American Studies Alumni

American Studies allowed me to explore my area of interest in a way that I couldn’t accomplish with any other major. There is incredible freedom to deeply explore the connections between disciplines. No one subject is truly isolated, and I love that American Studies gives me the opportunity to study the spaces in between. I love spending my free time watching and analyzing film and television with my friends, and getting into debates about them.

I love the flexibility of the program. The core classes provide a solid foundational background that is supplemented by my own concentration that I can tailor to suit my specific interests. Painting, drawing, and sculpting

love the freedom we have to form a concentration that is truly tailored to our interests. Running and Exercising

To me, the American Studies major captures the struggle to understand and create a "more perfect union." Directing theater

The interdisciplinary nature of the major, and the option to take courses in many different departments. I'm on the varsity rowing team, and love watching original HBO shows.

I love being an American Studies major because of the flexibility it has afforded me in pursuing a specific interest from many different disciplinary perspectives. I can take classes in history, law, politics, and literature, all of which allow for a holistic understanding of one central topic that I got to create myself! I am a lifelong equestrian and love trying all different disciplines and exploring new places on horseback.

Academically, I have always been particularly fascinated by history and religious studies, and I have recently fostered an interest in psychology. My father is a rabbi and I have been to Israel numerous times. I attend prayer services frequently, and take part in the various festivals and meaningful ritual practices that accord with religious observance. Freely expressing my Jewish identity serves as a constant reminder to count my blessings, and to express my gratitude for living in a land that allows peoples of eclectic backgrounds to take part in the pursuit of happiness. In large part, what makes America great is the freedom to strive, to grow, and to be independent. In America, I see the wisdom of myriad cultures building off of each other. American Studies allows me to continue to nurture my interest in history, religion, and psychology in the context of the country I hold so dear. The department gives me the tools and flexibility to study areas of natural curiosity. In exploring the American psychology, America's relationship to the rest of the world, America's place in history, and American experiences with faith, I am not only probing areas of interest, but coming more in touch with my own identity. Growing up in sunny open Denver, Colorado, I developed a passion for the outdoors. I spend my winter and summer breaks skiing, hiking, biking, and camp counseling to maximize my time with the people, I love in a setting that I adore. Judaism is central to my life. I attended a Jewish Day school from K-12 grade.

I love the flexibility and breadth of classes available to students in the department to design unique concentrations and courses of study. Only in American Studies can I grasp a solid understanding of US history and the evolving nature of American culture, while also studying current issues and trends that affect policy and society today. I have always been fascinated by the intersection of history and the current state of the world; American Studies provides me with the opportunity, resources and intellectual space to do so.
I am absolutely obsessed with skiing, my family, friends, dramatic TV shows, politics and yes, Harry Potter.

I love the ability to creatively personalize this major as well as its small community. Music

I like the inclusion of history most about the American studies major, especially when dealing with complex issues like healthcare, tracing the historical trajectory can be a useful tool. I enjoy playing soccer and listening to music.

American studies gives me the opportunity to combine my interests in history and literature, and the ability to study American history from a creative lens. I am a writer of nonfiction, and I love the way that the American studies program allows me to historicize and broaden the scope of personal essays and investigative pieces.

I love the interdisciplinary nature of American studies because it provides students with the flexibility to explore their various interests and expand their knowledge base. I enjoy landscape photography, camping, volleyball, peach green tea, and seafood.

Its flexibility allows me to explore a bunch of different subject areas while still retaining a sense of academic cohesion and interconnectedness. Evernote

The opportunity to examine the country that I grew up in is special, and I appreciate continually supplementing my understanding of what it means to be American. I also love that so many of the classes that sound fun to me on ExploreCourses always happen to end up being AmStud.

American Studies allows me to explore my interests in American history, literature, and politics and analyze how these different disciplines have interacted to form a multiplicity of ever-evolving American identities.

I like American Studies because of the interdisciplinary approach it takes to understand the United States—it showcases the diversity of my country. I am able to pursue my interests in art, theatre, and history and have the freedom to craft my own curriculum. Theatre, music making, singing, film watching

My favorite thing about the American Studies major is the flexibility it gives me to pursue my specific intellectual interests, as well as explore other curiosities. The diverse range of (fascinating!) classes I can take to fulfill my major is a huge perk, too. I'm involved with The Stanford Daily and KZSU News, as well as serve as a Writing Tutor at the Hume Center. As you can tell, I love journalism and writing!

I'm interested in all of the classes listed in the history, english, political science and communication departments and American Studies is the perfect major to allow me to explore all of my academic passions. I also want to go to law school so it allows me to get a lot of practice in reading and writing papers for lengths on end. I am the voice of Stanford women's basketball for KZSU and a sports editor/writer for The Stanford Daily. Outside of Stanford I love to waterski!