To think American studies is a stupid subject?

[firsttimeucaser]

DD's school (in year 12) have been encouraging students to decide what university course they want to apply for next year.

DD came home yesterday and said that she has decided she's going to apply for 'American studies'.

AIBU to think that this is a stupid subject? From what I have read about it, it seems like a course about American history/literature/politics, but wouldn't she just be better doing a general History//Politics degree and choosing modules to do with the USA if that's what she wants?

I suppose, as an employer myself, I think I would find it very odd if a British person with no American connections had a degree in 'American studies'. I can't see how it's very useful.

It seems to me like a course for teenagers with no particular passions who like American TV and shops.

If I was paying £9k per year I would want a degree which will increase my earning potential. I wouldn’t have thought this would be very good at that...

Why study it? To what end?

Very few people go into a field that directly relates to their degree. DH and I are both chartered accounts, i did a law degree and he did a science degree. It's about the skills you learn along the way

But you could have been a lawyer and he could have worked in science.

Twenty five years ago a lad in my halls did this degree - v successful lawyer now. It's an arts/social science degree like lots of others.

I did a literature degree at a Russell group uni, and did a few modules of the American studies course, I think it was southern literature, hip hop culture and an American politics one.

It was very interesting but I don't know if I could have done a full degree in it! Although one of my friends from the course is now doing very well indeed, working in events for Barnes and Noble in NYC.

It will be a study of all aspects related so will include history, art, literature, media and culture. Presumably it is geared toward something specific that your DD plans to do? Sociological studies perhaps?

Is it the course at the University of East Anglia? I thought that degree sounded fantastic.

As my DF had a long and distinguished career in academia teaching American Studies, I will say YABVVVU.

However, as somebody who never every ever EVER wanted to go in to teaching, I will say YANBU.

Perhaps your DD could do a combined course, eg literature/American studies or politics/American studies? That way if she changed her mind about American studies the transition would be easier.

I did American Studies as a short course as a student teacher, oddly it's the only extra I did that I remember and retained, I'm wheeled out every 4 years to explain the Electoral College system.

American Studies (as mentioned upthread) is a very interesting mixed subject including literature, history, politics etc etc of the USofA.
I'd love to do it tbh but only if I could not teach afterwards

I applied for American Studies but didn't end up doing it (went to do Politics instead) but it's a really great subject if you're interested in literature, history, politics etc but not sure where you want to specialise!

a course for teenagers with no particular passions who like American TV and shops

Think you are unreasonable and quite rude for saying this though tbh. Nothing in the course content suggests this, it's a social science/arts degree.

I can't imagine an entire degree in American studies, but American literature and history is well worth studying.

I'm also on the fence.

Maybe she should look into what’s on offer at different universities first. She might be able to do something else but take it as a subsidiary course one semester.

I studied Philosophy, but I really liked English Literature too so I studied a couple of English modules in my first year as subsidiaries.

Its no different from African, Middle Eastern etc. studies.

But you could have been a lawyer so could someone who did American studies. More people go into law having not done a law degree then done a law conversion course than have done a law degree I believe (or a least they did 10 years ago when I finished my degree). There was only 2 people in my graduate intake of 35 who did an accountancy degree for example.

I can't imagine an entire degree in American studies

Surely if an English literature degree is worthwhile studying then so is an American with a wider scope?

I think I am becoming invested about my dad's job - he retired 25 years ago!

YABU. And really rude to say it’s ‘stupid’.

It seems to me like a course for teenagers with no particular passions who like American TV and shops.

No, it's really not and if you think that you need to inform yourself a bit better.

I really wanted to do it 20 odd years ago and my mother had a fit. I’m still disappointed I didn’t do it. The modules sounded fascinating and I’m still very interested in American politics and history. I would have loved the degree.

You could say the same about a lot of degrees, criminology, social policy, etc......they don’t really train you for anything as such. However they do improve your skills in many transferable areas such as essay writing, critiquing, research. You’re a graduate at the end of it who can apply for graduate schemes, etc.

Depends what she is interested in, it’s her future.
I’m studying American politics and quite the opposite of being irrelevant, it’s fascinating when compared to British politics.

It’s nothing to do with American tv or shops.

Can’t see why it’s any less relevant than English Literature or History. They’re hardly vocational degrees.