American Studies

Students in American studies engage in an interdisciplinary approach to American literature and culture.

Several core seminars on models, methods, and materials for interdisciplinary study, plus courses from other relevant disciplines, provide the groundwork for students to pursue theoretically informed, integrative research into their special interests.

Many courses offered through Hampshire's School of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies and School of Critical Social Inquiry encourage interdisciplinary approaches to the study of American history, politics, literature, and culture.

• Reimagining American Literature and Identity
• American Literary Landscapes
• American Strings: Old Time and Bluegrass
• American Voices, American Lives
• Border Matters: Mexico and the United States
• The Contested American Countryside
• Directing Contemporary American Drama
• Ecology of New England Old Growth Forests
• Introduction to American Studies
• The "Good War:" Interrogating the History of the Homefront During WWII
• Mapping Jewish-American Generations
• Media in a Time of War: WWII and U.S. Popular Culture
• One Nation Indivisible: Federal Indian Law, Tribal Sovereignty, and Individual Rights
• The Politics of the Second World War
• Southern History and Literature
• Southern Writers: A Sense of Place
• This Land is Your Land: Land and Property in America
• U.S. Labor History
• U.S. Literature Between the Wars
• U.S. Literature Since 1960
• Women's Bodies, Women's Lives: Biocultural
• Dialogues of Women's Health in America
• The American Dream (AC)
• Asian Pacific American Studies (AC)
• Globalization and Culture in the U.S. (SC)
• Methods in American Studies (SC)
• Seminar in American Orientalisms (MHC)

Requirements

• Common Application
• An academic paper in English
• Supplemental essay responses
• Current transcripts
• School report, including guidance counselor recommendation
• At least one letter of recommendation from a teacher
• Certification of Finances form
• TOEFL or IELTS score (Minimum TOEFL score of 91 or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. Predicted grades for IB English A1 or A2, or for A-level English, will also be considered.
• Additional letters of recommendation, up to three

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships

• MacArthur Foundation Grant Making Programs
• American Association of University Women
• Fulbright International Scholarship Program for non-US students

American Studies at Hampshire College offers a distinctive interdisciplinary curriculum that explores the diverse cultural, historical, political, and social aspects of the United States. The program emphasizes critical thinking, cultural analysis, and the development of a nuanced understanding of American identity and society. Students engage with a wide range of disciplines including history, literature, political science, sociology, anthropology, and art to study topics such as race, ethnicity, gender, class, and democracy. The curriculum encourages hands-on research, community engagement, and creative expression, enabling students to connect academic work with real-world issues. Hampshire College’s innovative educational approach promotes flexibility, allowing students to design personalized programs that reflect their interests and goals. The American Studies program typically involves close faculty mentorship, a focus on experiential learning, and opportunities for interdisciplinary projects. Graduates of the program often pursue careers in academia, public service, arts and media, community organizing, and cultural advocacy. The program’s structure emphasizes critical reading, writing, and speaking skills, fostering active citizenship and a deeper understanding of the American experience through diverse perspectives and voices. Hampshire College’s commitment to social justice and experiential education strongly influences the American Studies curriculum, providing students with the tools to analyze and address contemporary social issues.