AMERICAN STUDIES
Department of History and american studies
Krystyn Moon, Program Director and Career Advisor
Allied Faculty
Antonio Barrenechea, Department of
English, Linguistics, and
Communication
Joe Dreiss, Department of Art and Art
History
Brad Hansen, Department of Economics
Margaret Huber, Department of
Anthropology
Carter Hudgins, Departments of History
and American Studies and Historic
Preservation
Mary Beth Mathews, Department of
Classics, Philosophy, and Religion
Jeff 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
Greg Stull, Department of Theater 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 (8 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 215, 302, 312, 341; Art History 352, 355, 491; Communication 352, 370; Economics 351, 375; English 328, 329, 351, 353, 355, 356, 357, 358, 362, 371, 376EE, 411, 453, 455, 457; Geography 221, 222, 331, 337; Historic Preservation 101, 102, 206, 207, 305, 320, 325; History 303, 304, 305, 311, 313, 314, 315, 318, 320, 321, 325, 327, 328, 329, 380, 390, 395, 416, 417, 426, 444; Interdisciplinary Studies 203, 205; Linguistics 302, 307, 470J; Music History and Literature 368; Political Science 201, 202, 311, 312, 370; Religion 250, 251, 276, 305, 331T; Sociology 304, 313, 315, 331, 341, 411, 421, 440, 446; Spanish 416.
Examples of Courses Available for Concentrations:
Gender and Sexuality: Anthropology 312; English 362; History 327, 328, 426; Interdisciplinary Studies 205; Linguistics 302, 307; Political Science 370; Sociology 304, 315, 331, 440, 442.
Race and Ethnicity: Anthropology 215, 302; Economics 351; English 328, 329,351, 353, 355, 444; Interdisciplinary Studies 203; Linguistics 302, 470J; Music History and Literature 368; Religion 250, 251; Sociology 304, 313, 341, 421, 440, 442, 446; Spanish 416.
Cultural Expression: Anthropology 341; Art History 351, 355; English 328, 329, 351, 353, 355, 356, 357, 358, 362, 371, 376EE, 453, 455, 457; Historic Preservation 101, 102, 206, 207, 305, 320, 325; History 325, 329, 395; Music History and Literature 368; Sociology 411.
Human Rights: American Studies 333; English
351, 353, 362, 376EE; Geography 331; History
304, 313, 314, 315, 327, 328, 416, 417, 444;
Sociology 421, 446; Spanish 416.
Politics and Society: Communication 352,
370; Economics 375; Geography 221, 222, 331;
History 380, 390, 416, 417; Political Science 201,
202, 311, 312, 370; 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
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.
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.