American Studies
Department of American Studies
College of Arts and Sciences
1010 Clemens Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-4630
Phone: 716.645.2546
Fax: 716.645.5977
Web: cas.buffalo.edu/centers/cfta
Donald Grinde
Chair
About the Department
In the Center for the Americas, we seek to develop an understanding of American life in the context of world history, American and other cultural studies. We introduce students to the discourses pertaining to these broad areas where attention is paid to "internal" regional differences based on location. Included, too, is an examination of the differentiation, dialogue and debate between the various cultural studies and American studies disciplines. Through this interdisciplinary framework of "internal" political, economic, social and cultural configurations and global or "external" considerations, many questions are raised about identity, practices and media. One such question is - what is meant by “America” from within and outside the United States?
Also, one’s thinking might be challenged upon comparison of the indigenous nations and America’s views and beliefs of itself as a nation. The Indigenous Studies program at UB provides a perspective on indigenous American traditions, their unique cosmological vision, and their irreplaceable source of knowledge about social relationships and the natural environment. It should be noted that this program, developed largely by indigenous faculty, lecturers and students, seeks to contribute this vision to the larger university community.
In short, American Studies' aim is to assist students to employ analytical skills of cross-cultural, interdisciplinary and historical readings; to provide some theoretical reflections about the readings; and to put the results of their analysis into original essays.
Degrees Offered
Undergraduate: B.A., Minor
Graduate: M.A., Ph.D.
About Our Degrees
Acceptance Criteria
Minimum 2.0 GPA overall.
Minimum 2.5 GPA in AMS 107 Introduction to American Studies and two of the following:
AMS 162 New World Imaginations
APY 106 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
APY 108 Introduction to Archaeology
DMS 107 Film History I
DMS 108 Film History II
DMS 109 Introduction to Film Interpretation
HIS 161 United States History I
HIS 162 United States History II
PSC 101 Introduction to American Politics
SOC 201 Structure of American Society
WS 101 Introduction to Women’s Studies
WS 213 Women in Contemporary Society
Acceptance Information
Deadlines: Rolling
Degree Requirements
Please see the Undergraduate Catalog.
Minor
Complete at least six (6) AMS or other courses among those listed for the major (call 645-2546, ext. 1223 for the program listings), including at least three (3) at the 300-400 level.
Further, the six courses must be distributed among at least three of the six groups in the major list.
About Our Courses
The typical class size for:
Freshman/introductory courses is: 20-25
Sophomore/intermediate courses is: 15
Upper level/advanced courses is: 10-15
In the Center for the Americas, what do student teaching assistants (TA's) do?
Teaching assistants teach junior courses.
For course descriptions, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.
About Our Faculty
The faculty consists of internationally and nationally renowned scholars who have been awarded prestigious awards for advocacy work, writing various texts and articles, and teaching cross-cultural courses.
Two Indigenous faculty members have been presented awards for Best Historical Article of the Year and Indigenous Person of the Year for their outstanding contribution in journalism and community work. Dr. John Mohawk's book, Utopian Legacies, has been receiving good reviews by others in the field of Indigenous Studies, History and Globalization.
Special Academic Opportunities
Community Service Program
Community service is encouraged in the Center for the Americas. One project, called the Daybreak Farm and Food Project, continues to produce Iroquois white corn for economic, environmental, and health reasons.
Internships
In American Studies, internships are encouraged; in aulition, community-based research may be included into courses. The faculty and lecturers encourage internships.
Awards or Honors
Undergraduate students have received the College of Arts & Sciences Honors Award in previous years.
Extracurricular Activities
An Indigenous Undergraduate group exists and is open to all students who are interested in Indigenous cultures and events in the area. They hold several social events during each semester.
See the UB Student Association.
Complementary Programs and Courses
Majors that Complement American Studies
- Anthropology
- Art History
- Fine Arts
- History
- Media Study
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Women’s Studies
Minors that Complement American Studies
- Anthropology
- Art History
- Education
- History
- Media Study
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Women’s Studies
Career Information
American Studies seeks to understand the American experience as a whole and as a part of modern world history where one examines the diversity of cultures within the USA as well as the country's relationship with other nations. Theme areas of study at UB include Intercultural Studies, Native American Studies, Puerto Rican Studies and Women's Studies. American Studies graduates have pursued positions in diverse areas including admissions and employment counseling, community organizing, law, real estate, social program directing, teaching, curriculum designers, working in media and the arts.
Skills gained in this program:
- Interpreting policy
- Directing individuals to resources that can assist them
- Organizing community action, and collecting funds to support an action
- Analyzing policymaking processes, behaviors, and power struggles
- Dealing effectively with individuals or groups to obtain information, and using surveys and interview techniques for research
- Using mathematical methods to deal with data
- Writing clear and concise reports
- Predicting the impact of change on quality of life
- Supplying historical perspective with information on past experiences
- Recommending measures to deal with social problems
- Advising businesses/organizations on how to deal with bureaucratic systems
- Predicting how groups will react to new institutions or social changes/pressures
- Adapting approaches used in public relations, marketing, and politics to different populations
- Applying knowledge of human relationships to social services, such as crisis intervention
What percentage of graduates goes on to find related employment?
Approximately 50%
Graduates pursue the following careers:
- Administrator
- Affirmative action work
- Analyst
- Archivist
- Art critic
- Art historian
- Author
- Community organization director
- Consultant
- Counselor
- Ecologist
- Editor
- Educator
- Human service worker
- International affairs specialist
- Journalist
- Labor relations specialist
- Legal advisor
- Legal advocate
- Librarian
- Media worker
- Politician
- Project coordinator
- Public relations specialist
- Recruiter
- Social worker
- Travel industry worker
- Urban planner
Work Settings include:
- African-American studies
- Banks
- Business
- Colleges/universities
- Community organizations
- Consulting firms
- Government
- Human services
- Import/export firms
- Indigenous studies
- International agencies
- Large hospitals
- Law firms
- Legislative offices
- Public and private schools
- Public interest organizations
- Public relations
- Publishers
- Radio/TV/newspapers
- Scouting organizations
- Special libraries
- Travel agencies
- Unions
- Urban renewal
- Women’s studies
Career Hints
Employers are seeking candidates with experience and those who have developed their skills from that experience. Internships, part-time, summer employment, and/or further education can enhance a graduate's employability in their chosen career area.
Salary Information
Salaries range greatly from one occupation, position, and work setting to another. According to the April 1998 NACE national salary survey for bachelor's degree graduates, history graduates' salaries averaged $25,896.
What percentage of graduates goes on to graduate school?
Approximately 50%
Links to Further Information About This Program
- Undergraduate Catalog
- Undergraduate Admissions
- Graduate Admissions
- Center for the Americas
- College of Arts and Sciences