Key information
- Duration: Full-time, 108 months
- Start dates & application deadlines: Starting September 2027; apply before December 2026
Overview
Research and teaching in the Department of American Studies at the University of Maryland focus on two intellectual themes: the cultures of everyday life, and cultural constructions of identity and difference. These themes drive our examinations of multiple cultures within the U.S., across the Americas, and transnationally.
They also embrace numerous cultural studies approaches, including material and visual culture, ethnography and life history, popular culture and media studies, queer studies, studies of the body and sexualities, gender studies, food studies, digital cultures, critical race studies, and cultural landscapes and geography.
Features
The Department benefits from a large and diverse affiliate faculty, strong relationships with cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian museums, and ready access to many other museums in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, government agencies, archives and historical societies, and multiple local communities.
Programme Structure
Courses include:
- Theories and History in American Studies
- Decorative Arts in American Civilization
- Methods of Cultural Analysis
- Critical Theory and Literary Criticism
- Historiography
- American History
- Advanced Feminist Theory
Admission requirements
Academic requirements
GRE (General Test): Required
English requirements
TOEFL iBT: 96
General requirements
- Many admitted students have previously majored in American Studies, History, English, Ethnic Studies, Women's Studies, Anthropology, Art or Architectural History, Journalism, and Communications.
- However, applicants with broad backgrounds in arts and humanities and/or the behavioral and social sciences are also given serious consideration if interdisciplinary, American Studies-related subject matter or theories have been emphasized.
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcript(s)
- TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)
- Letters of Recommendation (3)
- CV/Resume
- Writing Samples (1 required, up to 2 more optional)
- Description of Research/Work Experience
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (optional)
Tuition Fees
- International (Non-residents): 13,348 AUD / year (approximately 9,390 USD / year)
- Out-of-State: 13,348 AUD / year (approximately 9,390 USD / year)
- Domestic (In-State): 6,240 AUD / year (approximately 4,390 USD / year)
Living costs
College Park, United States: 2,382-4,034 AUD / month. The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.