American Studies (AMST)

Abstract

American Studies offers an interdisciplinary program of study leading to the Master of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Research and teaching in the Department focus on two principal intellectual themes: the cultures of everyday life, and cultural constructions of identity and difference. These themes recur across the Department's sub-areas of ethnography and life writing, literature and society, material culture and cultural landscapes, the body and sexuality, race and intersectionality, foodways, and popular culture and media studies. Coupled with the Department's commitment to cutting-edge information technologies, the themes are encouraging work in newer directions such as cyberculture, virtual ethnography, and virtual exhibitions. By combining courses in American Studies with study in other departments, students can tailor their graduate programs to individual interests and career goals. The Department has established networks of over seventy affiliate faculty members from across the campus; internship opportunities in area museums, archives, government agencies and historical societies; and courses at the Smithsonian Institution. The Department also encourages students to consider graduate certificate programs for which our courses apply: Historic Preservation, the joint University of Maryland/Smithsonian Institution program in Museum Scholarship and Material Culture, Critical Theory, and Women's Studies. After admission, students may obtain applications for these Graduate Certificate Programs directly from these units.

Admissions Information

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 American subject matter or cultural theory has been emphasized. Application requirements for both M.A. and Ph.D. programs include: 1) Graduate School application, 2) statement of purpose (including research interests), 3) three letters of recommendation, 4) official academic transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work, 5) GRE scores, 6) a writing sample, and 7) a resume or Curriculum Vitae. 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.

Application Deadlines

Fall

Spring

Domestic Applicants:
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

Domestic Applicant Deadlines

Applications must be received by December 15 .

This program does not accept applications for this semester.

International Applicants:
Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials

IMPORTANT: International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.

Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas

February 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1

June 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants

May 1
If Domestic Deadline is after May 1

October 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials

May 15
If Domestic Deadline is after May 15

October 31
If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Application Requirements

Graduate School application
Statement of purpose, including research interests
3 letters of recommendation
Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work
GRE scores
Writing sample
Resume or Curriculum Vitae

	Fall	Spring
Domestic Applicants: U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
Domestic Applicant Deadlines	Applications must be received by December 15 .	This program does not accept applications for this semester.

International Applicants: Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials IMPORTANT: International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.
Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas	February 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1	June 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants	May 1 If Domestic Deadline is after May 1	October 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials	May 15 If Domestic Deadline is after May 15	October 31 If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts (M.A.)
Students take a total of 30 credits of course work in American Studies and related disciplines and demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research by submitting an acceptable thesis or a scholarly paper in lieu of a thesis.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Ph. D. students complete at least 30 credit hours that are organized around two areas of specialization. Students must also pass three comprehensive examinations, and, after submitting a detailed prospectus, write and defend an interdisciplinary dissertation that answers significant questions about Americans' culture(s) and experiences, past or present.

Facilities and Special Resources

The Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas offer extraordinary research facilities for the study of past and present Americans' 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.

Financial Assistance

A limited number of teaching assistantships are available in addition to graduate fellowships. Students who hold assistantships typically teach two sections of AMST 201, Introduction to American Studies, or AMST 205, Material Aspects of American Life.

Contact Information

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:

Co-Directors of Graduate Studies
1102 Holzapfel Hall
MD 20742-5620
Telephone: (301) 405-1354
Fax: (301) 314-9453
amst-gradstudies@umd.edu

http://www.amst.umd.edu

Sheri Parks, Ph.D. Psyche Williams-Forson, Ph.D
MD 20740