American Studies at Georgetown University

The core American Studies curriculum explores the evolution of American society from European colony to the present with a special focus on the intellectual and cultural dimensions of the American experience. Students develop a course of study that integrates academic work in a range of disciplines, which can include history, literature,theology, political science, theater and performance studies,

fine arts, economics, philosophy, sociology, and anthropology. Founded in 1969, American Studies at Georgetown is among the oldest and most respected undergraduate American Studies programs in the country. The program strives to provide a personalized experience for its majors. The classroom curriculum is enriched by fall and spring semester field trips that coincide with the material covered in the core course sequence. Recent field trips include Mount Vernon, Carlyle House Historic Park, the Clara Barton House, Harper’s Ferry, Lincoln’s Summer Cottage, Antietam Battlefield, and Monocacy National Battlefield. Innovative approaches to teaching and learning, such as digital portfolios, digital museums, student-produced documentary films, performance, and blogs, are integrated into the curriculum. A senior thesis project is the capstone of the American Studies experience, allowing each student to explore in detail a topic of particular interest.