Catalog Navigator : Master of Arts in American Studies

The master of arts (M.A.) degree in American studies requires the successful completion of 30 credits of work. Master's degree candidates are expected to complete 24 credits of coursework, including 6 credits in two core courses and at least 12 credits in one interdisciplinary area. Students in the general track have the option of completing their final 6 credits either preparing a master's thesis or taking two additional elective courses. Students in the public humanities track complete a 3-credit internship and a 6-credit capstone.

The Interdisciplinary Areas of Focus in American Studies at Rutgers University-Newark

Race, Ethnicity, and Modern Society

Urban Cultures

Cultural History and Artistic Production

The United States within a Global Context

The Operations of Social Institutions

Women's and Gender Studies

Master's Program Graduation Requirements

Core courses in the Theory and Methodology of American Studies:

Concepts and Interpretations of American Studies (3 credits)

Methodological Approaches to American Studies (3 credits)

One course in public humanities, chosen in consultation with the program director (3 credits)

Major interdisciplinary area (12 credits)

Elective work in other disciplines or interdisciplinary fields (6 credits)

Thesis option: (6 credits) or an additional 6 credits in electives.

All students would begin with the Intro to American Studies seminar to orient them in the theory, history, and method of the field in the fall semester. That spring, they would choose a public history, public humanities, or digital humanities course. (6 credits)

They would also take two courses in nonprofit management (budgeting, grantwriting, intro to nonprofits, marketing). (6 credits)

With the guidance of the program, each student would complete an internship at a cultural, history or humanities organization (3 credits). At the end of their internship, they would produce a strategic analysis of an aspect of that institutionżs work and present it to them.

While students pursuing the traditional track would write a thesis or take an exam, the public humanities students would complete a capstone project to add to their portfolios. (6 credits)

Three electives would allow students to design their own concentration in consultation with the director or associate director. Elective courses could be content focused (i.e., modern U.S. history, historic preservation) or methodology focused (oral history, digital humanities). (9 credits)

Procedures and Policies for American Studies Master's Program

A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be transferred from another institution toward the completion of the M.A. degree. Acceptance of these credits will be at the discretion of the program director in consultation with the Graduate School-Newark and will depend on the field of the student's master's degree, the appropriateness to American studies of specific courses taken, and the rules of the Graduate School.

With the advance approval of the program director, the student's academic adviser, and the course instructors, up to three upper-level Rutgers University-Newark undergraduate courses at the 300 or 400 level may be counted toward the completion of the M.A. degree. No more than one undergraduate course may be taken per semester. To receive graduate credit, the student must have been assigned and successfully completed significant additional work in the undergraduate course.

With the approval of the program director and the student's academic adviser, up to six credits in directed readings may be counted toward the completion of the M.A. degree.

Notwithstanding the above options, at least five courses (15 credits) must be taken as master's seminars.

Students choosing the thesis option must signal their intention and identify a thesis adviser no later than after having completed 18 credits.

Upon admission to the master's program, each student will be assigned an academic adviser from the American studies faculty. Students are free to change advisers at the end of their first year. Every year, however, students must submit to the program director a form identifying their adviser.