Best institutions to study American/United States Studies/Civilization
A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of the United States and its Pre-Columbian and colonial predecessors, and including the flow of immigrants from other societies.
120 U.S. institutions graduated 1,027 American/United States Studies/Civilization students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 05.0102, a specialization of Area Studies (CIP 05.01), and leads most directly to the Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1062).
About American/United States Studies/Civilization programs
A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of the United States and its Pre-Columbian and colonial predecessors, and including the flow of immigrants from other societies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The American/United States Studies/Civilization program is an area studies program that delves into the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of the United States, including its Pre-Columbian and colonial roots. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the complexities of American identity and the diverse influences that shape it, including immigration and cultural exchange.
Students in this program develop core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework often covers topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives, equipping graduates with a well-rounded understanding of American society.
Credentials awarded
What American/United States Studies/Civilization graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree661 graduates / yr · 96 institutions64%
- Master's degree133 graduates / yr · 34 institutions13%
- Associate's degree122 graduates / yr · 3 institutions12%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship85 graduates / yr · 23 institutions8.3%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year15 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate11 graduates / yr · 5 institutions1.1%
Graduates over time
American/United States Studies/Civilization completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,952 |
| 2013 | 1,830 |
| 2014 | 1,763 |
| 2015 | 1,668 |
| 2016 | 1,586 |
| 2017 | 1,538 |
| 2018 | 1,511 |
| 2019 | 1,537 |
| 2020 | 1,378 |
| 2021 | 1,224 |
| 2022 | 1,129 |
| 2023 | 1,059 |
| 2024 | 989 |
| 2025 | 1,027 |
Top 50 institutions for American/United States Studies/Civilization, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coastline Community College Fountain Valley, CAPublicAssociate's | 118 | 34% | — | — |
| 2 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 44 | 96% | $27,025 | $55,618 |
| 3 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor's | 40 | 93% | — | $50,728 |
| 4 | Wesleyan University Middletown, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 27 | 93% | $16,467 | — |
| 5 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 27 | 96% | $15,315 | $41,479 |
| 6 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 26 | 84% | $29,789 | — |
| 7 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor's | 25 | 69% | — | $28,591 |
| 8 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 25 | 94% | $14,126 | $30,716 |
| 9 | Georgetown University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 22 | 95% | $22,242 | — |
| 10 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 21 | 95% | $19,452 | $35,304 |
| 11 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 19 | 70% | — | $29,316 |
| 12 | Oberlin College Oberlin, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 19 | 81% | $28,313 | $20,905 |
| 13 | Towson University Towson, MDPublicBachelor's | 16 | 69% | — | — |
| 14 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 16 | 89% | — | $29,746 |
| 15 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 16 | 81% | $13,712 | $37,019 |
| 16 | Trinity College Hartford, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 15 | 84% | $25,245 | — |
| 17 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 15 | 89% | — | $24,699 |
| 18 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicDoctoralMaster'sBachelor's | 15 | 93% | — | $28,261 |
| 19 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicBachelor's | 14 | 71% | — | — |
| 20 | Barnard College New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 14 | 93% | $24,675 | $34,142 |
| 21 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 14 | 95% | $17,613 | $43,831 |
| 22 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 54% | — | — |
| 23 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NCPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 13 | 91% | — | $31,955 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, PAPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 13 | 26% | — | — |
| 25 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VAPublicDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 13 | 89% | — | $53,779 |
| 26 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 13 | 59% | — | — |
| 27 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 12 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 28 | Williams College Williamstown, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 12 | 94% | $10,747 | $38,595 |
| 29 | Brandeis University Waltham, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 11 | 86% | $25,074 | $43,748 |
| 30 | Fordham University Bronx, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 11 | 82% | $38,931 | $40,811 |
| 31 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 10 | 86% | — | $21,527 |
| 32 | Connecticut College New London, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 82% | $27,183 | $43,358 |
| 33 | SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, NYPublicBachelor's | 10 | 45% | — | — |
| 34 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 9 | 64% | — | $26,020 |
| 35 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 9 | 85% | — | — |
| 36 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OHPublicDoctoralMaster's | 9 | 64% | — | — |
| 37 | Dickinson College Carlisle, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 9 | 80% | $22,831 | $32,722 |
| 38 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 9 | 83% | — | — |
| 39 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicMaster's | 8 | 81% | — | — |
| 40 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicDoctoralMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 69% | — | — |
| 41 | Amherst College Amherst, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 94% | $16,081 | $49,149 |
| 42 | Carleton College Northfield, MNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 90% | $18,669 | — |
| 43 | Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 83% | $25,238 | — |
| 44 | Stanford University Stanford, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 92% | $12,032 | — |
| 45 | Occidental College Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 81% | $28,024 | — |
| 46 | Stockton University Galloway, NJPublicMaster's | 7 | 69% | — | — |
| 47 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NMPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 7 | 55% | — | — |
| 48 | Brown University Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 7 | 96% | $14,644 | $39,165 |
| 49 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 6 | 73% | — | — |
| 50 | American University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 75% | $30,225 | $43,671 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Area Studies field (CIP 05.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 36 states
Where American/United States Studies/Civilization graduates come from. Each state links to all Area Studies programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1062, Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the American/United States Studies/Civilization program can pursue careers as Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook for this field shows a growth rate of 2.4% with approximately 1,100 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $84,290, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 05.0102
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1062 | $85,020 | +2.4% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in American/United States Studies/Civilization programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as race and ethnic relations, gender studies, and cross-cultural perspectives.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
Tools and technology used
Other Area Studies specializations
The 36 other 6-digit CIP codes under Area Studies (CIP 05.01).
- Regional Studies (U.S.CIP 05.0122partial data783 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Asian Studies/CIP 05.0103
Civilization 549 graduates / yr94 institutions - Area StudiesCIP 05.0199505 graduates / yr65 institutions
- East Asian StudiesCIP 05.0104446 graduates / yr62 institutions
- Latin American StudiesCIP 05.0107365 graduates / yr86 institutions
- Near and Middle Eastern StudiesCIP 05.0108261 graduates / yr46 institutions
- African StudiesCIP 05.0101171 graduates / yr45 institutions
- European Studies/CIP 05.0106
Civilization 161 graduates / yr27 institutions - Russian StudiesCIP 05.011081 graduates / yr30 institutions
- French StudiesCIP 05.012478 graduates / yr26 institutions
- RussianCIP 05.010569 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Latin American and Caribbean StudiesCIP 05.013466 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Japanese StudiesCIP 05.012756 graduates / yr15 institutions
- Italian StudiesCIP 05.012645 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Spanish and Iberian StudiesCIP 05.0130partial data43 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Western European StudiesCIP 05.0114partial data40 graduates / yr5 institutions
- German StudiesCIP 05.012537 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Chinese StudiesCIP 05.012329 graduates / yr12 institutions
- Pacific Area/CIP 05.0109
Pacific Rim Studies partial data28 graduates / yr5 institutions - Scandinavian StudiesCIP 05.0111partial data20 graduates / yr5 institutions
- South Asian StudiesCIP 05.0112partial data20 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Ural-Altaic and Central Asian StudiesCIP 05.0120limited data14 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Southeast Asian StudiesCIP 05.0113partial data12 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Slavic StudiesCIP 05.0118limited data12 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Appalachian StudiesCIP 05.0135limited data8 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Korean StudiesCIP 05.0128limited data6 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Irish StudiesCIP 05.0133limited data6 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Canadian StudiesCIP 05.0115limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 8 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Balkans Studies05.0116
- Baltic Studies05.0117
- Caribbean Studies05.0119
- Commonwealth Studies05.0121
- Polish Studies05.0129
- Tibetan Studies05.0131
- Ukraine Studies05.0132
- Arctic Studies05.0136
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, Associate's, or Doctor's degree in American/United States Studies/Civilization.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, writing, speaking, and active learning.
What careers are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work as postsecondary teachers in area, ethnic, and cultural studies.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about average, with a growth rate of 2.4% and around 1,100 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for American/United States Studies/Civilization?+
American/United States Studies/Civilization is CIP 05.0102 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Area Studies (CIP 05.01). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of the United States and its Pre-Columbian and colonial predecessors, and including the flow of immigrants from other societies.
How many institutions offer American/United States Studies/Civilization programs?+
120 U.S. institutions reported American/United States Studies/Civilization graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 36 states, awarding 1,027 credentials in the year. That is 20.8% of all Area Studies graduates.
How much do American/United States Studies/Civilization graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which American/United States Studies/Civilization most directly leads to, pays a median of $85,020 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Area Studies field report median earnings of $37,019 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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