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Florida Atlantic University’s Study of the Americas Initiative foregrounds an interdisciplinary approach to research, discuss and engage the histories, cultures, societies, politics, languages, literatures, media, music, and arts of the western hemisphere. The nations of North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean share many cultural and historical interrelations that bind them through the legacies of colonialism, slavery, political movements and revolution. The Initiative promotes conversation on the intersections of spaces in the Americas by providing fora for discussion among scholars in all disciplines in the humanities.

Features of the Americas Initiative include:

  • FAU’s unique geographic, demographic and cultural relation to the Americas and Caribbean
  • Specialized resources for research including The Marvin and Sybil Weiner Spirit of America Collection which contains more than 13,000 publications and artifacts including rare works from the 16th century.
  • Substantial number of interdisciplinary faculty with extensive specializations on topics throughout the Americas
  • The College’s Ph.D. Program in Comparative Studies and the Caribbean and Latin American Studies Certificate especially encourage an extensive and interdisciplinary hemispherical focus.
  • A unique intellectual hub featuring lecture series from FAU and distinguished international scholars, an annual conference dedicated to Americas study, publication opportunities and affiliation with Americas-centered research centers around the globe.
  • The Americas Initiative aligns with FAU’s university-wide strategic plan platforms on Diversity, Community Engagement, Globalization, South Florida Culture and the Peace, Justice and Human Rights Initiative.
  • The Initiative showcases draws on FAU’s strengths as a minority serving institution where more than half the student population represent racial or ethnic difference and/or our robust international student body.