About the field of American Studies: American studies programs can cover a wide range of topics and include both the United States as well as the Americas generally. American studies programs are typically interdisciplinary and tend to include subjects such as literature , history , politics , philosophy , art , religion , and others related to the Americas. Also programs may encompass overarching disciplines such as sociology , anthropology or psychology as students attempt to integrate an understanding of the past with the present and the possibilities for the future. Related fields or programs of study may include: African American studies , historic preservation , Central American Studies , cultural studies , international studies , folklore , liberal studies , Middle Eastern studies , museum studies , Native studies , social sciences , urban design , and women's studies . American Studies programs are also offered in schools outside the Americas that are trying to help students from other areas of the world attain a grasp of the background and influences that have made the Americas what they are today. Programs in American Studies may prepare students for a wide variety of careers, particularly those involving museums, cultural, and historical organizations.