STATEMENT OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM

MISSION STATEMENT:

The PhD program in American Culture Studies is an innovative degree program comprising an intellectual community of faculty drawn from several academic programs and departments in the humanities and social sciences at Bowling Green State University. It features two broad interdisciplinary academic tracks from which students choose their major concentration: (1) Critical Studies in Film, Media, and Culture; and (2) Ethnicity, Gender, and Social Identities. These major concentrations are designed to allow our students to be exposed to and to address contemporary cutting-edge research and debates in the field of Cultural Studies. They also reflect the unique academic strengths of our graduate faculty, who are deeply involved in interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary teaching and research. Students study with an extensive faculty of over sixty joint-appointment and affiliated faculty members drawn from the following departments and graduate programs: Communication Studies, English, Ethnic Studies, History, Philosophy, Popular Culture, Sociology, Theatre, Telecommunications, and Women’s Studies. Recognizing that American culture is complex and multifaceted, this program requires work in a variety of subject areas, encouraging students to reflect on both the historic heritage and contemporary expression of our national experiences. Flexible as to both methods and goals, the PhD in American Culture Studies can meet the diverse needs of a variety of students who seek advanced graduate study as preparation for careers in a variety of academic fields, museums, cultural and historical organizations, or similar institutions requiring both breadth and depth of understanding of American culture in its national and diasporic contexts.

ADMISSION STANDARDS:

Applicants for the PhD degree are expected to have earned an MA degree in an appropriate subject area, to have a superior academic record at both the undergraduate and master's degree levels, and to meet the minimum academic and other admission requirements established by the Graduate College. Applicants should submit to the Graduate College a completed Application for Admission, two complete copies of all college transcripts, and official current GRE scores. The applicant should submit to the American Culture Studies program office (a) three letters of recommendation from current or former instructors or other persons qualified to evaluate probable success in the doctoral program; (b) evidence of ability to conduct academic research in an interdisciplinary area, such as copies of research papers or MA thesis chapters; (c) a statement of intention delineating the applicant’s purpose for taking the PhD as well as an outline of career goals, both short- and long-range; (d) an American Culture Studies PhD Applicant Information Form. Admission is highly competitive, with eight-ten admitted each year out of an applicant pool of over sixty. In recent years, admitted students have averaged GRE verbal scores over the 90th percentile and a graduate GPA of 3.8 or higher.

ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE STATE AND REGION:

The graduate program in American Culture Studies trains highly skilled professionals for a variety of jobs in the state and region. These include positions in: (1) Higher educational institutions, including Bowling Green State University, Main Campus; Bowling Green State University, Firelands Campus; University of Dayton; University of Findlay; Shawnee State College; University of Toledo; Youngstown State University; (2) Historical Societies and Museums, including the Wood County Historical Museum, Bowling Green; the Warren G. Harding Presidential Home and Historical Museum, Marion; (3) Newspapers and other publications. We are currently establishing a network with four-year colleges in Ohio to promote employment opportunities for our doctoral graduates at several colleges in the state.

PLACEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR GRADUATES:

The doctoral program in American Culture Studies has as its placement objective to help our graduates secure appropriate professional employment commensurate with their training and interests. Over ninety percent of our graduates over the last five years have secured full-time positions at the university, college, or other appropriate professional level. In addition to the placement of graduates at state and regional colleges and universities alluded to above, in recent years we have placed graduates at prominent large research universities, including the University of New Mexico; University of South Carolina; Washington State University, and Western Michigan University as well as at well-known smaller colleges, including Bronx Community College; Edgewood College, Evergreen State College; Lansing Community College; Randolph-Macon Women’s College; and San Diego City College.

PROGRAM REVIEW:

Date of the Last Review: 1999-2000 academic year
Date of Next Scheduled Review: 2006-07 academic year

Contact Information:

Donald McQuarie, Director/Graduate Coordinator
Room: 101 East Hall
Phone: 419-372-8886

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