American Studies

Matthew Eliott, Ph.D. and Adam Silver, Ph.D. Coordinators

The American Studies program offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the diverse and dynamic structures, experiences and expressions of United States society and culture. The program merges coursework in Art, English, History, Political Science and Sociology in order to provide students with a holistic understanding of the U.S. through a focus on its institutions, organizations, myths, ideologies, cultural practices and cultural products.

The major in American Studies serves as a valuable educational background for future study and careers in fields such as law, public policy, media industries, international relations, social service, business and education. Majors are encouraged to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical capacity through an internship and capstone experience. The program invites students from all backgrounds to think critically about the diverse and changing American experience of which they are a part and about the ways in which that experience shapes our understanding of history, politics, communication and culture.

LEARNING GOALS AND OUTCOMES

• To understand and apply a range of methods for analyzing American culture across the disciplines, including historical, sociological and literary or aesthetic analysis • To understand the significance of diversity in the U.S. through the analysis of race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality or other group identity formulations in a U.S. cultural context • To understand how major U.S. institutions and structures, including governmental and cultural institutions, reflect and shape

American society • To construct and communicate arguments in written and oral forms addressing the significance of primary texts or material artifacts from American culture, such as works of literature, painting, photography, historical records and music • To conduct scholarly research on American

Studies related topics

THE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE

The American Studies Major requires that students complete a Capstone Project in a 4000-level course. Students may choose to enroll in either AMST4178 and complete a directed study with an American Studies associated faculty member resulting in a major research project and paper or they may complete AMST4995 and produce a portfolio based on a semester-long internship.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The major in American Studies is a 12-course interdisciplinary program.

B.A. IN AMERICAN STUDIES

**Students MUST select at least two (2) 3000 level courses from options below when completing the major Foundations in American Studies:

1. AMST1101 Introduction to American Studies (AI-L) (LI) (DM) 2. POLSC1201 Introduction to American Politics and Government (SA) (SS) 3. SOC1105 Major Institutions in U.S. Society (SA) (SS) (DM)

4. HIST2106 A History of New England: 1500-Present (H) (HI)

5-6. Democracy:

Two courses from the following:

ART1203 Art of Resistance: Social Justice & the Visual Arts (AI-A) (VCI) (SJ) POLSC2225 The 1960s and Political Activism POLSC2232 Parties and Interests in American Politics: Polarized America POLSC2602 Introduction to Law and the Judicial System POLSC3160 American Political Thought POLSC3201 Congress, Representation and the Legislative Process POLSC3202 The American Presidency

7-8. Power, Inequality, and Society:

Two courses from the following:

CCJ1203 Crime & Justice (SS)

ENGL2309 The Haves and the Have-Nots: American Authors on Money, Class and Power (AI-L) (LI)

SOC2105 Race, Ethnicity & Group Relations (SA) (SS) (DM)

SOC2127 Social Class & Inequality (SA) (SS)

SOC3201 Worlds in Motion: The Causes & Consequences of Migration

9-11. American Stories:

Three courses from the following:

ART2217 American Art: An Anti-Racist Progressive History (AI-A) ENGL2413 African American Literature: A Tradition of Resistance (AI-L) (LI) (DM) ENGL2604 American Voices II: US Literature Since 1865 (AI-L) (DM) ENGL3601 Crime Stories and American Culture HIST2130 African American History: 1865-Present (H) HIST2205 Women in American History (H) (HI) HIST3121 Surviving Columbus: 500 Years of Indigenous History (DM) HIST3205 Themes in the History of the American West

12. Capstone

Choice of:

AMST4178 Directed Research in American Studies

or

AMST4995 Internship

MINOR IN AMERICAN STUDIES

The American Studies minor offers students an introduction to the rigors of interdisciplinary study while serving as an excellent complement to traditional arts and sciences disciplines, such as History, English, Art, Political Science and Sociology for students who chose have a particular interest in the study of U.S. society.

Requirements for Minor:

1. AMST1101 Introduction to American Studies (AI-L) (LI) (DM) 2. POLSC1201 Introduction to American Politics and Government (SA) (SS)

or

SOC1105 Major Institutions in US Society (SA) (SS) 3. HIST2106 History of New England: 1500 to Present (H) (HI) 4. One 2000-level course from American Studies catalog 5. One 3000-level course from American Studies catalog

DISTINCTION IN THE FIELD REQUIREMENTS

• 3.5 cumulative GPA and 3.67 GPA in courses for American Studies Major • Grade of A- or higher in AMST4178 (Directed Study Capstone) in fall semester • Approval of distinction by directed study faculty advisor and second faculty reader of project • Distinction presentation in spring semester

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