knowledge of the multiple forums that exist for the communication, implementation, and praxis of American studies scholarship in social and institutional contexts, especially where diversity, equity, and inclusion are guiding values;
  • ability to articulate one’s own values, intellectual commitments, and professional goals within and in relationship to the field;
  • proficiency in advanced research and scholarly writing skills in the field;
  • hands-on participation in university certificate programs, community-based projects and internships, or digital humanities projects, training in college teaching pedagogy where consistent with the student’s individual development plan;
  • proficiency at situating and interpreting American social and cultural materials historically, while grasping the diversity and distinctness of historical factors as economic, colonial, racializing, transnational, global, and/or linguistic;
  • proficiency and experience in communicating American studies scholarship publicly in at least three professional contexts including conference presentations and/or conference organizing; exhibitions/installations; editorial or curatorial work; invited talks; public engagement or public humanities project; publications; or digital humanities project;
  • proficiency in the conceptualization, communication, and organizational skills that are crucial to pedagogy at multiple levels of a university or college curriculum, and creation of a teaching portfolio;
  • knowledge of major movements and debates in critical theory and cultural studies, as well as the theoretical and methodological issues and debates in sport history (for sport studies subprogram students); and
  • understanding of how historical method, critical theory, and cultural studies concepts are utilized in critical sport studies scholarship, and identify sports studies’ place within and contributions to the wider study of culture and power (for sport studies subprogram students).