Welcome to the Wellesley College American Studies Department.

American Studies is based on the belief that more than one disciplinary approach is needed in order to grasp the full complexity of American culture and society. It thus seeks an interdisciplinary understanding of the American nation, its internal diversity and conflicts, and its place in the world. Since its establishment in the early twentieth century, American Studies has changed significantly. Its approaches now range from the traditional disciplines of literature, history, art history, sociology, religion, and music to the newer methodologies offered by film studies, queer studies, African-American and Asian-American studies. The field accordingly examines a broad and increasingly eclectic range of American cultural and social phenomena.