American Studies

UMBC Department of American Studies

UMBC major sheet for American Studies

What Can I Do With My Major?

Learn more about career options in your field by clicking below to learn about different focus areas, typical employers, and strategies to get started. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page for links to Professional Associations, industry job search tools, and resources for additional insight.

American Studies
History
Political Science & Government
Urban Studies

Professional Associations

American Studies Association
International American Studies Association
Organization of American Historians
American Association of State and Local History
American Historical Association

Additional Research Tools

Explore typical job titles for your major and use them for further career research on Vault and O*Net. Visit the website for related professional associations for industry information and professional development. Browsing through job postings while you are still making a career decision can provide insight into the industry and taking note of the required qualifications lets you know what skills and experiences to seek out during your time at UMBC.

Internships/Research/Co-ops

Department Liaison for Internships & Employment: Marykate Conroy

Gaining real-world experience through internships, research, or a co-op experience is one of the best ways to make yourself a competitive candidate for full-time jobs and graduate school after graduation. Learn more about how to get started, finding opportunities, and the application process on our website.

The Internship Success Practicum is a free, zero-credit, pass/fail course for students participating in an applied learning experience. You will receive professional development to help you excel at your site as well as a transcript notation and possible academic credit.

Sample Internship/Research/Co-op Sites for

  • Urban Institute
  • Parks & People Foundation
  • Baltimore Museum of Industry
  • Governor’s Summer Internship Program (GSIP)

The Office of Undergraduate Research can help you find opportunities to conduct research in your industry, both on campus and at local organizations.

Career Resources

The American Studies Association: Employment and Fellowship Opportunities
The Fund for America Studies
The American Enterprise Institute
The American Alliance of Museums
The National Museum of American History

Learn from Alumni

Join Retrievers Connect, an online networking platform just for the UMBC community, to search for alumni by major, industry, location, and more. Get advice and insight from those who have been in your shoes. Participate in groups and discussions to gain insight into industry trends. Learn about job and internship options.

You can also explore profiles of UMBC students and alumni on LinkedIn.

On-Campus Organizations

  • Student Government Association

Service Learning and Volunteering

The Shriver Center provides opportunities to address social challenges through applied learning. These applied learning experiences can boost your resume and help you build marketable skills. These introductory opportunities are great for freshman and sophomores and can help confirm career choice.

Additional Employers and Jobs by Major

Employers in Maryland by Industry/Major (BuzzFile)
Employers in the United States by Industry/Major (BuzzFile)

 

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