American Culture Studies (AMCS) at Washington University is a multidisciplinary program that provides both a broader context for study in different fields and a deeper understanding of American culture in all of its complexities. Of particular interest are the political, social, and material dimensions of American culture—past and present—and issues of race, gender, sexuality, and class that spur so much cultural debate and expression. To address these areas, the program has several initiatives, including: modern segregation, race and popular music, American intimacies, and visual and material culture.

Undergraduates can major or minor in American culture studies. While the AMCS major may be taken alone, the program works closely with students to ensure that double-majoring is an especially enriching experience. Graduate students at WashU can also earn a graduate certificate in American culture studies to develop a multidisciplinary expertise.

AMCS faculty is drawn from across the campus, representing a wide variety of humanities, sciences, and social sciences in Arts & Sciences, as well as the various schools at the university like the School of Law. These individuals engage with the methods and issues that are important in their specific field of scholarship, but they also participate in larger multidisciplinary discussions that allow them to learn from one another and to collaborate on teaching and research projects.