The Master of Arts in American Studies at Stockton University offers an interdisciplinary way to explore American history, culture and society within national and global contexts. Students examine what it means to be American while considering how culture, identity, history and social change have shaped the United States and its relationships with the wider world.
Stockton’s 30-credit M.A. in American Studies brings together perspectives from history, literature, art history, political science, anthropology, sociology, communication studies and other fields. Students can pursue research and professional interests through graduate coursework, internships, independent study and thesis opportunities. A 15-credit Certificate in American Studies is also available for students seeking advanced study without completing the full master’s degree.
Turn Your Interests Into a Graduate Path
What makes Stockton University’s M.A. in American Studies interdisciplinary?
Stockton University’s M.A. in American Studies brings together history, literature, political science, sociology, anthropology, Africana studies, philosophy, art and other fields. Students explore how history, politics, culture and social change connect, while shaping research around their academic and professional interests.
What kinds of professional and research experiences are available to American Studies students?
Students can gain experience through internships, archival research, study tours and an optional master’s thesis. Opportunities may include working with museums, archives, galleries, historic sites and cultural organizations such as Stockton’s Special Collections and Archives, Art Gallery and South Jersey Culture and History Center.
What can you do with a master’s degree in American Studies?
Graduates have pursued careers in education, journalism, government, museums, archives, higher education and nonprofit organizations. Alumni have worked as museum curators, project directors, school administrators and government professionals. The degree can also prepare students for doctoral study in American Studies and related fields.
How flexible is the M.A. in American Studies curriculum?
The 30-credit M.A. includes two required courses and 24 credits of electives, giving students flexibility to focus on their interests. Options may include graduate seminars, internships, independent study, study tours and thesis research related to American history, culture, society and politics.
Is Stockton University’s American Studies program designed for working graduate students?
Courses are commonly offered in the evening, with many scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m., and may include in-person, online and hybrid formats. Students also benefit from faculty mentorship and a collaborative graduate community representing a range of humanities and social science backgrounds.
American Studies Certificate
The 15-credit Certificate in American Studies at Stockton University offers a flexible graduate option for students who want to deepen their understanding of American history, culture, politics and society without committing to the full 30-credit master’s degree.
Students study American life through an interdisciplinary lens that can include history, literature, political science, sociology, anthropology, art, communication and cultural studies. The program also considers the United States in broader regional and global contexts, including topics related to race, identity, migration, politics, the environment and cultural change.
The certificate includes two core courses, along with three electives. Elective options allow students to explore areas such as museum studies, archival studies, digital humanities, nonprofit management, American political thought, literature, civil rights, environmental studies and other topics in American culture and history.
The certificate can be a strong option for educators, museum and nonprofit professionals, government employees, cultural workers and others who want graduate-level training that supports research, writing, analysis and professional growth. It can also provide a foundation for students considering additional graduate study in American Studies or related humanities and social science fields.
Program Faculty
Donnetrice Allison
Thomas E. Kinsella
Daniel Moscovici
Admissions Criteria
Priority Consideration Date:
Fall: July 1
Spring: December 1
While graduate admissions selection committees review applications until the start of the semester (rolling admission), by applying prior to the Priority Consideration Date, you can ensure that your transition to Stockton is as smooth as possible.
Prerequisite Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
To be considered for admission to the Master of Arts in American Studies program, applicants must submit the following:
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Click here to start your application.
- If you are a recent Stockton graduate, check to see if you qualify for the Direct Entry Option.
- Application fee: $50 (non-refundable), submitted with your online application
- Graduate application essay
- Three current letters of recommendation written specifically for admission to the MAAS Program sent electronically via the online application (2 recommended from faculty)
- Testing requirements (waived for students with U.S. or Canadian undergraduate degrees
with a 3.0 or higher).
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE). School Code: 2889
- Miller Analogies Test (MAT). School Code: 1391
- Resume
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be sent directly
to the Office of Graduate Admissions electronically, by mail, or in-person. The Office
of Graduate Admissions will retrieve Stockton transcripts on your behalf.
By mail:
Office of Graduate Admissions, N-007a
101 Vera King Farris Drive
Galloway, NJ 08205-9441
Electronically:
gradschool@stockton.edu -
To review international applicant deadlines and admission criteria, please click here.
4+1 Dual Degree
4+1 Dual Degree Programs in AFRI, HIST, LITT, PHIL, POLS and SOAN
American Studies, as an interdisciplinary field, offers accelerated dual degree programs in Africana Studies, Historical Studies, Literature, Philosophy, Political Science and Sociology and Anthropology. Students majoring in these programs may earn their B.A. degree with a concentration in American Studies, then earn their M.A. degree in American Studies with one additional year of study. These intensive academic programs include all of the courses required within the program major as well as graduate-level courses in American Studies taken in the fourth year. Up to four graduate courses may be applied to the M.A. degree.
Students interested in these programs should consult with their preceptors and the American Studies chair. They should also consider taking GAH 2275 – Introduction to American Studies and/or other General Studies courses with American Studies topics or themes.
Eligibility Requirements: Students in qualifying programs may declare the concentration at any time.
To take graduate levels courses, students must have achieved:
- Minimum of 96 credits (senior year)
- Minimum of 20 credits in program major courses
- 3.2 GPA minimum in the program major
Frequently asked questions:
What is a 4+1 dual degree concentration?
4+1 dual degree concentrations are programs offered in AFRI, LITT, HIST, PHIL, POLS and SOAN that allow undergraduate majors to earn up to 12 credits during their senior year that count both toward their major B.A. degree and the M.A. degree in American Studies. The M.A. in American Studies is a 30-credit program. This means it is possible to complete the M.A. in one additional year of postgraduate study.
What are the benefits to students of a 4+1 dual degree concentration?
The MAAS 4+1 Dual Degree program provides students the opportunity to earn an advanced degree credential at a substantial cost savings. Undergraduate seniors can take advanced courses on interdisciplinary topics and approaches related to their areas of interest, broadening knowledge, strengthening skills, and fostering the values of integrative practice through American Studies. American Studies offers courses, independent studies, internships and thesis options, and works closely with numerous campus-based and regional organizations in areas of history, arts, culture, and politics.
What are the requirements to declare a dual degree concentration?
Students may declare the concentration at any time, which will be reflected in Degree Works; however, students may not take graduate-level (5000-level) courses until they have earned 96 or more credits (senior level) and maintained a 3.2 program GPA. Prior to earning 96 credits, students may elect, and are encouraged, to take GAH 2275 – Introduction to American Studies. Individual programs may also require satisfactory completion of certain core courses to matriculate into the dual degree concentration. Please see your B.A. program requirements for more information.
What courses for undergraduate dual degree students may be applied to the M.A. in American Studies?
Students may apply up to 12 credits (four courses) toward the M.A. in American Studies during their senior year through a combination of selected program-based capstone or thesis courses; one or more core graduate courses (AMST 5000 and AMST 5001); additional AMST 5000-level electives; or shared-space electives.
A shared-space elective is an advanced, upper-division course taught by MAAS program faculty and coded both as an undergraduate course and as an AMST 5000-level graduate course. Undergraduate and graduate students share the same classroom but are subject to different requirements.
What senior capstones or theses may be applied to the M.A. graduate degree?
Each undergraduate 4+1 Dual Degree concentration offers three credits applicable toward the M.A. with successful completion of the program’s capstone course and/or a thesis.
Qualifying courses are AFRI 4601 (Senior Seminar); HIST 4690/4691 (Methods/Thesis); LITT 4610 (Senior Seminar/Thesis); PHIL 4600 (Senior Seminar); POLS 4695 (Senior Seminar); and SOCY/ANTH 4685 (Senior Seminar).
Each undergraduate capstone is applied to the B.A. as a four-credit course and to the M.A. as a three-credit course. Undergraduate capstones and theses must be taught by an American Studies core faculty member to qualify for graduate credit in the MAAS program, unless otherwise approved by the MAAS chair.
What other graduate-level (5000-level) courses may be taken in senior year (96+ credits)?
Students enrolled in the dual degree concentration must take, during their senior year, one or both of the core required American Studies courses: AMST 5000 (Proseminar) and/or AMST 5001 (Research Methods in American Studies). Students may also take additional AMST 5000-level electives during their senior year concurrently with, or after completing, AMST 5000 (fall) or AMST 5001 (spring).
What are the costs of the dual degree concentration?
Undergraduate capstone and thesis courses are included in Stockton’s flat-rate tuition. Graduate-level, 5000-level courses taken as an undergraduate student are subject to a surcharge of $100 per credit, or $300 per course, which is a substantial savings compared to the graduate tuition rate for the same courses.
Is financial aid available in the fifth year of the dual degree concentration?
Besides university, state or federal aid or scholarship awards a student may acquire independently, the Master of Arts in American Studies (MAAS) also offers graduate assistantships (GAs) each semester to qualified students. These competitive awards typically constitute three credits in tuition remission (approximately $2,434) in exchange for assisting a MAAS faculty member on research or special projects.
For more information on financial aid and scholarships for Stockton graduate students, visit the Office of Financial Aid for Graduate Students.
Why can’t I register for courses in Banner on my own?
Students with fewer than 128 credits (i.e., undergraduates) cannot manually enroll in graduate courses. Dual degree students work closely with preceptors and the MAAS chair to register for 5000-level courses.
To apply for enrollment in a Dual Degree Program, contact your preceptor and the Master of Arts in American Studies Program Chair at John.O'Hara@stockton.edu.
Program Alumni
The American Studies Program prepared me for my career by allowing me to think outside of the box. It provided me with a toolbox of interdisciplinary approaches to my work and showed me the value in networking.
B.A. in Historical Studies & M.A. in American Studies
American Studies also gave me the confidence in my writing and research to succeed at jobs that required grant writing and talking with public officials.
M.A. in American Studies
The Paul Lyons Memorial Lecture Series
American Studies students at Stockton University can engage with leading regional, national and international scholars through the annual Paul Lyons Memorial Lecture Series. Designed for a broad audience, the series brings together perspectives from the humanities and social sciences to explore topics connected to American history, culture and society.
Professional Benefits
Stockton’s M.A. in American Studies combines interdisciplinary graduate study with opportunities to build research, writing, communication and professional skills. Students can connect their academic interests to real-world experiences through internships, independent study, archival research, exhibitions, conferences and thesis work.
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Advance in education and related professions. Graduate study can help teachers strengthen their professional qualifications while supporting career development in higher education and other fields.
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Build experience in public history and cultural organizations. Students have pursued work with museums, archives, libraries, galleries, nonprofits and historic sites, gaining experience in areas such as research, curation, preservation, exhibitions and program development.
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Prepare for a range of professional paths. American Studies graduates have moved into careers in government, journalism, museums, education, higher education, cultural organizations and nonprofit work.
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Continue to doctoral study. The M.A. provides advanced interdisciplinary research and academic preparation for Ph.D. programs in American Studies and related humanities and social science fields.
Apply today. If you have further questions you can Request More Information or call the Office of Graduate Admissions at (609) 626-3640 or E-mail gradschool@stockton.edu.
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