Careers
Study American Studies. Do Anything.
What can I do with an American Studies major?
Here in American Studies we take pride in preparing our students for whatever their future career goals may be. Whether that is in the public or private sector, the teaching profession or corporate America, the arts or technical fields, our graduates can do it all.
Notre Dame American Studies graduates are well represented in a wide variety of careers. There isn’t a single path; instead, we prepare students for success in whatever path they choose.
For this reason, our alumni can be found all over the United States—and the world—working as doctors, attorneys, CEOs, account executives, arts administrators, teachers, public policy analysts, and in many other jobs that are personally gratifying and serve the common good.
Skills you'll learn
- Effective oral communication
- Strong writing
- Team Work
- Critical thinking and analytical reasoning
- Ability to apply knowledge to real-world settings
- Ethical judgment and decision making
- Ability to analyze and solve problems with people from different backgrounds
Glynnis Garry '11
Cardiovascular physician-scientist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dr. Glynnis Garry '11 is a cardiovascular physician-scientist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center who is researching the regeneration of the injured heart, while treating patients suffering from heart disease. Glynnis was named one of 12 Domer Dozen honorees by the Notre Dame Alumni Association.
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Glynnis Garry '11
Cardiovascular physician-scientist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dr. Glynnis Garry '11 is a cardiovascular physician-scientist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center who is researching the regeneration of the injured heart, while treating patients suffering from heart disease. Glynnis was named one of 12 Domer Dozen honorees by the Notre Dame Alumni Association.
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Sara Morris '16
Associate, Clyde Group
“I put my American Studies degree to use every day working at a public affairs firm in Washington, D.C. I developed a strong writing foundation through American Studies, and I apply that to my diverse range of writing projects, from op-eds and speeches to memos and research documents.
American Studies taught me how to observe and understand our complex, often difficult world — and that’s made me a more thoughtful, critical, and empowered citizen.”
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Jim Nelson '85
Editor-in-Chief, GQ
"My love is great ambitious writing, literary journalism, and writing that affects people and sticks with them."
Jim Nelson became Editor-in-Chief of GQ in 2003. From 1994 to 1997 he was an editor at Harper’s, where he was responsible for the magazine’s Readings section. His writing has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Gourmet, and Food & Wine. Prior to his magazine career, Jim has worked as a writer/producer for CNN in Washington, D.C., and as a writer’s assistant on various sitcoms in Hollywood.
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Peter Fink '17
Jesuit Volunteer Corps, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
"My background in American Studies has given me a much deeper understanding of the countless societal factors that shape the social, physical, and psychological environments for the patients with whom I meet every day."
Peter spent the year after graduation working with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest as a Community Health Specialist in Portland, Oregon.
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Rob Browne '17
Marketing at Rocketrip, a startup that helps companies save money on business travel.
"In my job interviews, being able to talk about my thesis and the research grants I was awarded as an American Studies major attracted the interests of recruiters and made me stand out from other candidates. These concrete achievements I worked toward in my undergraduate career made it easy to elaborate on the accountability, project management, and work ethic that I could bring to various types of positions."
97% of recent Notre Dame American Studies majors found full-time employment, enrolled in graduate school, entered service programs, or launched independent projects within six months of graduation.
Learn More
Contact Director of Undergraduate Studies Peter Cajka
Further Reading
The American Studies Association
Notre Dame Center for Career Development
College of Arts and Letters outcomes page
Video: Who hires Notre Dame liberal arts majors?
Source: Outcomes data comes from Notre Dame Center for Career Development's first destination data reports 2012–2016.