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American Studies

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Pursue American Studies at Fordham

About the American studies major

What makes America—with all its complexities, influence, and power—America? At Fordham, you’ll dive into the cultures, ideas, and institutions that make up the American experience. Study in small classes with faculty experts in diverse fields including African and African American studies, communications, history, philosophy, and music. Immerse yourself in the research, internship, and cultural opportunities NYC has to offer. And use your skills to make a difference where you’re needed most, from public service and civil rights advocacy to strategic roles at global brands and organizations.

Our graduates go on to …

  • prestigious fellowships
  • top graduate programs
  • careers in law, media, government, public service, and more

Visit the American studies department page

American Studies

American studies program profile

  • Rose Hill CampusMajor
    Rose Hill
  • Rose Hill CampusMinor
    Rose Hill
  • Lincoln Center CampusMajor
    Lincoln Center
  • Lincoln Center CampusMinor
    Lincoln Center

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Program at a glance

3

concentrations for American studies majors to choose from: cultural products, diversity and difference, and power, politics, and institutions

50+

affiliated faculty drawn from nearly a dozen departments across Fordham, including history, English, philosophy, political science, African and African American studies, Latin American and Latino studies, and more

90+

courses available to American studies students each semester

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areas of American life that every major explores: literature; art, music, theater, and media; religion and philosophy; and history and social science

50%+

of Fordham undergraduates study abroad in more than 50 countries across six continents, with American Studies majors at places like the University of Melbourne in Australia, Oxford and Cambridge Universities in England, and the University of Florence in Italy

Law, Education, Nonprofit, Government, and Business

industries where American studies graduates find jobs

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American Studies in Action

Portraits of two women students on the job

Learning Valuable Skills on the Job                    

Through Fordham’s Serving the City program, Cole Mullins landed a paid internship at NYC’s historic Dyckman Farmhouse, where he gained valuable experience in event planning and grant writing.

Fordham Ram Statue at Lincoln Center campus with Fulbright text

Landing a Fulbright in Hungary                    

American studies major Nadia Blouin was one of several Rams to earn a prestigious Fulbright scholarship to pursue research and teaching opportunities from Hungary to South Korea and beyond. Learn more about how Fordham prepares students for these “transformative opportunities” for cross-cultural exchange and service to others.

Sophia Maier, Reyna Stovall, and Ayelet Brinn, Ph.D. discuss Jewish history in the Bronx at a March 1 event. Photos by Dana Maxson.

Documenting Jewish History in the Bronx                    

See how Fordham student Sophia Maier turned a class assignment into the launchpad for Fordham’s groundbreaking Bronx Jewish History Project.

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American Studies Program FAQ

  • At Fordham, you can pair your interest in American studies with almost any of our 70+ majors and minors to graduate with a degree that helps you stand out in the job market. You’ll interact with areas of study as varied as African and African American studies, anthropology, art history, music, communications, English, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, and theology.

  • American studies students can customize their major to their interests by selecting from a wide range of courses that fall into three areas of concentration: cultural products, diversity and difference, and power, politics, and institutions. You might take New York City in Fiction, Ethics of Reality Television, or Social Welfare and Society.

  • Students gain a knowledge base and a skill set valuable for careers in law, academia, education, nonprofits, government, business, and many other fields. Recent grads have worked at places like the Museum of the City of New York, Hearst Media, and the Office of the Texas Attorney General.

  • With New York City as your college town, you’ll have unmatched access to fields like law, culture, government, communications, and more. Here are just a few of the places American studies majors have interned:

    • United Nations Headquarters
    • American Express
    • Metropolitan Transportation Authority 
    • Madison Square Garden

  • At Fordham, you’ll use AI as a tool to enhance your learning. Our program will equip you with the skills to navigate the ever-changing landscape of AI in the workforce. As an American studies major, you might conduct research into how AI has affected world governments and elections or arts and culture, preparing you for careers in AI policy, public service, or communications.

    You’ll also be able to earn credentials and paid micro-internships through IBM SkillsBuild’s Getting Started with AI course. All Fordham students and graduates have access to AI training through RamConnect, the University’s alumni and experiential learning platform.

    Above all, you’ll learn skills that can’t be replaced by AI, such as critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and integrity.

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