The Department of American Studies is one of the oldest centers of American studies in Poland. It was established in part thanks to grants from the Mellon Foundation, which allowed for the development of scientific activities and the amassing of a large book collection. The creator of the Krakow Center of American studies is Prof. Andrzej Mania, who in 1994 became the head of the Interfaculty Department of American Studies, which in 2000 was transformed into the Chair in American Studies. Interdisciplinary doctoral studies in American studies, which have been offered for many years, have resulted in several dozen Ph.D. dissertations in various disciplines. In 2019, the department changed its name to the Department of American Studies.
Scholars from our department represent a wide range of specialties and scholarly interests, including history, political science, international relations, law, and philosophy.