PhD Program

The PhD program offers professional training in interdisciplinary study of American history, culture, and society. In addition to a broad understanding of American Studies as an academic field, students gain expertise in their chosen fields of specialization that prepares them for careers in academia, public humanities, and other related professions. 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.

Most PhD students enter the program with an MA in American Studies or a related field such as anthropology, English, ethnic studies, history, media studies, or performance studies. Applicants with exceptional promise may be admitted straight into the PhD program without an MA.

The PhD program is in three main stages: coursework, Qualifying Exams, and dissertation. Through this training, students gain broad as well as specialized knowledge that enables them to teach a wide range of courses related to American society and culture; ability to design and execute original research projects; and writing skills to produce book-length work of publishable quality.

The doctoral training in American Studies is applicable to a range of fields and careers. The graduates of our PhD programs have landed academic and administrative positions in universities and colleges across the United States and around the world. Our graduates also work as archivists, curators, journalists, politicians, and writers.

The two graduate certificate programs housed in the department, Historic Preservation and Museum Studies, are designed so that students may concurrently pursue a PhD in American Studies and a graduate certificate in one or both of these fields.

PhD Curriculum Map

Courses & Research Requirements

	Coursework
Required courses	AMST 600, AMST 601, AMST 602 (9 credits)
Electives	6 AMST graduate courses (18 credits) 7 AMST or allied, including 400-level classes (21 credits)
Total Credits	16 classes, 48 credits
	Research
Qualifying Exams	One general and two specialized fields
Comprehensive Exam	Dissertation proposal defense
Dissertation	Book-length monograph based on original research that makes a substantive contribution to scholarship

Recommended Timeline

	First Year
Fall	AMST 600-601, 1 elective (9 credits)
Spring	AMST 602, 2 electives (9 credits)
	Second Year
Fall	AMST graduate courses or electives (9 credits)
Spring	AMST graduate courses or electives (9 credits)
	Third Year
Fall	AMST 699 (preparation for Qualifying exams); other electives as needed (9 credits)
Spring	AMST 699 (preparation for Qualifying exams); other electives as needed (3 credits) Qualifying Exams
	Fourth Year
Fall	Dissertation research, enrolled in CR/NC AMST 699 Comprehensive Exam
Spring	Dissertation research, enrolled in AMST 800
	Fifth Year
Fall	Dissertation research and writing (AMST 800)
Spring	Dissertation completion

* Note: Occasionally, a student may not be able to write the dissertation until the sixth year. In any event, however, students must endeavor to complete the degree within the university’s seven year time limit.

*Note that this represents an ideal dissertation completion timeline. In many cases, teaching assignments and research challenges can extend the dissertation writing stage into the sixth year. Students should endeavor to devise an academic plan that will allow them to complete their dissertation in no more than seven years, however.