American Studies Concentration

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Home Page

Search Current Schedule of Courses

American Studies

Chair(s):

George Barlow

American studies is an evolving interdisciplinary field that is anchored by the interrelated study of race, gender, ethnicities, classes, sexuality, religion, and political culture. An acute sensitivity to the historical context of intellectual and social movements, influenced by both regional and global events, is at the core of such a pursuit and constitutes the purpose of a concentration in the 21st century.

The introductory course in the foundations in American studies explores themes through historical and literary documents and other resources. In addition to completing four required courses (the introduction, two theory courses, and the senior seminar), students plan a structured sequence of courses selected from core and elective lists representing a variety of disciplines in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Required, 24 credits as follows:

1. Required Courses

AMS 130 - Introduction to American Studies 4 credits
AMS 225 - Theory and Method in American Studies 4 credits
AMS 235 - The Anthropology of American Culture 4 credits
AMS 495 - Senior Seminar 4 credits

2. Elective Courses

Two 4-credit courses, one course from social studies and one course from humanities

One 4-credit course chosen from the following:

ENG 227 - American Literary Traditions I 4 credits
ENG 228 - American Literary Traditions II 4 credits
ENG 231 - American Literary Traditions III 4 credits
GWS 111 - Introduction to Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies 4 credits
HIS 100 - The U.S. in the Age of Transatlantic Revolution
HIS 100 - The Rise and Fall of New World Slavery
HIS 100 - 1968

And

One 4-credit course chosen from the following list or a 4-credit course with a primary focus on American society, which has been approved by the American studies concentration chair.

Additional courses in this category will be listed each semester in the registrar’s Schedule of Courses. Special topics courses (195, 295, and 395) and other variable content courses may be counted toward core course requirements with approval from the American Studies Concentration chair.

ANT 200 - Cultural Politics of Hybridity 4 credits
ART 232 - Art Since 1945 4 credits
ART 233 - American Art 4 credits
ECN 218 - Gender and the Economy 4 credits
ECN 229 - American Economic History 4 credits
EDU 101 - Educational Principles in a Pluralistic Society 4 credits
EDU 210 - Historical Perspectives on U.S. Education 4 credits
EDU 212 - Critical Pedagogy and School Reform 4 credits
EDU 215 - Reading and Writing Youth Culture 4 credits
ENG 229 - The Tradition of African American Literature 4 credits
ENG 232 - Ethnic American Literatures 4 credits
ENG 325 - Studies in Ethnic American Literatures 4 credits
ENG 326 - Studies in American Poetry I 4 credits
ENG 328 - Studies in American Poetry II 4 credits
ENG 329 - Studies in African American Literature 4 credits
ENG 330 - Studies in American Prose I 4 credits
ENG 331 - Studies in American Prose II 4 credits
GWS 211 - Foundations of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies 4 credits
GWS 324 - Critical Race Feminisms 4 credits
HIS 212 - Democracy in America, 1789–1848 4 credits
HIS 214 - The American Civil War and Reconstruction 4 credits
HIS 222 - The History of Women in the United States 4 credits
HIS 225 - Native American History, 1491–1865 4 credits
HIS 227 - African American History 4 credits
HIS 228 - The Promised Land: U.S. Immigration History 4 credits
HUM 185 - Film Analysis, Theory & Criticism 4 credits
MUS 202 - Topics in American Music 4 credits
MUS 204 - The Jazz Tradition in America 4 credits
PHI 258 - Classical and Contemporary American Pragmatism 4 credits
PHI 261 - Philosophy of Race and Gender 4 credits
PHI 392 - Advanced Studies in Anglo-American Philosophy 4 credits
PHY 180 - Bridges, Towers, and Skyscrapers 4 credits
POL 216 - Politics of Congress 4 credits
POL 219 - Constitutional Law and Politics 4 credits
POL 237 - Political Parties 4 credits
POL 239 - The Presidency 4 credits
POL 250 - Politics of International Relations 4 credits
POL 310 - Advanced Seminar in American Politics 4 credits
POL 319 - Advanced Seminar in Constitutional Law 4 credits
REL 241 - Religion in U.S. Public Life 4 credits
SOC 240 - Social Movements 4 credits
SOC 260 - Human Sexuality in the United States 4 credits
SOC 270 - Gender and Society 4 credits
SOC 275 - Race and Ethnicity in America 4 credits
SPN 383 - The Latin American Colonial World 4 credits
THE 203 - American Theatre 4 credits
THE 310 - Studies in Dance 4 credits

American Studies Course Descriptions

Click here to list American Studies course descriptions.