American Studies (AMST)

Professor: Piper (Coordinator)

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. Thirteen courses are included.

Four Course Requirements

The primary integrating units of the major, these courses—some team-taught—will encourage students to consider ideas from different points of view and help them to correlate information and methods from various disciplines:

1. AMST 200 — America as a Civilization (First semester of major study)

2. AMST 220 —American Tradition in the Arts and Literature

3. HIST 449 or SOC 447 — Research and Methodology (junior or senior year)

4. Internship or Independent Study (junior or senior year)

Concentration Areas

Six courses in one option and three in the other are needed. Six primary concentration option courses in American Arts or American Society build around the insights gained in the core courses. They focus particular attention on areas most germane to academic and vocational interests. The three additional courses from the other option give further breadth to an understanding of America. Students also will be encouraged to take elective courses relating to other cultures.

Students should design their American Studies major in consultation with the program coordinator.

American Arts Concentration Option

ART 332 — American Art of the 20th Century

ENGL 222 — American Literature I

ENGL 223 — American Literature II

MUS 128 — American Music

MUS N 80 — Studies in American Music

Thea N 80 — Studies in American Theatre

American Society Concentration Option

Econ 224 — Urban Problems

PSCI 331 — Civil Rights and Liberties

PSCI 335 — Law and Society

Soc 334 — Racial and Cultural Minorities

Students interested in teacher certification should refer to the Department of Education on page 103.

200

AMERICA AS A CIVILIZATION

An analysis of the historical, sociocultural, economic, and political perspectives of American civilization with special attention to the interrelationships between these various orientations. May be taken for either one-half unit (Section 200A) or full unit (Section B); declared majors and prospective majors should take the full-unit course, 200B. Alternate years.

220

AMERICAN TRADITION IN THE ARTS AND LITERATURE

The relationship of the arts and literature to the various historical periods of American life.

470-479 INTERNSHIP (See Index)

N80-N89 INDEPENDENT STUDY (See Index)

490-491 INDEPENDENT STUDY FOR DEPARTMENTAL HONORS

(See Index)