American Studies

View the American Studies Department website

Resources, Strengths, Career Paths, Skills

Transferable Skills:Students of American Studies end their education with superior communication skills, a rare and highly valued commodity in today's job market. American Studies Majors also possess:

• Analytical and Critical abilities
• Rhetorical Skill
• A Deep Understanding of American Culture
• Extensive Technical and Analytical Writing Experience
• Didactic Skill
• Intermediate Knowledge of a Foreign Language

Career Paths:The Major in American Studies provides students with an optimal platform for entering a variety of fields. Students with a strong background in History are viewed favorably by varying fields such as medicine and law. Here are some fields an American Studies major may pursue:

• Journalism, Publishing, and Technical Writing
• Law
• Education (Elementary, Secondary, and Higher ed.)
• Advertising
• Public Relations
• Business / Industry
• Government / Public Policy

Resources & Professional Associations of Interest: Check out the following websites and consider joining at least one of the professional associations in your field of interest to boost your career and give you a competitive edge on the job market. These are just a few so don' t hesitate to do some research on your own!

• American Historical Association
• Art Museum Network
• Chronicle of Higher Education , Inside Higher Education - great sites for academics
• American Association of Museums
• Law School Admission Council - a necessary hit for all law school applicants
• American Association for State and Local History

Employers: The following companies and institutions have hired/accepted Stony Brook students of American Studies and/or History:

• Syracuse University
• Gallagher, Walker & Bianco
• New Jersey Dept. Of Environmental Protection
• NYC Dept. of Education
• NYC Public Advocate's Office
• The Office of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
• Senator Charles Schumer

Sample Job Titles:The following are some sample job titles that would be appropriate for a student who has majored in American Studies. This is in no way a complete list. If you're surprised at some of these titles, you shouldn't forget that a student who majors in American Studies gains skills that can be used in almost any industry!