As an affiliate of the English Department Ph. D. concentration in American Literature, this interest group provides a forum for graduate students and faculty across the university to explore the discipline of American literary studies and to share differing perspectives on the study of US literatures, literary history, and culture.

ALG developed in response to graduate student and faculty interest in the opportunities afforded by a group devoted to the dynamic challenges of current American literary scholarship. We actively invite participation from scholars with a variety of interdisciplinary and literary interests, regardless of their declared concentration.

Each year ALG hosts a variety of events that contribute to the scholarship, pedagogy, professional development, and community of Americanist scholars. The Symposium on American Literary Studies brings in top scholars in American Literary Studies for a public keynote, pedagogy panel, and roundtable discussion. The Academics in Action Symposium provides an informal but structured space to share works-in-progress and to discuss the process of academic work, from pedagogy and institutional milestones to the state of the discipline(s) and interdisciplinary possibilities. The American Cinemas Series offers multiple film screenings each semester.

To contact the American Literatures Group, please send us an email.