American Studies Minor

The American studies minor at Saint Joseph’s University allows students from any major to focus their electives on the study of American history, literature, art, music, politics, ideas and institutions.

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What is the American Studies Minor?

The minor in American studies is an interdisciplinary program that provides a framework within which students can focus their electives and related courses on the study of American history, literature, art, politics, ideas and institutions. In the American studies program, you’ll study the rich diversity of historical and contemporary cultures in the United States. The coursework invites you to explore a broad range of sources, texts and media from the colonial era to the present in order to better understand aspects of culture ranging from art to zoos, religion to race, politics to class and language to literature.

What Can I Do with a Minor in American Studies?

American studies combines history, politics, literature and the arts to help prepare graduates for a wide range of careers in law, writing, history, political science, economics, fine arts, theology and more. Students have gone on to pursue a wide range of careers as the following:

  • Gallery/Museum curator
  • Historian
  • Writer
  • Lawyer
  • Political scientist

How will Saint Joseph's University Prepare Me for a Future Career?

By examining the United States from a variety of intellectual perspectives, you will develop a more nuanced understanding of the development and dynamics of American culture and a sophisticated, interdisciplinary approach to academic study. Your assignments will call on you to use a variety of tools, methods and perspectives, including the unique resources in the Philadelphia area. Through your coursework, you’ll come to better appreciate the political, economic, cultural and social complexity of the United States, including its many international influences and impacts.

How to Pursue American Studies at Saint Joseph's University

Minors must take a minimum of six courses, with at least one from each of the following groups: 1) history, 2) English 3) a general group that includes art, music, film, linguistics, philosophy, political science, sociology and religious studies.

Popular majors that are paired with the American studies minor include:

  • Economics
  • English
  • History
  • Fine arts
  • Political science
  • Sociology
  • Theology
  • Public policy
Course Catalog Information

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The political science major and minor at Saint Joseph’s University offers the opportunity to examine politics, government and the political process. This program is ideal for those interested in the study of power, behavior, compromise and relationships between political figures in a variety of different contexts.

English

An English degree from Saint Joseph’s University offers excellent training for a broad range of careers, from public relations to teaching to journalism and beyond. Employers continue to seek talented and articulate individuals who can analyze complex situations, and a degree in English will teach you how to write both creatively and persuasively.

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