About

The American Studies Program at Georgetown University was begun in 1969, inspired by "founding father" Rev. Joseph Durkin, S.J., who taught American Civilization at the university through the 1960s. The program is Georgetown University's first and oldest interdisciplinary major.

The goal of the American Studies program is to analyze the social, historical, material, ideological and aesthetic aspects of American cultures, past and present. To enable students to grasp the cultural patterns of American societies while pursuing their own interests within that framework, the program in American Studies integrates knowledge from the fields of history, literature, political science, economics, philosophy, sociology, theology and the fine arts.

The program's interdisciplinary nature allows for ample opportunity for creative diversity, yet remains structured around four core American Civilization classes, a two-course history sequence and a Senior Thesis Seminar course in which students contribute to the growing field of American Studies.

With 25 Georgetown faculty members involved in the program and an average class size of approximately 20 students, the American Studies program offers an incredibly favorable ratio for students to receive individual attention from professors. This close-knit community is enhanced by field trips, social gatherings and lectures. More than 30 years after its founding, American Studies at Georgetown University remains committed to challenging its students with a demanding curriculum that propels students into careers in a wide variety of fields, including law, journalism, teaching, government, museum curation and business, among others, as well as preparing students for advanced study at the masters or doctoral level.