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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 non-profit
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 |
FBI/CIA
Agent |
Lobbyist |
| Archivist |
Foreign
Service Officer |
Market
Research Analyst |
| Attorney
|
Government
Agency Administrator |
Museum
Curator |
| Business
Manager |
Historian |
Non-profit
Administrator |
| Communications
Specialist |
Historic
Preservation Specialist |
Political
Scientist |
| Community
Action Specialist |
Historic
Site Administrator |
Politician |
| Community
Relations Director |
Historical
Society Staff |
Professor/Educator |
| Congressional
Aide |
Human
Resources Specialist |
Publications
Specialist |
| Consumer
Advocate |
International
Banker |
Public
Policy Specialist |
| Cultural
Affairs Specialist |
Int'l.
Relations Specialist |
Public
Relations Specialist |
| Customer
Relations Rep. |
Int'l.
Trade Specialist |
Public
Administrator |
| Diplomat
Economic Dev. Analyst |
Journalist |
Teacher
|
| Editor |
Legal
Assistant |
Television
Producer |
|
|
Writer/Author
|
Types of Employers
| Private
and Non-profit 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 |
Rutgers Graduates in American Studies
| Jobs
Obtained by 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., Senior 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
School Information |
| Columbia
University, PhD, Developmental Psychology |
Rutgers
University, JD, Law |
| Lehigh
University, PhD, American Studies |
University
of Georgia, PhD, College Student Affairs Administration |
| Rutgers
University, MA, Elementary Education |
|
Review more Rutgers
University college major handouts.
Explore the career
paths of RU
Alumni Career Network mentors.
Go to the Rutgers
Online Career Planning Site
to explore my interests, skills, and values:
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school students | Use the program for 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
Created
by the Rutgers University, New Brunswick Career Services staff
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Updated 9/20/05
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