Career Opportunities for Majors in American Studies

Introduction

American Studies is an interdisciplinary major that examines American culture and society from the colonial era through the present. American Studies focus on the nature of the American character and American ideas and institutions. Students learn about what motivates Americans, how they think and how they live. Throughout their coursework students are encouraged to develop strong writing, speaking, and analytical skills.

American Studies as a major is versatile and helps develop skills useful anywhere. Graduates can pursue careers in a wide variety of areas, including business, education, government, and the Nonprofit sector. Many careers do not require a specific major, but are chosen on the basis of personal interests, skills, preferences, and ambitions. Regardless of your career plans, it is important to develop your marketability through internships, responsible work experience, good grades, and participation in campus activities.

A Sample of Related Occupations

Advertising Specialist	Foreign Service Officer	Museum Curator
Archivist	Government Agency Administrator	Nonprofit Administrator
Attorney	Historian	Political Scientist
Business Manager	Historic Preservation Specialist	Politician
Communications Specialist	Historic Site Administrator	Professor/Educator
Community Action Specialist	Historical Society Staff	Publications Specialist
Community Relations Director	Human Resources Specialist	Public Policy Specialist
Congressional Aide	Int'l. Banker	Public Relations Specialist
Consumer Advocate	Int'l. Relations Specialist	Public Administrator
Cultural Affairs Specialist	Int'l. Trade Specialist	Teacher
Customer Relations Rep.	Journalist	Television Producer
Diplomat Economic Dev. Analyst	Legal Assistant	Writer/Author
Editor	Lobbyist
FBI/CIA Agent	Market Research Analyst

Types of Employers

Private & Nonprofit Organizations
Advertising Agencies	Educational Institutions	Newspapers/Magazines
Airlines/Airports	Entertainment Firms	Polictical Organizations
American Friends Service	Foundations	Professional Associations
American Schools Abroad	Historic Sites/Historical Societies	Public Interest Groups
Archives	Hotels/Restaurants/Resorts	Public Relations Firms
Book/Magazine Publishers	Insurance Companies	Research Firms
Civic Organizations	Int'l. Exchange Programs	Retail Stores
Collection Agencies	Labor Unions	Social Service Agencies
Consulting Firms	Law Firms	Television/Radio Stations
Colleges & Universities	Libraries	Travel Agencies
Cultural Organizations	Museums	United Nations

Government Agencies
CIA/FBI	FBI/CIA	NJ Travel & Tourism Division
Civil Rights Commission	Federal/State Congressional Offices	Peace Corps/AmeriCorps
Consumer Affairs Office	Library of Congress	Smithsonian Institution
Department of Commerce	National Archives & Records Admin.	US Customs Service
Department of Justice	National Endowment for the Humanities	US Department of State
Department of State	National Park Service	US Information Agency
Drug Enforcement Administration	National Security Agency	Voice of America

Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates

Andreoni & Associates, Communications Consultant (MA Communications)	Merck & Co., Executive Assistant
Assoc. for Retarded Citizens, Dir. of Residential Services	Meticulous Productions, Independent Film Producer
Bayonne Board of Education, Elementary Teacher	National Park Service, Historian
Bloomberg L.P., Business Systems Analyst, (MLS)	New York Transit Museum, Associate Curator (MA Museum Studies)
Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, Admissions Associate	NJ Institute of Technology, Assistant Registrar
CBS Television, "Sixty Minutes" Producer	NJ Country Roads Magazine, Managing Editor
Charles Jones, LLC, Human Resources Generalist	Picture Framing Magazine, Editor
Credit Suisse First Boston, Editor	Prudential Financial, Security Operations Assoc.
DeBari Associates, Project Manager	Prudential Property & Casualty, Auto Adjuster
Democratic National Committee, Campaign Consultant	Rowan University, Professor of American History (PhD)
EDS, Information Analyst	Rutgers University, Admissions Counselor
General & Cologne Life Reinsurance Co., Sr. Underwriting Consultant	Salomon Smith Barney, Registered Sales Assistant
Graphic Research, Inc., Estimator/ Customer Service	Security Pacific Corp., Asst. VP/Product Manager
Hillsborough Township, City Planner	Sedgewick, Noble, Lowndes, Account Executive
Jane Saloman, Personal Injury Attorney (JD)	Smith Barney, Inc., Director
K. Hornanian, Inc., Community Administrator	Special Recognition Inc., Purchaser
Law Offices of Vaughn Booker, Paralegal	Supreme Court (New York), Justice (JD)
Lehigh Valley Magazine, Managing Editor, (MA Journalism)	The Art Institute of Philadelphia, Director of Student Financial Services
Liz Claiborne, VP Information Technology	U.S Diplomatic Service, Cultural Attache
Marple Newton School District, Teacher	U.S. Trust Company, Assistant Vice President
MBC, Copy Editor	Univ. of Michigan, Professor of American Studies (PhD)

Graduate Schools Attended

Columbia University, PhD, Developmental Psychology	Rutgers University, M.Ed., Elementary Education
Lehigh University, PhD, American Studies	Rutgers University, JD, Law
Pace University, JD, Law	University of Georgia, PhD, College Student Affairs Administration

Additionally, you may:

Explore the career paths of RU Alumni Career Network mentors.
Go to the Rutgers Online Career Planning Site to explore your interests, skills and values. Use the program for either: High School Students | College Students.
Explore Rutgers University academic department information related to this major.
See the Occupational Outlook Handbook for additional career information.
Pick up your "Career Opportunities" handouts at any New Brunswick Career Services office.

Employer questions? Contact recruiting@echo.rutgers.edu