Graduate Home
The Humanities and Cultural Studies department offers three graduate degree programs:
All Graduate Programs require a Master's Thesis.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships are also available.
The Master of Arts in American Studies offers students the opportunity to study the social relations and cultural patterns that have both unified and divided Americans over time. Topics include popular and elite cultures; the material and technological foundations of American society; cultural heroines and heroes; and the values, ideals, and lifestyles of ordinary people as well as those of recognized historical figures. Students learn how to analyze a broad range of texts, including literature, art, film, and material culture, for evidence of these patterns in American life and culture. The program requires a total of 33 credit hours, including 27 hours of coursework and 6 hours of thesis. Normal time-to-degree for a full-time student is two years, typically including some credits taken during the intervening summer.
The Master of Liberal Arts (MLA) is an interdisciplinary, interdepartmental program that offers students an opportunity to study the ideas and works that have shaped world culture. The program requires a total of 33 credit hours, including 27 hours of coursework and 6 hours of thesis.Normal time-to-degree for a full-time student is two years, typically including some credits taken during the intervening summer.
There are five tracks or concentrations within the MLA: Humanities (HTS), Film Studies (FLM), Africana Studies (AFA), Social and Political Thought (SPT), and Florida Studies (FST). Of these, the first two (Humanities and Film Studies) are the primary responsibility of the Department of Humanities and Cultural Studies. The three remaining tracks are run independently by separate departments that the Humanities and Cultural Studies Department works with closely to promote interdisciplinary degree options.
The Humanities track offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of European, American, and Latin American cultures. Classes integrate interpretations of the literature, arts, and music of each cultural period with an understanding of their social and historical contexts.
The Film Studies track helps students to develop the knowledge and critical skills needed to address film as a unique artistic medium and form of cultural expression. Coursework includes both classes devoted exclusively to film and classes examining film in a broader interdisciplinary context.
If you have any questions about the MA in American Studies, MLA in Humanities, or MLA in Film Studies programs, please e-mail the Graduate Director, Sara Dykins Callahan, or call her at 813-974-8841.
For information on other tracks, please contact the following advisors: