Pathways through the major and minor

Pathways
Drawn by Associate Professor of American Studies Kirin Makker

 

The breadth of topics in American studies means that you can take courses in longtime passions or discover new endeavors, ultimately creating a pathway to inspire and create change. Below are some examples of pathways through the program and where they lead post-graduation. Click here to download the PDF version of Pathways.

ACTIVIST

Lorena Robelo-Lara ’21 and Lalaine Vergara ’21

Possible Careers: Politics, Law, Community Organizer

200 Level Courses to think about: AMST 222 American Empire, AMST 237 Environmental Justice in Indian County, AMST 205 Sexuality, Power, and the Environment, AMST 204 Bodies of Difference: Sexuality and Disability, AMST 223 Inequalities, AMST 270 Storytelling with Data

Common Questions Asked in this Pathway…

  • How does the judicial system, the political system, the education system organize oppression? How can we make these systems more just?
  • What pressing issues need addressing in your community, your institution, your nation, your globe?
  • How do values translate into action and policy change?

300 Level Courses to Think About: AMST 333 Other American Studies, AMST 312 Critical Space Theory and Practice, AMST 360 Debating Community: Controversies in the Public Humanities, AMST 332 Racial Regimes and Anti-Racist Struggles, AMST 302 Trans Feminisms

Complimentary Majors/Minors: Political Science, Sociology, Environmental Studies, Social Justice Studies, Women’s Studies, Critical Sexuality and Queer Studies

EDUCATOR

AMST Major Brandy Vargas ‘20

Possible Careers: K-12 Teacher, Youth Activist Librarian, Museum Education

200 Level Courses to think about: AMST 260 Critical Family History, AMST 223 Inequalities, AMST 270 Storytelling with Data, AMST 288 White Mythologies, AMST 204 Bodies of Difference: Sexuality and Disability

Common Questions Asked in this Pathway…

  • How can education be a mechanism of both empowerment and transformation?
  • How has the education system organized oppression?
  • How can we explicitly integrate discussions about power and difference into classroom curriculums?

300 Level Courses to Think About: AMST 301 Cultural Theory, AMST 351 Archives of American Literature, AMST 371 Civil War in American Memory, AMST 360 Debating Community: Controversies in the Public Humanities, AMST 332 Racial Regimes and Anti-Racist Struggles, AMST 302 Trans Feminisms

Complimentary Majors/Minors: Education, Religious Studies, English, History, Women’s Studies, Critical Sexuality and Queer Studies

STORYTELLER

AMST Major Rachel Meller ‘21

Possible Careers: Journalism, Marketing, Non-Profit, Curator, Museum Programming

200 Level Courses to think about: AMST 202 Drawing for Study and Storytelling, AMST 206 American Through Russian Eyes, AMST 261 Popular Fiction, AMST 270 Storytelling with Data

Common Questions Asked in this Pathway…

  • How do I identify stories that need telling?
  • What are the challenges to making a story legible?
  • How do we tell stories of resistance and transformation?

300 Level Courses to Think About: AMST 301 Cultural Theory, AMST 333 Other American Studies, AMST 330 Digital Humanities, AMST 315 Archives of American Literature, AMST 352 Alienation and Intimacy

Complimentary Majors/Minors: Writing and Rhetoric, English, Media and Society, Art History, History

BUILDER

AMST Minor Mackenzie Barrall ‘22

Possible Careers: Environmental Planner, Urban Planner Preservationist, City Manager

200 Level Courses to think about: AMST 202 Drawing for Study and Storytelling, AMST 205 Sexuality, Power, and the Environment, AMST 270 Storytelling with Data

Common Questions Asked in this Pathway…

  • How do cities develop to be green, socially sustainable, and environmentally just?
  • How does power and difference play out in the built environment?
  • What cultures and communities are important to preserve from the past?

300 Level Courses to Think About: AMST 312 Critical Space Theory and Practice, AMST 360 Debating Community: Controversies in the Public Humanities, AMST 332 Racial Regimes and Anti-Racist Struggles

Complimentary Majors/Minors: Architecture, Urban Studies, Sociology, Environmental Studies

 

CREATOR

AMST Minor Grace Hammett ’20

Possible Careers: Advertising, Museums, Public Arts

200 Level Courses to think about: AMST 215 Music and Race in US Popular Culture, AMST 221 Immigrant Arts, AMST 250 Chicana Feminism and Visual Culture, AMST 261 Popular Fiction

Common Questions Asked in this Pathway…

  • How can art be a force for social transformation and change?
  • Who gets to be an artist? Who gets to call themselves an artist?
  • How do we make art accessible?

300 Level Courses to Think About: AMST 301 Cultural Theory, AMST 333 Other American Studies, AMST 330 Digital Humanities, AMST 360 Debating Community: Controversies in the Public Humanities

Complimentary Majors/Minors: Media and Society, Art History, Music, Women’s Studies, Studio Art

PROBLEM SOLVER

AMST Major Benjamin Greiner ’18

Possible Careers: Social Entrepreneur, Non-Profit management, Law

200 Level Courses to think about: AMST 270 Storytelling with Data, AMST 223 Inequalities, AMST 204 Bodies of Difference: Sexuality and Disability, AMST 288 White Mythologies

Common Questions Asked in this Pathway…

  • Who needs to be at the table to solve complex problems? What voices, what expertise, what forms of knowledge and experience?
  • How can interdisciplinary thinking help solve problems?
  • What models for collaboration and participatory work yield the most innovative solutions to today’s problems?

300 Level Courses to Think About: AMST 333 Other American Studies, AMST 312 Critical Space Theory and Practice, AMST 360 Debating Community: Controversies in the Public Humanities

Complimentary Majors/Minors: Economics, Entrepreneurial Studies, Sociology, Critical Sexuality and Queer Studies

Sampling of Graduate Schools

Lewis & Clark College
MF Norwegian School of TheologyNational University of Ireland Galway
New York University Leonard Stem School of Business
Quinnipiac University School of Law
Syracuse University College of Law
Touro College
Tufts University
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies
University of Rochester Simon Business School
Wilkes University

Sampling of Companies that employ our graduates

Abyrx
Aurora Basketball
Caldwell College
Expert Institute
Fingerlakes1.com
Finsbury Glover Herring
Hofstra University
HSBC – North America
Hunter College
IHS Markit
Jupiter Medical Center
Lafarge North America
Long Island University
Marsh USA, Inc.
Merkley + Partners
Nationwide
Oaktree Capital Mangement, L.P
Peace Corps
Planned Parenthood of Greater New York
Proctor Elementary School
Sikorsky Aircraft Div.
Success Academy
Tours Temparts
United States Army
U.S. Business Leadership Network
The Veritas Law Firm
Yelp