Plan Your Education
How to Apply
Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in appropriate courses
- Two letters of recommendation
- A writing sample demonstrating analytic ability in fields relevant to American Studies
Deadlines & Cost
Deadlines: March 1 (priority deadline; applications received by this date will receive preference for admissions review and allocation of available funding) and June 1 (final deadline) for fall; November 1 (priority deadline) or December 1 (final deadline) for spring.
Note: We will not be accepting applications for Fall 2025.
Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.
Estimate Your Program Cost: Get a feel for your expected program costs using the Graduate Program Cost Calculator.
Program Cost Information: For more detailed information on costs, please visit the Bursar's website or send an email to Bursar@umb.edu. Please refer to Graduate Student Financial Aid for more information on financial aid.
Curriculum
Core Courses (3 Credits)
All students are expected to complete the core course in American Studies.
- AMST 601 - Intro Amer Studies 3 Credit(s)
Electives (21 Credits)
Complete at least 2 graduate-level semester-long courses in American Studies.
Five additional courses are selected in consultation with the the faculty advisor and drawn from the American Studies Program as well as Africana Studies, Anthropology, Asian American Studies, Critical Ethnic and Community Studies, English, History, Latino Studies, Native American and Indigenous Studies, Political Science, Public Policy, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, or other related area, with permission of the Graduate Program Director.
Final Project (6 Credits)
Completion of a final project based on original research. The capstone may take a variety of forms, including a research paper, curriculum unit, thesis, or other format.
- AMST 688 - Final Project 3-6 Credit(s)
- AMST 691 - American Studies Summer Institute 3 Credit(s)
For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.
Graduation Criteria
Complete 30 credits from ten courses including 1 core course, 7 electives, 2 capstone project course.
Residency: Before enrollment in the program, students should consult with the graduate program director regarding transfer credits or UMass Boston undergraduate credits if these are intended to satisfy degree requirements. The program does not accept transfer credit for any of its required core courses; transfer courses may be applied to the program’s electives.
Capstone: Completion of a final project based on original research. The capstone may take a variety of forms, including a research paper, curriculum unit, thesis, or other format.
Statute of limitations: Five years.
Contact
Graduate Program Director Aaron Lecklider
aaron.lecklider [at] umb.edu
(617) 287-6771
Administrative Assistant Shauna Manning
shauna.manning [at] umb.edu
(617) 287-6776
American Studies Department
UMass Boston's Department of American Studies in the College of Liberal Arts cultivates an understanding of US social, political, and cultural movements; the place of empire within US history; the role of race, gender, class, sexuality, and empire in US culture and society; and the history, theories, and methods used to examine these areas.
Explore the Department of American StudiesMeet Our Faculty
The American Studies faculty is comprised of eight members. These nationally recognized faculty teach all core courses for the master’s program in American Studies. They each have a strong record of accomplishment that includes books published by top-tier academic publishers, articles published in scholarly journals and major publications, visibility as noted public intellectuals, and regular participation in national conferences. We welcome you to contact any of graduate faculty to find out more about their work and teaching or to discuss goals for the program.
American Studies faculty include:
- Holly Jackson, Interim Chair of American Studies, Associate Professor of English
- Aaron Lecklider, Graduate Program Director & Professor of American Studies
- Jeffrey Melnick, Professor of American Studies
- Marisol Negrón, Assistant Professor of American Studies & Latin@ Studies
- Rachel Rubin, Professor of American Studies
- Judith Smith, Professor Emerita of American Studies
- Lynnell Thomas, Associate Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence & Professor of American Studies
College of Liberal Arts
Learn more about the faculty, research, and programs that make up our College of Liberal Arts.
Explore College of Liberal Arts