The general objective of the American Studies
graduate program is to provide advanced training in the interdisciplinary
analysis of American culture as a complex whole in the
past and present.
Major emphases in Cal State Fullerton's American Studies M.A.
Program:
• Our graduate program is grounded
in a thorough understanding of the concept of culture.
It emphasizes cultural pluralism, examining the creative
tension between unity and diversity in the American experience.
• It is self-consciously interdisciplinary,
requiring graduate students to integrate knowledge from
the humanities and
social
sciences.
• It emphasizes the process of historical
change, compelling students to trace the past sources
of contemporary
issues.
• It develops advanced research, writing
and analytical skills. Through course work, consultation
with faculty,
and writing
a thesis or comprehensive exam, graduate students
become familiar with the theories and methods of
American
culture studies.
Applying
to the M. A. Program
An applicant should hold or be about to receive a bachelor's
degree in American studies or a related field, with at
least a 3.0 GPA in undergraduate major courses. A candidate
with
a bachelor's degree from another field is welcome to apply,
but if admitted may be required to take one or more undergraduate
courses that will not count toward the master's degree.
At least two letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose
of around 500 words must accompany every application. Correspondence
or conversation with the Graduate Program Adviser before
application
is advisable. The Graduate Record Examination is not required.
Applications are accepted for admission
in fall semester only. All application material must
arrive by March
1. Applicants
will be notified by the American Studies Graduate Adviser
regarding their admission to the American Studies
Master's Program by
the end of March. Approximately 20 students are admitted
each year.
Eligible students may apply for the Margarete
Liebe Sekhon Graduate Scholarship, which awards $1,000 to a student accepted
for fall semester admission to the American Studies M.A. program.
Request further information or application material by e-mail:
psteinle@fullerton.edu. This is the e-mail address of Professor
Pamela Steinle, the Graduate Program Adviser.
Our Students: Backgrounds and Goals
Cal State Fullerton's American studies graduate students are
a diverse group, coming to study with us from a wide variety
of institutions and from regions well beyond Southern California.
While some were once our own undergraduates, many have arrived
from elsewhere. In recent years, for example, we have graduate
students from other CSU campuses, several campuses of the
UC system, various private colleges in California, Indiana
University,
North Carolina State University, S.U.N.Y. Fredonia, and Calvin
College, Cornell, Georgetown, and University of Wisconsin,
as well as from institutions in South America, Asia, and
Europe.
Our graduate program is certainly appropriate
for students whose eventual goal is a Ph.D. in American
studies
or a related field. Indeed, a significant proportion
of the roughly 75 students
presently enrolled in the master's program intend to
go on for a doctorate. We provide special advisement
and training
tailored to the goals of these students. In recent
years, our graduate students have been admitted to
Ph.D. programs at Boston
University, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA,
UC San Diego, University of Iowa, Michigan State,
Claremont Graduate
School, University of Kansas, University of Maryland,
University of Michigan, University of Southern California,
University
of Texas, University of Toronto and Washington State
University.
The department is also quite receptive to applications from
students with goals other than eventual doctoral study. Of
current students, several are high school teachers who desire
advanced training in their subject areas. People from a wide
range of other careers see our program as a means of enhancing
their job skills, while still others are enrolled regardless
of present or planned employment, simply for intellectual challenge
and fulfillment.
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