What Can I Do With a Major in... American Studies

A major in American Studies focuses on American culture and society from the both past and present. In addition to developing a background in arts, customs, and the general everyday experience or an American, social and institutional processes are also a close focus for American Studies majors. Public sector jobs, government agencies, or publicly-supported institutions, often seek to employ American Studies students and graduates as interpreters, explaining an agency's or institution's function, projects, activities, or history to the public.  The strong background in American Studies prepares students for many career options.

Possible careers options for American Studies majors include: anthropology, archaeology, historian, and sociologist.  Additionally, American Studies prepares students for the option of postgraduate work in law and education.  In fact many American Studies undergraduates go on to peruse graduate and PhD degrees.

General Career Information
 
Sample Job Titles

Entry Level

  • Advocate
  • Field Organizer
  • Foreign Service Officer
  • State Governement Worker

Education Plus Experience

  • Citizen Outreach Director
  • Faculty Member
  • Non-profit Foundation Manager

Show All Job Titles

These job titles are not an exhaustive list, but rather, represent the types of positions most widely recruited for.

  • Advocate
  • Arts Education Coordinator
  • Assistant Director of Education
  • Attorney
  • Case Worker
  • Children's Film Festival Organizer
  • Citizen Outreach Director
  • Communications Department Associate
  • Community Organizer
  • Director of Youth Ministries
  • Editorial Assistant
  • Facilities Coordinator
  • Faculty Member
  • Field Organizer
  • Foreign Service Officer
  • Historical Preservationist
  • Journalist
  • Museum Curator
  • Non-profit Foundation Manager
  • Olympic Committee Intern
  • Police Officer
  • Precinct Organizer
  • Public Service Worker
  • Research Assistant
  • Research Associate
  • State Government Worker
  • Teacher
  • Veterans Service Representative
 
Employment Areas
  • Federal, State and local government
  • Educational Organizations
  • Business, Industry & Labor
  • Social Service Organizations
 
Job and Internship Listings
Professional Organizations
 
Organizations That Have Hired UI Students and Alumni
  • ALL NET
  • The University of Iowa American Studies Department

This is only a partial list - to view a complete list of organizations that recruit UI students and alumni, please visit: www.careers.uiowa.edu/students/uirecruit.html

 
Additional Resources
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