American Studies

Department of History and American Studies

Krystyn Moon, Program Director and Career Advisor

Affiliated Faculty

Antonio Barrenechea, Department of English, Linguistics, and Communication
Joe Dreiss, Department of Art and Art History
Brad Hansen, Department of Economics
Mary Beth Mathews, Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion
Jeffrey McClurken, Department of History and American Studies
Krystyn Moon, Department of History and American Studies
Melina Patterson, Department of Geography
Gary N. Richards, Department of English, Linguistics, and Communication
Jess M. Rigelhaupt, Department of History and American Studies
Doug Sanford, Department of Historic Preservation
Mara Scanlon, Department of English, Linguistics, and Communication
Gary Stanton, Department of Historic Preservation
Gregg Stull, Department of Theatre and Dance
Danny Tweedy, Department of English, Linguistics, and Communication

The American Studies Program

American Studies is an interdisciplinary major that enables students to explore the complex interactions of peoples, cultures, social structures, and political institutions that have shaped the experiences of peoples living in the United States. In addition to four core courses, students demonstrate the ability to transcend disciplinary boundaries by completing five (5) thematically-assembled courses from affiliated disciplines approved by an American Studies advisor and the Program Director.

Requirements for the Major

Thirty-Six (36) credits: to include AMST 201, AMST 202, AMST 303, and AMST 485; and 24 credits (eight courses) in related courses selected from a pre-approved list of American Studies electives offered by affiliated departments. From this list of pre-approved electives, five of the eight elective courses must be assembled thematically; that is, they must be organized around a unifying line of inquiry, which must be approved by an American Studies advisor and the program director. Example concentrations include, although are not limited to, the following: gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, cultural expression, human rights, politics and society, and space and place. Internships are encouraged, but only 3 credits can count toward the major.

The major also has a number of requirements for the eight electives. They are as follows: one of these eight electives must deal with the United States prior to 1900, and one course must deal with race and/or gender. [The race/gender and pre-1900 requirements may be met by a single class.] Six of the eight electives must be at the 300-level or beyond. To ensure breadth, no more than three of the eight elective courses may be from one of the affiliated disciplines.

Major Electives for American Studies:

American Studies 333, 350, 491, 499; Anthropology 211, 215, 312, 341; Art History 352, 354, 355, 491; Communication 352, 370; Economics 341, 351, 375; English 328, 329, 330, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 371, 376EE, 385, 455, 457, 458; Geography 221, 222, 331, 337; Historic Preservation 101, 102, 206, 207, 305, 320, 325; History 303, 304, 305, 308, 311, 313, 314, 315, 318, 320, 321, 325, 327, 328, 329, 380, 390, 395, 396, 416, 417, 426, 444; Interdisciplinary Studies 203, 205; Linguistics 302, 307, 470J; Music History and Literature 156, 368; Political Science 201, 202, 311, 312, 324, 334, 363, 370, 422; Religion 250, 251, 276, 305, 331T; Sociology 304, 313, 315, 331, 332, 341, 411, 421, 440, 442, 446; Spanish 416, Women and Gender Studies 101, 102.

Examples of Courses Available for Concentrations:

Gender and Sexuality:  Anthropology 312; English 362; History 327, 328, 396 426; Interdisciplinary Studies 205; Linguistics 302, 307; Political Science 370; Sociology 304, 315, 331, 440, 442, Women and Gender Studies 101, 102.

Race and Ethnicity:  Anthropology 211, 215; Economics 351; English 328, 329, 330, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 362; Geography 331; History 313, 314, 315, 444; Interdisciplinary Studies 203; Linguistics 302, 470J; Music History and Literature 156, 368; Political Science324: Religion 250, 251; Sociology 304, 313, 341, 421, 440, 442, 446; Spanish 416.

Cultural Expression:  Anthropology 341; Art History 352, 354, 355; English 328, 329, 330, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 362, 371, 376EE, 384, 453, 455, 457; Historic Preservation 101, 102, 206, 207, 305, 320, 325; History 325, 329, 395; Linguistics 302; Music History and Literature 156, 368; Sociology 411.

Human Rights:  American Studies 333; English 352, 353, 354, 362, 376EE; Geography 331; History 304, 313, 314, 315, 327, 328, 416, 417, 444; Political Science 422, Sociology 421, 446; Spanish 416.

Politics and Society: Communication 352, 370; Economics 375; Geography 221, 222, 331; History 308, 380, 390, 416, 417; Political Science 201, 202, 311, 312, 324, 370, 422; Religion 305; Sociology 313, 341, 421, 432, 440, 442, 446; Spanish 416.

Space and Place: Art History 355; Geography 221, 222, 331, 337; Historic Preservation 101, 102, 207, 305, 320, 325; Sociology 313, 341; Spanish 416.

American Studies course offerings will be found under the 4 letter code of AMST in the course listings.

201- Introduction to American Studies (3)

Introduction to the method and theory of American Studies, its practice and a survey of key texts.

202 – Sophomore American Studies Seminar (3)

Sophomore-level seminar that explores a topic chosen by the instructor.

303 – Junior American Studies Seminar (3)

Junior-level seminar that explores a topic chosen by the instructor.

333 – Issues in Human Rights (3)

Analysis and discussion of changing concepts of human rights and the movements that have defended and broadened them. Cross-listed as ANTH 333.

350 – Topics in American Studies (3)

Exploration of specific topics in American Studies.

485 – Senior Thesis (3)

Prerequisite: Senior standing and permission of instructor. A significant research project pursued under the supervision of a faculty mentor.

491 – Independent Study (3)

Directed individual research on problems in American Studies, as approved by the Director. No more than three credits can count toward the major.

499 – Internship (variable credit)

Supervised off-campus experience, developed in consultation with the Director. Six credits may be taken but only three credits may count in major.

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