Department of American Studies

Whether you are interested in writing, history, advanced education, working in the non-profit sector, or just want to become more familiar with the culture and background of American society, you will find yourself at home in the Department of American Studies.

Undergraduate

Graduate

Recent News

Picture of suspected serial killer Jeffrey L. Dahmer is escorted out court

Racism and homophobia enabled Jeffrey Dahmer’s crimes

"What many depictions miss is that LGBTQ communities of color were easy prey for Dahmer due to histories of police violence and indifference," PhD alumnus Kidiocus King…

Large mural featuring a woman with a serious expression on her face. She has brown skin and a long black braid. She is nursing a baby and holding a hand out palm forward. She is surrounded by other Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Around them are sunflowers and other plants.

Announcing Graduate Admissions for a Critical Latinx Studies Cohort for Fall 2023

The PhD program in the Department of American Studies is building a Critical Latinx Studies Cohort for admission starting Fall 2023.

University of Minnesota professor Brenda Child sits for a portrait inside the Kling Public Media Center on Monday, June 4, 2018.

Brenda Child Discusses Pope's Apology to Indigenous Communities in Canada

Professor Brenda Child discusses Pope Francis' meeting with Indigenous communities in Canada MPR's Minnesota Now.

Re-Encountering California: Aaron Alvarado Finds a New Home at the University of Minnesota

Postdoctoral researcher Aaron Alvarado studies universities to understand how they connect with our communities, land, and culture.

The History of Native American Boarding Schools Is Even More Complicated than a New Report Reveals

TIME talks to Professor Brenda Child about the history of Native American Boarding Schools.