Housed in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, American Studies at GW is one of the nation's most rigorous and innovative programs. With a core of 11 full-time and nine affiliated and associated faculty members, the program emphasizes interdisciplinary cultural analysis with approaches from anthropology, architectural history, art history, English, folklife, geography, media studies, history, performance studies, and political theory. The department’s particular strengths are in cultural history and cultural studies, art and culture, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, transnational American studies, urban studies of space and place, political and public cultures, and religion.
Students in the PhD program construct a comprehensive plan of study in three related fields tailored to their interests. These interdisciplinary fields highlight major problems in American studies and in related disciplines, such as art history, English, history, and political science. Students develop research agendas early in their studies through participation in seminars and workshops, often drawing on the rich resources of DC-based archives and research institutes. The department strongly supports the acquisition of foreign language skills.
Visit the program website for additional information.
Visit the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences website for application requirements.
Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Graduate Studies
The George Washington University
801 22nd Street NW, Phillips Hall 107
Washington DC 20052
For additional information about the admissions process visit the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Frequently Asked Questions page.
Contact for questions:
askccas@gwu.edu
202-994-6210 (phone)
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| AMST 6100 | Scope and Methods in American Studies | |
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Degree candidates must pass a general examination in three areas, to be taken over the course of one month, by the end of the third year from matriculation. The three fields are elected with approval of the advisory committee and should constitute a coherent, interdisciplinary program of study; one field may be devoted to the comparative study of a non-U.S. culture.
