Assistant Professors: Leiter and Williamson (Coordinators)

The American Studies major offers a comprehensive program in American civilization which introduces students to the complexities underlying the development of America and its contemporary life.  The program develops the skills of research, writing, and critical thinking that are central to a well-rounded, liberal arts education.  The major requires eleven courses relevant to the interdisciplinary study of American civilization and the completion of the American Studies colloquium.  Two minor tracks are also available in the American Studies program. The American Studies minor requires five courses in similar areas as the major.  The Multiculturalism minor requires five courses that concentrate on the issues of ethnic and racial diversity that define American society, art, and history.

Students should design their American Studies major in consultation with a program coordinator, and they must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in order to complete the independent study requirement.  With the appropriate faculty approval, some special topics courses (freshman seminars, ENGL 215, SOC 320, and so on) may fulfill American Studies requirements.  Students pursuing another major or minor in addition to their American Studies major may count no more than three courses for credit toward both concentrations.  Students may count no more than one course for credit toward both an American Studies minor and another major or minor.

1. Three Core Courses:

The primary integrating units of the major, these courses teach students to consider ideas from different points of view and help them to correlate information and methods from various disciplines:

AMST 200 Perspectives on America (freshman or sophomore year)

             

HIST 449, SOC 330, or PSCI 400 — Research and Methodology (junior or senior year; must be completed before or concurrently with AMST 489)

 

AMST 489 Independent Study (junior or senior year)

 

2. One course in the American arts:

MUS 128           American Music

MUS 234           History of Jazz

MUS N 80         Studies in American Music

FILM 112          Multicultural Studies in Film, Television, and Video

THEA 335         Modern Drama

THEA N 80       Studies in American Theatre

3. Three courses in American humanities, with at least one from history and one from English:

ENGL 222         American Literature I

ENGL 223         American Literature II

ENGL 229         African American Literature

HIST 125           United States History 1601-1877

HIST 126           United States History 1877-Present

HIST 226           Colonial America and the Revolutionary Era

HIST 230           African American History

HIST 328           Age of Jefferson and Jackson

HIST 332           Civil War and Reconstruction

HIST 335           U.S. Since 1945

HIST 340           20th Century United States Religion

HIST 347           Organized Crime in America

          PHIL 334           Contemporary Political Philosophy

4. Three courses in American social sciences, with at least one from Political Science and one from Sociology:

ECON 224        Urban Problems

ECON 236        American Economic History

ECON 332        Government and the Economy

ECON 335        Labor Problems

PSCI 110           U.S. Government and Politics

PSCI 210           Communication and Society

PSCI 211           State and Local Government

PSCI 212           Political Parties

PSCI 213           Congressional Politics

PSCI 214           The Presidency

PSCI 316           Public Opinion and Polling

PSCI 331           Civil Rights and Liberties
PSCI 332           Courts and the Criminal Justice System
PSCI 335           Law and Society
SOC 210           Sociology of Mental Health and Illness

SOC 220           Sociology of Family

SOC 228           Aging and Society

SOC 310           Medical Sociology

SOC 334           Race and Multicultural Relations

SOC 337           The Anthropology of American Indians

5. An additional course numbered 300 or higher from those listed above or an internship

6. American Studies Colloquium: Juniors and seniors are required to complete ENGL
    348 & 448 each semester they are a declared major for a maximum of four semesters.

Minors

The minor in American Studies requires five courses: AMST 200; one course from MUS 128, 234, THEA 212; one course from ENGL 222, 223, 229, HIST 125, 126, 226, 230, 328, 332, 335, 340, 347 one course from ECON 224, 236, 332, 335, PSCI 110, 211, 212, 213, 214, 243, 316, 331, 332, 335, SOC 220, 334, 337; and one additional course numbered 200 or higher from any listed above.

The minor in the Multiculturalism track of American Studies consists of five courses: AMST 200; SOC 334; and three courses from ECON 224, ENGL 229, HIST 230, MUS 234, SOC 337, THEA 212.

200

PERSPECTIVES ON AMERICA

An analysis of the fundamental nature of American culture, society, and politics and the interdisciplinary means for studying it.  The course explores what is distinctively American and introduces students to the range of approaches taken to better understand topics covered in American studies. Alternate years.

348 & 448

AMERICAN STUDIES COLLOQUIUM

A non-credit seminar featuring guest, faculty, and student presentations on research, methodology, and related topics. Required of all junior and senior American Studies majors. Meets 2-4 times each semester. Pass/Fail.

INTERNSHIP (See Index)

N80-N89

INDEPENDENT STUDY

489                     

INDEPENDENT STUDY

An intensive interdisciplinary research project designed by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor.

490-491

INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR DEPARTMENTAL HONORS (See index)