American Studies in Romania

Despite its long-standing international tradition, the field of American Studies in Romania began to receive institutional legitimacy only after the collapse of communism. In 1993, the University of Bucharest was the first to offer an undergraduate program in American literature and civilization as a specialization within the English minor. Two years later, the University of Bucharest, the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, the AI Ioan Cuza University in Iasi launched graduate programs in American Studies.

A few years later, they were joined by West University in Timisoara. In 2004, the University of Bucharest was the first Romanian university to offer a BA in American Studies, followed by the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iasi, the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, Ovidius University in Constanta, and, more recently, by Transilvania University in Brasov. Other universities, such as Lucian Blaga University in Sibiu, have introduced in their English curriculum a number of American Studies-related courses. With a marked interdisciplinary and comparative character, American Studies programs span the breadth of the U.S. cultural diversity, offering captivating insights into its vibrant complexity and challenging comparisons with other cultures.

Native American Culture studies, Anthropology, Film Studies, Popular and Visual Arts, American and Ethnic Literatures, History, Life and Institutions, and many other fields of study enhance the scope and impact of the American Studies programs. Inspired by the American academic culture, they encourage student-professor interaction, group projects, hands-on activities linking theory and practice.

In most cases, the teaching staff includes Romanian Fulbright alumni, specialized in the U.S., and one or two U.S. Fulbright grantees currently affiliated with the respective university. The programs have received constant support from both the Fulbright Commission in Romania and the Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest.

With newly established American Studies programs, the BA/MA in American Studies will be the program of choice. Please check with the university you are interested in. For the BA level, admission emphasizes academic performance and it usually relies on the applicants’ grade in the high school leaving exam (Baccalaureate) and their high school GPA. Some universities may require an application package, others an admissions exam.

More information on American Studies programs around the country is available on the website of the Romanian Association for American Studies: http://www.raas.ro/american-studies-centers.  

American Studies programs (BA/MA/PhD) are offered in Romania at the following universities:
-aThe University of Bucharest: website http://www.americanstudies.ro/ and Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/americanstudies.unibuc;