American Studies (AMST)
Graduate Degree Program
College: Arts and Humanities
Abstract
American Studies offers an interdisciplinary program of study leading to the Masters of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Research and teaching in the Department focus on two intellectual themes: the cultures of everyday life, and cultural constructions of identity and difference. These themes drive our examinations of multiple cultures within the U.S., across the Americas, and transnationally. They also embrace numerous cultural studies approaches, including material and visual culture, ethnography and life history, popular culture and media studies, queer studies, studies of the body and sexualities, gender studies, food studies, digital cultures, critical race studies, and cultural landscapes and geography. Students develop expertise in multiple methodologies and take courses in many departments across the University. The Department benefits from a large and diverse affiliate faculty, strong relationships with cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian museums, and ready access to many other museums in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, government agencies, archives and historical societies, and multiple local communities. Students may also take advantage of graduate certificate programs for which our courses apply, including Museum Scholarship and Material Culture, Critical Theory, Historic Preservation, and Women’s Studies. The program in U.S. Latina/o Studies is contained within the Department, and we have a leadership role in developing Native American Studies.
Financial Assistance
A limited number of teaching assistantships are available in addition to graduate fellowships. Students who hold assistantships typically teach two sections undergraduate AMST courses.
Contact
Additional information on program offerings, degree requirements, and financial aid can be obtained on the department’s Web site (http://www.amst.umd.edu) and by writing to out contact address.
Department of American Studies
1328 Tawes Hall
7751 Alumni Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.1354
Fax: 301.314.9453
Email: amst-dgs@umd.edu
Website: http://www.amst.umd.edu
Courses: AMST
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcript(s)
- TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
- Letters of Recommendation (3)
- CV/Resume
- Writing Samples (1 required, up to 2 more optional))
- Description of Research/Work Experience
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (optional)
Many admitted students have previously majored in American Studies, History, English, Ethnic Studies, Women’s Studies, Anthropology, Art or Architectural History, Journalism, and Communications. However, applicants with broad backgrounds in arts and humanities and/or the behavioral and social sciences are also given serious consideration if interdisciplinary, American Studies-related subject matter or theories have been emphasized. Application requirements for both M.A. and Ph.D. programs include:
International applicants must also submit TOEFL scores. Applicants who do not yet have M.A. degrees and who desire to obtain the Ph.D. degree at Maryland should apply directly to the Ph.D. program.
For more admissions information or to apply to the program, please visit our Graduate School website.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| Type of Applicant | Fall Deadline |
|---|---|
| Domestic Applicants | |
| US Citizens and Permanent Residents | December 17, 2024 |
| International Applicants | |
| F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A,E,G,H,I and L visas and immigrants | December 17, 2024 |
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Program Website: amst.umd.edu
Application Process: gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/application-process/step-step-guide-applying
The Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas offer extraordinary research facilities for the study of past and present Americans$rsquo; experiences and culture, including the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the Smithsonian’s many institutions, the National Park Service, the Maryland Historical Society, and the Walters Art Museum and National Gallery, and other cultural institutions. The National Archives II, National Trust Library and Library of American Broadcasting are all located on the College Park campus. There are also numerous local and regional-focused museums, collections, archives, libraries, and "think tanks" that can support students’ interests in issues and topics related to identity and difference and the cultures of everyday lfe. Through consortia arrangements with universities in the area, including George Washington University and Georgetown University, students may augment their programs with courses otherwise unavailable at the University of Maryland.
| Last Name | First/Middle Name | Graduate Faculty Status | Academic Credentials | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balachandran | Arun | Special | B.A., University of Kerala, 2011; MSc., Madras School of Economics, 2013; Ph.D., University of Groningen, 2020 | Affiliate Professor, American Studies Postdoctoral Fellow, Sociology |
| Barkley Brown | Elsa | Full Member | B.A.,DePauw University, 1972; Ph.D., Kent State University, 1994. | Associate Professor, History Associate Professor, Women's Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Bolles | Augusta Lynn | Full Member | A.B., Syracuse University, 1971; M.A., Rutgers University-New Brunswick, 1978; Ph.D., 1981. | Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Brower | Sidney | Full Member | B.Arch., University of Capetown, 1953;M.C.P., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1964. | Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Bruce | La Marr Jurelle | Full Member | Assistant Professor, American Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, Women's Studies | |
| Caramello | Charles A. | Full Member | B.A. Wesleyan University, 1970; M.A. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1973; Ph.D. 1978. | Professor, English Language and Literature Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Caughey | John L. | Full Member | B.A.,Harvard University, 1963; M.A., University of Pennsylvania, 1967; Ph.D., 1970. | President Emeritus, American Studies |
| Chambers | Erve | Full Member | B.A., Western Washington University, 1969; M.A.,University of Oregon, 1972; Ph.D., 1973. | Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Dill | Bonnie Thornton | Full Member | B.A.,University of Rochester, 1965; M.A., New York University, 1970; Ph.D., New York University, 1979. | Professor, Women's Studies Affiliate Professor, American Studies Affiliate Professor, Sociology |
| Donawerth | Jane L. | Full Member | B.A., Miami University-Oxford, 1969; M.A.,University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1970; Ph.D., 1975. | Professor, Comparative Literature Professor Emerita, English Language and Literature Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Falk | William W. | Full Member | B.A., North Texas State University, 1969; M.A.,1970; Ph.D., Texas A&M University-College Station, 1975. | Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Farman | Jason | Full Member | B.A., Westmont College, 2000; M.A., Claremont Graduate University, 2002; Ph.D., University of California-Los Angeles, 2006. | Assistant Professor, American Studies Affiliate Professor, Women's Studies |
| Finkelstein | Barbara J. | Full Member | B.A., Barnard College, 1959;M.A., Columbia University-Teachers College, 1960; Ed.D., 1970. | Professor Emerita, Policy Studies Professor Emerita, Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership Affiliate Professor, American Studies Affiliate Professor, Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership |
| Freidenberg | Judith N. | Full Member | Ph.D., City University of New York, 1978 ; M.A. University of Buenos Aires, 1969 | Professor Emerita, Anthropology Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Gilbert | James B. | Full Member | B.A., Carleton College, 1961; M.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1963; Ph.D., 1966. | Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Gournay | Isabelle J. | Full Member | M.A., Yale University, 1981;M.Ph., 1982; Ph.D., 1989. | Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Guerrero | Perla | Full Member | B.A., University of Central Arkansas, 2003; M.A., University of Southern California, 2007; Ph.D., University of Southern California, 2010. | Assistant Professor, American Studies |
| Hallett | Judith P. | Full Member | A.B., Wellesley College, 1966; A.M.,Harvard University, 1967; Ph.D., 1971. | Affiliate Professor, American Studies Affiliate Professor, Comparative Literature |
| Hanhardt | Christina Benes | Full Member | B.A., Brown University, 1994; M.A., San Francisco State University, 1998; Ph.D., New York University, 2007. | Associate Professor, American Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, Women's Studies |
| Harley | Sharon | Full Member | B.A., Saint Mary of the Woods College, 1970; M.A.,Antioch College, 1971; Ph.D., Howard University, 1981. | Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, Women's Studies |
| Harrison | Regina | Full Member | B.S., University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 1965; M.A., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, 1973; Ph.D., 1979. | Professor Emerita, Spanish Language and Literature Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Hurtt | Steven W. | Full Member | A.B., Princeton University, 1963;M.F.A., 1965; M.Arch., Cornell University, 1967. | Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Kelly | Franklin W. | Full Member | B.A., University of North Carolina, 1974; M.A., Williams College, 1979; Ph.D., University of Delaware, 1985. | Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Kelly | R. Gordon | Full Member | B.A., DePauw University, 1961; M.A.,Claremont Graduate School, 1962; Ph.D., University of Iowa, 1970. | Professor, American Studies |
| Kim | Seung-Kyung | Full Member | B.A., Yonsei University-Seoul, 1977; M.A., City University of New York-Graduate School & Univ. Center, 1987; Ph.D., 1990. | Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Kirschenbaum | Matthew G. | Full Member | B.A., SUNY Albany, 1992; M.A., University of Virginia, 1994; Ph.D., 1999. | Distinguished University Professor, English Language and Literature Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, Information Management Affiliate Associate Professor, Information Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, Library and Information Science |
| Leone | Mark P. | Full Member | Ph.D. 1968 and M.A. 1965 University of Arizona; B.A. 1963 Tufts University | Professor, Anthropology Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Levine | Robert S. | Full Member | B.A., Columbia University, 1975; M.A.,Stanford University, 1977; Ph.D., 1981. | Distinguished University Professor, English Language and Literature Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Lindemann | Marilee | Full Member | B.A., Indiana University, 1981; M.A., Rutgers State University, 1983; Ph.D., 1991. | Associate Professor, English Language and Literature Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, Women's Studies |
| Marquez | Bayley | Full Member | n/a, American Studies Affiliate Assistant Professor, Women's Studies | |
| Mirabal | Nancy | Full Member | B.A. University of California-Berkeley; Ph.D. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | Associate Professor, American Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, Women's Studies |
| Muncy | Robyn L. | Full Member | B.A., Lindenwood College, 1977; M.A., University of Idaho, 1980; Ph.D.,Northwestern University, 1987 | Professor, History Affiliate Professor, Women's Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Nunes | Zita | Full Member | B.A., Brown University, 1983; M.A.,University of California-Berkeley, 1986; Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley 1994. | Associate Professor, Comparative Literature Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Padios | Jan | Full Member | B.A., Columbia University, 2001; M.A., New York University, 2005; Ph.D., New York University, 2012 | Assistant Professor, American Studies |
| Paoletti | Jo B. | Full Member | B.S., Syracuse University, 1971; M.S.,University of Rhode Island, 1976; Ph.D., University of Maryland-College Park,1980. | Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Parks | Sheri L. | Full Member | B.A., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 1978; M.A., University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 1983; Ph.D., 1985. | Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Pearson | Barry L. | Full Member | B.A., University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 1968; M.A.,Indiana University-Bloomington, 1970; Ph.D., Indiana University, 1977. | Professor, English Language and Literature Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Ray | Sangeeta | Full Member | B.A., University of Calcutta,1980; M.A., 1983; M.A., Miami University, 1987; Ph.D., University of Washington, 1990. | Professor, English Language and Literature Professor, Comparative Literature Affiliate Professor, American Studies Affiliate Professor, Women's Studies |
| Robertson | Carol E. | Full Member | B.A., Indiana University-Bloomington, 1970; M.A., 1972; Ph.D., 1975. | Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Rosenfelt | Deborah S. | Full Member | B.A., Goucher College, 1964; M.A., Columbia University, 1965; Ph.D., University of California-Los Angeles, 1972. | Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Rowland | Leslie S. | Full Member | B.A., Texas Christian University, 1968; M.A.,University of Rochester, 1970; Ph.D., 1991. | Associate Professor, History Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Shackel | Paul A. | Full Member | Ph.D. 1987 M.A. 1984 and B.A. 1981 State University of New York - Buffalo | Professor, Anthropology Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Shneiderman | Ben A. | Full Member | B.S.,City University of New York-City College, 1968; M.S.,State University of New York-Stony Brook, 1972; Ph.D., 1973; S.C.D., University of Guelph-Ontario, 1995. | Professor, Computer Science Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Sicilia | David B. | Full Member | B.A., Hofstra University, 1976; Ph.D., Brandeis University, 1991. | Associate Professor, History Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Sies | Mary C. | Full Member | A.B., Michigan State University, 1974; A.M.,University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 1977; Ph.D., 1987. | Associate Professor, American Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, Women's Studies |
| Simpson | Sally S. | Full Member | B.S., Oregon State University, 1976; M.A., Washington State University, 1978; Ph.D., University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 1985. | Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, Criminology and Criminal Justice Professor, Risk, Compliance, and the Law Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Struna | Nancy L. | Full Member | B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1972; M.A., University of Maryland-College Park, 1975; Ph.D., 1979. | Professor Emerita, American Studies |
| Sullivan | John B. (Jack) | Full Member | B.F.A., Ohio State University-Columbus, 1975; M.L.A., University of Virginia, 1980. | Associate Professor, Landscape Architecture Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Wang | Orrin | Full Member | B.A., Reed College, 1979; M.A.,University of Chicago, 1984; Ph.D., 1989. | Professor, English Language and Literature Professor, Comparative Literature Affiliate Professor, Women's Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, American Studies |
| Washington | Mary Helen | Full Member | B.A.,Notre Dame College, 1962; M.A., University of Detroit/Mercy, 1966; Ph.D.,1976. | Professor Emerita, English Language and Literature Affiliate Professor, American Studies |
| Williams-Forson | Psyche | Full Member | B.A., University of Virginia, 1987; M.A., University of Maryland, 1994; Ph. D., University of Maryland, 2002. | Chair, American Studies Affiliate Associate Professor, Women's Studies |
| Wong | Janelle | Full Member | B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, 1995; M.A., Yale University, 1998; Ph.D., Yale University, 2001 | Associate Professor, American Studies |