Master's and PhD Degrees
Washington State University offers the Master's degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in American Studies. We are the only Program in American Studies in the Northwest authorized to offer the PhD.
The program explores interdisciplinary analysis of the United States as a multiethnic, multiracial, multigendered, and multicultural society, shaped by transnational forces.
The program provides students the opportunity to choose an emphasis in ethnic studies, feminist studies, history, literature or another discipline, and an interdisciplinary specialization that crosses the borders of these fields.
We have particularly strong ties to the Department of Comparative Ethnic Studies (Chicano/a Latino/a, Native American Indian, Asian/Pacific American, African American), English, and Women's Studies.
We also have excellent, committed faculty in Anthropology, Communication, Digital Technology and Culture, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, and Teaching and Learning.In addition to taking our own American Studies courses, students are free to take graduate courses in these other departments, and to synthesize them into individualized programs of study.
We feature a portfolio of publishable papers, rather than an exam structure, and students have the option of electronic, creative, or traditional theses.
Among the innovative options in the program are theses or dissertatations done in multimedia electronic format. The electronic thesis can be used as a portfolio by students seeking to bridge the digital divide by working with grassroots community organizations, or by bringing new perspectives to mainstream multimedia publishing, or to show teaching competence in new technologies.
While most of our graduate students enter careers in university and college teaching, an American Studies advanced degree can also be utilized as a useful preparation for community activism, museum and archive work, traditional and electronic publishing, and government service, among other careers.
Our program has particular strengths in the critical analysis of popluar culture, comparative ethnic studies, feminist studies, environmental justice cultural studies, social movement analysis, and the cultural study of digital technologies.
Life is good at WSU.
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A unique richness of students, faculty, location, activities, and organizations creates a full, lively student life at the University. This section gives you the insider's view on student life and a sampling of the opportunities here.
"Glimpses." Students talk about life at WSU
These brief posts are written by WSU students to give you a personal look through their window on campus life.