Best for fun class: Politics and Film
Politics and Film, an American Studies course, tackles the intersection between filmmaking and dominant American political concepts like liberty, neoliberalism and individualism.
Department of American Studies
Creative thinkers,
historians and Researchers
Understanding the United States and its role in the world
Who We Are
The Department of American Studies at the George Washington University is committed to fostering a dynamic, interdisciplinary learning and research environment focused on understanding the culture, beliefs, policies, politics, urbanization and history of the United States and its role in the world.
Through a rigorous curriculum, we challenge our students to uncover fresh perspectives on how we live and engage with one another. Our long-standing ties with the Smithsonian Institution and other organizations within the nation’s capital further immerse students in unique experiences relating to historic preservation, museum curation, social politics and more. And our alumni have achieved success in a variety of fields, making their mark in virtually every sector of the economy.
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"I found American Studies refreshing. It wasn’t a sugar-coating of American history. I felt that it gave a more honest depiction, that it really told the story of people on the ground."
Talib Hudson
BA '04
Core Research Strengths
Our Highlights
Department Headlines
Luther Rice Fellow Maureen Rafter, an American Studies major, delves into the connections between Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen, exploring their journey to political unity.
Faculty Books
Model Schools in the Model City
Amber N. Wiley (PhD '11) chronicles how Black Washingtonians used public education as a means of racial uplift in the face of entrenched white supremacy.
Emily Dufton (PhD '14) explains how medication-assisted treatment gave way to poor care at high costs to an insufficient number of people.