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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think American studies is a stupid subject?

187 replies

firsttimeucaser · 01/03/2018 15:17

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.

OP posts:
veuveo · 01/03/2018 17:25

What subject would you like her to do OP?

Unless she has a specific career in mind, I think it's better for her to choose something she'll enjoy.
I did Am. Studies as a module on my English/History degree. Loved it. Literature, film, history, politics, geography.
My career was in finance!

Bluelady · 01/03/2018 17:27

It didn't exist when I did my degree but I can't imagine it has any less intellectual rigour than the English literature degree I did. It sounds really interesting. Let's face it, no humanities degree is going to have much relevance to a career path.

YouCantGetHereFromThere · 01/03/2018 17:29

I have a degree in Business Studies, and I'm a web designer.

I probably should have done a Web Design degree only they didn't exist when I was 18...

stevie69 · 01/03/2018 17:48

Yeah, she's going to learn nothing from American Studies. Apart from gaining great critical thinking skills, being able to work across multiple disciplinary areas, being highly educated about the historical and political background to a major global player, and having a broad base from which to develop a life that is actually enriched by culture, rather than just material possessions. Apart from that, nothing.

Yeah; a bit shit then really Wink

NSEA · 01/03/2018 17:52

I have an American Studies degree. I chose this because I loved American art, literature and history and mostly their film industry. It had gender studies options too which were very important in my choice.

I fail to see the significance of having to be American to study the subject.

I have a very well paid job.

I don’t think you should assume History is better just because its British.

vampirethriller · 01/03/2018 17:56

My mother did American studies and she's teacher now. I did archaeology and I'm a cleaner. I don't think it makes a huge difference what you do- it's how you do it. (myself, I did it badly.)

BrownTurkey · 01/03/2018 17:56

Great that she has come back inspired and informed.

kitkatsky · 01/03/2018 18:00

I wanted to do this, mainly for the year living in the US. My dad didn’t want me to do it. Wish I’d ignored him

Butterymuffin · 01/03/2018 18:03

Nice trolling pedigree. To all those asking about proper subjects / universities, don't feed the troll.

Mumteedum · 01/03/2018 18:10

Op.. Did you go to university? Your Dd is able to make her own choices. It's not your call. It's a well established humanities subject and if she feels excited by it then she's more likely to succeed. Higher education is not vocational training. It's more holistic than that.

scrabbler3 · 01/03/2018 18:10

Strange that different posters have mentioned Aberystwyth. Some years ago my flatmates and I were briefly friendly in London with a group of Aber graduates who lived next door to us, two of whom had done American Studies. One worked at the BBC, another was in marketing for a household name company. I've just googled them both, out of interest, and life has been kind to them (career-wise) it seems.

A year studying abroad teaches you a lot of good life skills too. And it's a blast!

Lashalicious · 01/03/2018 18:12

It may be for the simple reason that she is thinking she might want to move to America at some point and wants to learn more about it.

frankchickens · 01/03/2018 18:13

YABU especially if DD really wants to do it.

Yvest · 01/03/2018 18:14

I did this degree and walked into a high paying City grad scheme and had another 4 offers on the table. I’ve worked in senior positions across various sectors for the last 20 years. Oh and I also had a place to do law conversion with sponsorship from a magic circle firm but I agree, it’s a useless degree which won’t help a bit in the future.

Fekko · 01/03/2018 18:17

I worked in the city too (very trad, old establishments) and I found that those who had degrees like this often happened to be often very posh chaps who studied niche subjects at oxbridge. Some were very niche indeed!

Charliecatpaws · 01/03/2018 18:18

I accompanied DS1 to an open day at Swansea University where we were introduced to the American Studies degree, it seemed very interesting to me so I wouldn't disregard her thoughts of doing it, DS ended up studying politics at Cardiff

AskingForAnEnemy · 01/03/2018 18:22

Well I think it sounds fascinating! I'd love to study this subject

Skiiltan · 01/03/2018 18:22

You are being unreasonable because you clearly don't know anything about what American Studies involves or what a degree is.

I also find it a bit disconcerting that you would make recruitment judgements on such an uninformed basis.

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?

How are the two any different?

I can't see how it's very useful.

But you can see how a degree in history or politics is useful? Could you explain the distinction, without resorting to blind prejudice?

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 01/03/2018 18:24

Dunno, if it leads to you becoming North America Editor for the BBC on GBP250k, like John Sopel, then maybe worth it.

Notevenmyrealname · 01/03/2018 18:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

luckylavender · 01/03/2018 18:25

It's not new, it's been offered at many Universities for years & is well respected.

Getupandtryagain · 01/03/2018 18:27

My best friend studied this 15 years ago. She's earning around 15k a month now. So nah...not that 'stupid'

NeverTwerkNaked · 01/03/2018 18:31

My friend did a degree in American studies and now earns about £300k /year. Her degree is hugely relevant to her job

Original poster
firsttimeucaser · 01/03/2018 18:57

Well, ok, clearly I'm being unreasonable! Thank you for all the excellent course reviews & success stories!

I don't think I expressed what I meant very well originally - I didn't mean that I thought the course was about American TV/shops, more that that is the only aspect of the US that dd has ever displayed any interest in before. I was sort of wondering whether young girls who are a bit obsessed with American culture saw American studies as a jazzed up, more glamorous version of a history degree, but clearly I was being ignorant.

OP posts:
Original poster
firsttimeucaser · 01/03/2018 18:58

I had never heard of this degree before yesterday, and I have sort of internalised the idea that anything with "studies" in the name isn't a proper subject.

OP posts: