Overview

The Ph.D. program in American Studies at Pennsylvania State University emphasizes the interdisciplinary study of American society and culture, coursework and hands-on experiences provide students with the knowledge and analytical skills to thrive in teaching and administrative roles in colleges, universities, and high schools; governmental and public policy agencies; museums, cultural organizations, and archives; and communications venues.

Features

Areas of focus for coursework and research include history, politics, and cultural studies; literature and popular culture; folklore and ethnography; visual and material culture; regional and urban studies; and public history and museum studies. Intersections of these areas with historic and contemporary issues of race, gender and sexuality, ethnicity, and class are key components of the program.

American studies faculty members are active researchers who present their work to a wide variety of regional, national, and international scholarly and public venues and actively encourage their students to do so as well.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Problems in American Studies
U.S. Literature and Culture
Pivotal Books
Topics in Popular Culture
Topics in American Folklore
Material Culture and Folklife
Ethnography and Society
Ethnography of Technology and Media in the United States
Seminar in Public Heritage

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 96 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-04-01 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

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Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Middletown, United States

Disciplines

American and Australasian studies View 23 other PhDs in American and Australasian studies in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

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Other requirements

General requirements

Applicants for the Doctor of Philosophy in American Studies must hold a master's degree in American Studies, or a related field emphasizing American cultural scholarship and public heritage work.

Students are required to submit the following:

a completed Graduate School online application with the application fee;
official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended;
three letters of reference attesting to both academic and professional capabilities. (At least two of these letters should be from academic sources, such as professors or academic advisers);
a letter of 500 to 1000 words outlining significant scholarly and applied experience, career goals, commitment to American Studies as a field, and academic objectives;
a recent personal curriculum vitae;
a paper from a graduate course taken previously or publication demonstrating research and composition skills.

The GRE is recommended, but not required, for admission.

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

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Tuition Fee

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International

44996 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 44996 USD per year during 96 months.
National

44996 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 44996 USD per year during 96 months.
In-State

25456 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 25456 USD per year during 96 months.

Living costs for Middletown

1000 - 1500 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for American Studies.

Available Scholarships

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