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[plsteachme]

Despite the poor job opportunities, I want to apply to an American Studies program. I've searched about online, and I'm wondering what the strongest programs are. Yale, Harvard, the JFK Institute in Berlin. After that, it becomes less clear to me.

Not only do I wonder what the best AMST programs are, but I'm seeking general advice. American Studies, to me, is a way to be able to fold sociology and history into my research. I've only a formal background in English, and perhaps if that wasn't the case, I would be looking into history or sociology PhD programs. I'm currently a literary critic and freelance journalist, and I also work as a research assistant/editor for a Nobel prize winning professor. I want to enroll in a PhD program to learn, firstly, and secondly to be able to contribute in a meaningful way to cultural studies. I want guidance and standards while researching. Although I would love to be in school, I would rather reapply to schools next year than enroll in a second-rate program this year. I wonder if that is unwise.

Lastly I had a question about writing samples. I wrote a strong paper on the modern problem of the signature while I was an undergraduate, which was very well received by a university professor, but I've got to say, rereading it was pretty depressing. It wasn't nearly as good as I'd hoped. It also interests me less than some of the long form criticism that I've since published for the arts section of The New Republic. Those pieces comment on contemporary trends in current literature. I've heard it's best to submit an academic paper, but I wonder how hard and fast that rule is. What do you guys think?

So many thanks,
Your very lost prospective PhD student

[snowbound]

I'd say, send the most impressive piece from the New Republic. It's probably a lot more sophisticated than your undergrad essay.  The thing about send an academic paper is for your regular undergrad (or MA) preparing to apply for grad school.  I think a lot of programs would be interested in the background you're coming from, so you should emphasize that and wow them with a great writing sample.

Some schools will let you do a minor (or double major) in American Studies, while being based in, say, history or English. And you could focus much of your coursework and certainly your dissertation on America.  I know a lot of cultural studies work is being done in English departments (and elsewhere, I think, too).   

Looking into some of these options would substantially broaden where you could apply.  It is wise to reapply to schools next year rather than enroll in a second-rate program this year, but I hope you don't feel that anything other than the three schools you listed is second rate!  You need to spend some time investigating programs at strong R1 schools, and figure out which school would work best for the sort of work that you want to do.

[helpful]

I am not in your field, so I am curious: what is the "modern problem of the signature"? Is it not legible? (I am serious as to me a signature is either legible or it isn't. I can't conceive of any other problems with signatures).

[tuxedo_cat]

Despite the poor job opportunities. . .

I'm curious to know how you are able to overlook this concern.  Do you have a trust fund?

I'm in English, not American Studies, but a regular comment around here is that people with PhDs from Amst programs are at an even *bigger* disadvantage on the job market because search committees in the traditional disciplines suspect that Amst PhDs simply are not properly trained to teach in their dept.  They have a point.

You should have a very close look at the job wiki in this field.  The most recent page is from about 3 years ago (I can't find the most recent one, which is not a good sign):

http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/American_Studies_2008-2009

The page lists seven jobs nationally.  SEVEN.  And it's probably a complete list.  However, when we look more closely at those listings, a new PhD would be competitive for only TWO, perhaps three of those jobs.  Any job listed as "Open rank" is much more likely to hire someone more senior.  The last job at CalState is in the Chicana/o Studies Dept.

Think very, very hard about whether you want to go down a career path that will require at least 6 years of graduate study, after which you will be competing with 400 applicants (yes, the numbers can be that high for jobs in both American literature and American history) for 2 jobs, and where the SC may dismiss your application because you simply aren't trained to teach the survey in their dept.

[oldadjunct]

I am not in your field, so I am curious: what is the "modern problem of the signature"? Is it not legible? (I am serious as to me a signature is either legible or it isn't. I can't conceive of any other problems with signatures).

Sort of puzzled me too.  Maybe it has to do with the proliferation of email rather than written letters.

But then again I was puzzled by the OP's turning to an anonymous forum when one's network includes The New Republic's editorial board, and a Nobel laureate.  Isn't that what they are called, "laureates" not "prize winners", and don't professional writers generally italicize titles out of habit?  

[academic_cog]

http://academicjobs.wikia.com/wiki/American_Studies_2008-2009

The page lists seven jobs nationally.  SEVEN.  And it's probably a complete list.  However, when we look more closely at those listings, a new PhD would be competitive for only TWO, perhaps three of those jobs.  Any job listed as "Open rank" is much more likely to hire someone more senior.  The last job at CalState is in the Chicana/o Studies Dept.

Not only that but I have plenty of friends who used to (as I haven't seen any AmST openings for the past few years) apply for and get these jobs with an English degree, and heard plenty about people not getting English dept jobs with an AmST degree. So you are competing against a *much* bigger pool than you might think.

And what will the PhD program teach you to do that you are not doing already? Just teach you how to write and research in a much narrower, more specialized way than you currently do. With funding packages being smaller, it might not even mean anymore that you are being given the gift of time to read and think deeply about cultural matters. Of course, if you want teaching experience, you would probably get that in spades.

[erzuliefreda]

The American Studies job market is bleak, unless you do ethnic studies/African-American Studies/Latino Studies. Similarly, the market is bleak unless you go to Yale. The folks at the top really do get jobs. American Studies from Yale > History from Chucklehead State.

I have a degree in American Studies from a good not great school and I am TT in History, albeit at Nowhere State U. See other threads here about specializing in a specific discipline--my committee were Historians, my work is largely History. It worked out fine for me, but you really do have to do your homework.

[hegemony]

Plsteachme, ignore the snark.  Clearly you can already support yourself, so devoting some time to a PhD program is not going to disqualify you from jobs in the real world.  And you sound as if you're in an excellent position to apply.  It is pretty much essential to get into one of the top programs, since those people have an edge on the jobs.  (An edge, not a lock, but in this market any edge is helpful.)  It sounds as if you might do well to think of an English program that has the interdisciplinary you're hoping for.  Make sure you get a funding package that does not require going into debt on your part.  Use the best New Republic essay.  And best of luck. 

It sounds as if some posters do not realize that the conventions for titles are different in different industries.  In film production, for instance, you capitalize titles like THE USUAL SUSPECTS.  The convention of italicizing them is not country-wide.  Journalism also has different conventions.  And people expressing bewilderment that the electronic age might have new issues with confirming identity via signature sound like the people complaining about academia on internet comments pages: "A bunch of boneheads proving that people fall in love!  They take half a million dollars to study tiny bugs!  Give me the money, you idiots, and I'll do something useful with it!"  Let's assume the OP discussed a real issue and knows what he (she?) is talking about.  Jeepers.

[plsteachme]

Thanks for all the great advice, hegemony, tuxedo_cat, academic_cog

Well, to be honest, I work full-time, and write pieces after hours, so having time seems wonderful. As does having mentors. I've had a couple discussions with faculty at the university where I work, but I'd feel more comfortable cultivating these relationships if I were an actual student. While these professors have been enormously generous with their time, obviously they need to (or ought to) prioritize their students. While I would love to teach, I wouldn't bank on it panning out. What I want out of the PhD program is breadth and expertise. Time to read. I want to be a better critic, and I believe that the opportunity to spend time in an academic setting reading would very much help.

As for why I would turn to you guys, rather than my editor (1) at TNR or the Nobel laureate (I do believe either phrasing -- Nobel prize winner or laureate -- is acceptable) is that the one didn't go to graduate school and the other, being a typical Nobel laureate, graduated from his PhD program in the early 50s and is completely disengaged from the realities of the university. You guys know way more, it seems!

My two PhD friends advised me to submit my academic paper, but I think if submitting the TNR piece seems wiser to some in academia, I'd much prefer to do that.

erzuliefreda, that's so great to hear. I'm so glad there's hope. What are the best AMST programs, though? Why am I finding this so difficult to determine online?

[tuxedo_cat]

While I would love to teach, I wouldn't bank on it panning out. What I want out of the PhD program is breadth and expertise. Time to read. I want to be a better critic, and I believe that the opportunity to spend time in an academic setting reading would very much help.

Well, it sounds like you don't actually want to become an academic -- you want to be better at what you're already doing, is that right?  There are far less arduous and less expensive ways to do that than entering a PhD program.  If you are already working at a university and you have two superb references (which you do), it is entirely possible that you could simply audit some graduate seminars.  For free -- especially if you are someone who is a working journalist who writes about literature already.  It will depend entirely on the institution and the graduate professor, of course.  Some might welcome your voice and perspective as an informal member of the class.

If you really do want to work on a degree, perhaps a master's degree, you might be able to enroll in graduate courses for very reduced tuition at the university where you work.  Possibly.  And it certainly doesn't have to be an "American Studies" program.  There's nothing magical about the course offerings in such programs -- literary studies has been very interdisciplinary for decades, no shortage of that.  

These are at least options to look into -- and ones that would get you into a classroom next semester!

[systeme_d_]

In my opinion, you should apply to the American Studies program at Yale, and also apply to several different programs in either English or History, whichever field better reflects your interests.

This is because it is extremely difficult to get a job in academia with an American Studies degree.  Most American Studies departments (or programs, which are different from departments) in colleges and universities across the US are staffed by folks with degrees in other fields.  These fields are predominantly, but not exclusively, English and History.  Often, there is representation from Religion, Anthropology, and a couple of other fields.

Traditional departments like English, History, and Religion also hire Americanists, but all of them strongly prefer the applicants to have degrees in that specific field, not in American Studies.

So, to summarize, getting your degree in a traditional department like English or History will broaden considerably your opportunities for employment in academia.  

If you don't want a job in academia, then get a Masters degree from an American Studies department, and don't worry about any of this stuff.  The PhD is only necessary (and, I would argue, suitable) for folks who want to be professors.

[lasquires]

Just because you enroll in an English or History program doesn't mean you can't take courses outside of the department. In my program, that's actually a requirement. Plenty of people get degrees in English, History, Soc, and Anthro and get certificates in Women's Studies, American Studies, Religious Studies, etc. all the while developing relationships with faculty who serve those programs, most of which--as systeme_d says--are actually employed by the traditional departments. I do interdisciplinary work in my MLA field, have taken classes all over campus (including sociology), and have served as an RA for a professor in the "X Studies" department. I cite all kinds of people in my dissertation and published work. One of my recent articles cites quite a few sociologists, in fact.

Go take a look at the academic wiki linked earlier and compare the number of jobs in American Studies to the various periods of American History and American Literature. Sure, those fields are incredibly competitive, but at least there are jobs to apply for.

[snowbound]

Another thing is that most American Studies courses are not stand-alone American Studies.  They are taught by folks in English, History, Pol. Sci, etc, and cross-listed. 

If you are really not contemplating an academic career, you may want to stop at the MA level. That would give you a lot of what you seem to be looking for.  But of you decide to do that, you should be aware that oftentimes good PhD-granting institutions are not interested in admitting people who only want an MA, so you'd be better not mentioning that you may leave before dissertating.   

[plsteachme]

Hmm. OK, you're all convincing me. English Departments do seem the way to go, perhaps. The books my undergrad English professors wrote are all interdisciplinary. I wonder if it's too late to get my act together to take the lit subject GRE.

tuxedo_cat: I'm currently auditing a grad seminar on American Cultural Criticism, and I feel like an interloper! I would try to get a Masters at the univ. where I work, but I'd have to continue working full time to be funded, which just isn't sustainable...

[plsteachme]

Also, thank you snowbound!