American Studies
Overview
American Studies is an interdisciplinary exploration - with an emphasis on history and literature - of the voices and visions that interpret and in turn shape the American experience. The search for a distinctive American culture has a long-standing tradition. How that experience is represented is influenced by the changing dynamics of domestic affairs and the geopolitics of United States foreign policy. The study of what it means to be "American" both at home and abroad is to understand the often conflicting voices and visions of Americans over time. Therefore, we encourage our majors to apply for international and domestic off-campus study.
The field is concerned with questions such as whether or not there is a national culture. Can we, for example, reconcile the tension between traditional narratives of individualism and self-reliance, and the counter-narratives of community and oppression? This discussion is particularly appropriate as we enter a new century of challenges in a post-Cold War world. The strengths of our department include courses offering multiple perspectives on American history, literature, culture, art, and politics.
Major Requirements
The American Studies major consists of a minimum of 10 courses (40 units). Students must complete five required courses: one introductory course in U.S. History; one introductory course in U.S. literature; one course on theory and methods (AMST 290); junior seminar (AMST 390) or approved 300-level AMST course; and the capstone senior seminar (AMST 490). In addition to these courses, students will take five electives. These will consist of two courses from each of the two thematic clusters ("cultural productions" and "historical perspectives"); and one additional elective.
REQUIRED COURSEWORK
Introduction to History
Choose one of the following:
| HIST 101 | United States Culture and Society I | 4 units |
| | Or | |
| HIST 102 | United States Culture and Society II | 4 units |
American Literature Survey
Choose one of the following:
| ENGL 189 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
| | Or | |
| ENGL 289 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
Theory and Methodology
The majority of students will fulfill this requirement by completing both AMST 290 and AMST 490. In rare circumstances, a student may substitute a theory and methodology course from another department for AMST 290 in consultation with their advisor and with approval from the chair of AMST.
| AMST 290 | American Studies Theory and Methodology | 4 units |
| AMST 490 | Senior Seminar | 4 units |
Junior Seminar
Cultural Productions
Students must select two courses from the list below:
Historical Perspectives
Students must select two courses from the list below:
Additional Electives
Students must take one additional elective chosen either from the list of approved electives below, or one of the thematic clusters above.
| AMST 101 | United States Redux: Introduction to American Studies | 4 units |
| AMST 200/POLS 200 | Democratic Socialism, American Style | 4 units |
| AMST 295 | Topics in American Studies | 4 units |
| AMST 296/DWA 287 | Transnational Liberation: Black Radical Thought in the Middle East and North Africa | 4 units |
| AMST 375/PSYC 375 | Sociopolitics of Race: Color-blind/Color-insight | 4 units |
| BLST 110 | Introduction to Black Studies | 4 units |
| CTSJ 232 | Introduction to Cultural Studies | 4 units |
| HIST 312/BLST 312 | Race, Rights, and Revolution in the Atlantic World | 4 units |
| LLAS 385/PSYC 385 | Chicanx Identities and Social Institutions: Education, Health, Politics | 4 units |
| POLS 208 | Movements for Social Justice | 4 units |
| RELS 245/BLST 245 | African American Religious Traditions | 4 units |
| RELS 347 | Religious Liberty and the Law | 4 units |
Second-Stage Writing Requirement
The majority of students majoring in American Studies will satisfy the Second-Stage Writing Requirement by successfully completing AMST 390 with a B- or better. In lieu of taking AMST 390, students may take a 300-level AMST course from the list below.
Comprehensive Requirement
Students fulfill the Senior Comprehensive Requirement by successful completion of a paper and a presentation on a topic in the student's area of emphasis, as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the senior seminar (
AMST 490).
College Honors
Students meeting college requirements for honors may apply for admission to the program by submitting a written proposal for an honors thesis by October 1 of their senior year. Those accepted may register for honors independent study (
AMST 499) during the fall or spring semester of the senior year; the thesis should be completed no later than the beginning of April of the senior year.
In general it is expected that honors students will take both:
For further information see the Honors Program and the department chair.
Transfer Credit Policies
The American Studies Program accepts online courses for general elective credit, but will not accept online courses for major or minor credit. Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for more details.
Information that can be included in this section include:
- specific policies for majors/minors
- AP/IB Exam credit - course equivalencies?
- Online courses
- Policies specifically for matriculating frosh, transfer students, returning students after a leave of absence
Information that can be included in this section include:
- specific policies for majors/minors
- AP/IB Exam credit - course equivalencies?
- Online courses
- Policies specifically for matriculating frosh, transfer students, returning students after a leave of absence
Information that can be included in this section include:
- specific policies for majors/minors
- AP/IB Exam credit - course equivalencies?
- Online courses
- Policies specifically for matriculating frosh, transfer students, returning students after a leave of absence
Minor Requirements
The American Studies Minor consists of a minimum of 3 required courses (US History, American Literature, and Methodology) and 2 electives for a total of 20 units.
COURSEWORK
Introduction to History
Choose one of the following:
| HIST 101 | United States Culture and Society I | 4 units |
| | Or | |
| HIST 102 | United States Culture and Society II | 4 units |
American Literature Survey
Choose one of the following:
| ENGL 189 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
| | Or | |
| ENGL 289 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
Methodology
Choose one of the following:
| AMST 290 | American Studies Theory and Methodology | 4 units |
American Studies
Students must select two courses from the list below:
Courses
American Studies Courses
Faculty
Regular Faculty
Sharla Fett, chair
Professor, History
B.A., Carleton College; M.A., Stanford University; Ph.D., Rutgers University
Xiao-huang Yin
Professor
B.A., Nanjing University; M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University
On Special Appointment
Adrienne Tien
Non-Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
B.A., Wellesley College; M.S., Syracuse University
Advisory Committee
James Ford III
Associate Professor, English
B.A., Morehouse College; M.A., Ph.D., University of Notre Dame
Jaclyn Rodríguez
Professor, Latino/a and Latin American Studies
A.B., Occidental College; M.A., Ph.D., University of Michigan
Raul Villa
Professor, English
B.A., Yale University; M.A., University of Michigan; Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz