American Studies Minor
Coordinator: Assistant Professor Pearson
American Studies is the interdisciplinary study of American culture. The minor provides an opportunity for students to meld interests in the culture and history of the United States in a way that they cannot in single, traditional disciplines. Students will combine knowledge and methods from anthropology, art history, communications, history, law, literature, political science, sociology and other disciplines to interrogate multiple perspectives, recognizing how various individuals, peoples and groups help create American society as well as challenge its institutions, both within and outside the United States.
“America” is here understood to comprise not only the geographically and historically delineated space of the United States, but also the symbolic construction of “America” and “American.” As a result, students will understand “America” through a variety of methodological lenses, ranging from “myth and symbol,” the earliest methodology of American Studies that interrogated recurring themes in texts that reflected American culture, to contemporary combinations of multidisciplinary approaches. American Studies also provides a place for investigating American culture in the rest of the world and throughout history, ranging from its significance during the age of exploration to its current influence in the global experience.
The American Studies minor complements many majors and provides an opportunity for students to explore their intellectual interests beyond single disciplines. Students will find that the program provides an experience that supplements training for graduate and professional programs as well as various professions.
The minor requires a minimum of 24 semester hours.
Minor Requirements:
Required course: 4 sh
| AMS 2100 | CONCEPTS IN AMERICAN STUDIES | 4 sh |
Select one course from the following: 4 sh
Select an additional 2000-level course related to American culture: 4 sh
| ENG 2230 | AMERICAN LITERATURE BEFORE 1865 | 4 sh |
| ENG 2240 | AMERICAN LITERATURE AFTER 1865 | 4 sh |
| ENG 2250 | AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE BEFORE 1945 | 4 sh |
| ENG 2260 | AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE SINCE 1945 | 4 sh |
| IDS 2120 | WOMEN, MEN AND SOCIETY | 4 sh |
| IDS 2140 | THE ITALIAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE | 4 sh |
| POL 2220 | STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS | 4 sh |
| REL 1210 | RELIGION AND ROCK & ROLL | 4 sh |
| SOC 2200 | SOCIAL ISSUES AND PROBLEMS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY | 4 sh |
Students wishing to include a course not on this list or which does not clearly indicate American content in its title may submit the syllabus of a proposed course to the coordinator for approval.
Select three 3000- or 4000-level American Studies-related courses: 12 sh
Students wishing to include a course not on this list or which does not clearly indicate American content in its title may submit the syllabus of a proposed course to the coordinator for approval.
Total Credit Hours: 24