Introduction
American Studies is an interdisciplinary major that examines American culture and society from the colonial era through the present. American Studies focus on the nature of the American character and American ideas and institutions. Students learn about what motivates Americans, how they think and how they live. Throughout their coursework students are encouraged to develop strong writing, speaking, and analytical skills.
American Studies as a major is versatile and helps develop skills useful anywhere. Graduates can pursue careers in a wide variety of areas, including business, education, government, and the non-profit sector. Many careers do not require a specific major, but are chosen on the basis of personal interests, skills, preferences, and ambitions. Regardless of your career plans, it is important to develop your marketability through internships, responsible work experience, good grades, and participation in campus activities.
A Sample of Related Occupations
| Advertising Specialist | Foreign Service Officer | Museum Curator |
| Archivist | Government Agency Administrator | Non-profit Administrator |
| Attorney | Historian | Political Scientist |
| Business Manager | Historic Preservation Specialist | Politician |
| Communications Specialist | Historic Site Administrator | Professor/Educator |
| Community Action Specialist | Historical Society Staff | Publications Specialist |
| Community Relations Director | Human Resources Specialist | Public Policy Specialist |
| Congressional Aide | Int'l. Banker | Public Relations Specialist |
| Consumer Advocate | Int'l. Relations Specialist | Public Administrator |
| Cultural Affairs Specialist | Int'l. Trade Specialist | Teacher |
| Customer Relations Rep. | Journalist | Television Producer |
| Diplomat Economic Dev. Analyst | Legal Assistant | Writer/Author |
| Editor | Lobbyist | |
| FBI/CIA Agent | Market Research Analyst |
Types of Employers
| Private & Non-profit Organizations | ||
| Advertising Agencies | Educational Institutions | Newspapers/Magazines |
| Airlines/Airports | Entertainment Firms | Polictical Organizations |
| American Friends Service | Foundations | Professional Associations |
| American Schools Abroad | Historic Sites/Historical Societies | Public Interest Groups |
| Archives | Hotels/Restaurants/Resorts | Public Relations Firms |
| Book/Magazine Publishers | Insurance Companies | Research Firms |
| Civic Organizations | Int'l. Exchange Programs | Retail Stores |
| Collection Agencies | Labor Unions | Social Service Agencies |
| Consulting Firms | Law Firms | Television/Radio Stations |
| Colleges & Universities | Libraries | Travel Agencies |
| Cultural Organizations | Museums | United Nations |
| Government Agencies | ||
| CIA/FBI | FBI/CIA | NJ Travel & Tourism Division |
| Civil Rights Commission | Federal/State Congressional Offices | Peace Corps/AmeriCorps |
| Consumer Affairs Office | Library of Congress | Smithsonian Institution |
| Department of Commerce | National Archives & Records Admin. | US Customs Service |
| Department of Justice | National Endowment for the Humanities | US Department of State |
| Department of State | National Park Service | US Information Agency |
| Drug Enforcement Administration | National Security Agency | Voice of America |
Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates
| Andreoni & Associates, Communications Consultant (MA Communications) | Merck & Co., Executive Assistant |
| Assoc. for Retarded Citizens, Dir. of Residential Services | Meticulous Productions, Independent Film Producer |
| Bayonne Board of Education, Elementary Teacher | National Park Service, Historian |
| Bloomberg L.P., Business Systems Analyst, (MLS) | New York Transit Museum, Associate Curator (MA Museum Studies) |
| Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, Admissions Associate | NJ Institute of Technology, Assistant Registrar |
| CBS Television, "Sixty Minutes" Producer | NJ Country Roads Magazine, Managing Editor |
| Charles Jones, LLC, Human Resources Generalist | Picture Framing Magazine, Editor |
| Credit Suisse First Boston, Editor | Prudential Financial, Security Operations Assoc. |
| DeBari Associates, Project Manager | Prudential Property & Casualty, Auto Adjuster |
| Democratic National Committee, Campaign Consultant | Rowan University, Professor of American History (PhD) |
| EDS, Information Analyst | Rutgers University, Admissions Counselor |
| General & Cologne Life Reinsurance Co., Sr. Underwriting Consultant | Salomon Smith Barney, Registered Sales Assistant |
| Graphic Research, Inc., Estimator/ Customer Service | Security Pacific Corp., Asst. VP/Product Manager |
| Hillsborough Township, City Planner | Sedgewick, Noble, Lowndes, Account Executive |
| Jane Saloman, Personal Injury Attorney (JD) | Smith Barney, Inc., Director |
| K. Hornanian, Inc., Community Administrator | Special Recognition Inc., Purchaser |
| Law Offices of Vaughn Booker, Paralegal | Supreme Court (New York), Justice (JD) |
| Lehigh Valley Magazine, Managing Editor, (MA Journalism) | The Art Institute of Philadelphia, Director of Student Financial Services |
| Liz Claiborne, VP Information Technology | U.S Diplomatic Service, Cultural Attache |
| Marple Newton School District, Teacher | U.S. Trust Company, Assistant Vice President |
| MBC, Copy Editor | Univ. of Michigan, Professor of American Studies (PhD) |
Graduate Schools Attended
| Columbia University, PhD, Developmental Psychology | Rutgers University, M.Ed., Elementary Education |
| Lehigh University, PhD, American Studies | Rutgers University, JD, Law |
| Pace University, JD, Law | University of Georgia, PhD, College Student Affairs Administration |
Additionally, you may:
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Last Updated: 07/21/2009