American Studies Department
Explore American Studies
FLEXIBILITY: Students can tailor the major to their particular areas of interest, drawing from a wide range of course offerings in the arts, literature, social sciences, and history. The major is equally suitable for students who want to teach elementary school or high school social studies, who want to go to law school, who want to work in the corporate world, who want to work in law enforcement, or who want to go on to graduate school. Internship opportunities abound, and the department supports those students who want to study abroad.
RELEVANCE: The United States is the richest and the most powerful nation in the world and is deeply enmeshed in global political, economic, and cultural forces. American Studies explores both the development of American society and culture and the ways in which the world responds to the United States.
SUCCESS: American Studies majors regularly win top honors at the college. Since 2002, American Studies majors have been awarded the John A. Murray Award in History, the Mary Ann Davis Prize in English, The Deirdre McKiernan Hetzler Award in Women and Gender Studies, the Kate Gleason Award in Women and Gender Studies, the Ruth Ann Constantino Award for outstanding academic improvement, the Excellus Undergraduate Diversity Scholarship, and the St. John Fisher College Award for Childhood Education. Moreover, American Studies graduates have been accepted into top graduate and professional programs, and have found success in their chosen career paths.
The American Studies Major
- Helps students to understand multiple approaches to the study of American culture;
- Develops student ability to conduct research into various dimensions of American culture, and to communicate the results of their research;
- Prepares students for advanced study in American Studies and related fields, as well as careers in professions such as education, law, public administration, and business.
Career Opportunities
American Studies graduates can find careers in a wide range of fields that depend on knowledge of American culture as well as on the critical thinking and communication skills that are developed through the American Studies curriculum. Graduates often work in museums, government offices, or publishing houses; are employed as journalists, writers, or editors; become teachers; or embark on careers in law, medicine, business, or urban planning. American Studies graduates can also pursue a graduate degree in American Studies or in a variety of related disciplines, including those found in the three concentrations of the American Studies major.
American Studies is an excellent major for students interested in Adolescence Social Studies certification. For more information, please see the website for the Adolescence Education Department.
Peter Stoller '05
Communications Director for Greater Rochester Association of Realtors
I based my decision to go to Fisher because of its location, its size, and my desire to play on its football team. I spent my first two years taking classes that would fulfill my core requirements while providing me previews into different disciplines. I decided to double major in Political Science and American Studies. The Political Science courses that taught me about the structure and function of government were nice, but it was in the American Studies courses that I learned more about the people that make government decisions and why they make them.
Today I am the Director of Communications and Government Affairs for the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS®. My role is to coordinate the internal communications for our 2,800+ members. I also serve as the primary lobbyist for the organization, interacting with elected officials on the local, state and federal levels advocating for the preservation and protection of private property rights along with ensuring the business rights of real estate professionals.
My degree in American Studies at St. John Fisher has allowed me to excel in my career at a young age. My background in American Studies curriculum helps me to evaluate our membership and to determine what message to send and how to send it to assure that it reaches our targeted audience. American Studies also taught me how to establish a position on a particular issue and convey a consistent message while addressing alternative perspectives.