American Studies
Overview
American Studies is the interdisciplinary exploration of American culture. Situated at the intersection of historical and cultural analyses, students in American Studies interrogate the multiple voices and visions that have shaped American culture both past and present, and analyze debates over the meaning of American identity and culture in the United States and in transnational contexts.
The courses in Oxy’s American studies major offer multiple perspectives on American culture, history, literature, arts, and American domestic and international politics. The curriculum draws upon courses in these subjects plus media arts and culture, psychology, religion, and more. Several American Studies courses are cross-listed with courses in Black Studies, East Asian Studies, Diplomacy & World Affairs, and Latino/a & Latin American Studies. We highly encourage our majors to apply for international and domestic off-campus study, and Oxy’s Los Angeles location offers myriad opportunities for community-based learning and community engagement.
The knowledge you will develop as an American studies major is not only an integral part of the education promised by the College's mission statement, but also prepares students for citizenship in American society and an increasingly globalized world. The major prepares you for a wide range of careers in business, education, law, media, entertainment, public affairs, and non-governmental organizations.
Major Requirements
The American Studies major consists of a minimum of 10 courses (40 units). Students must complete three required courses: one introductory course in American Studies (AMST 101); a junior seminar in American Studies Theory and Methods (AMST 390); and the capstone senior seminar (AMST 490). In addition to these courses, students will take seven electives. These will consist of two courses from each of the two thematic clusters ("cultural productions" and "historical perspectives"); and three additional electives. Three of the seven electives must be 300-level courses.
REQUIRED COURSEWORK
Core Required Courses
All majors must take these three courses.
| AMST 101 | Introduction to American Studies | 4 units |
| AMST 390 | Theories and Methods of American Studies | 4 units |
| AMST 490 | Senior Seminar | 4 units |
Cultural Productions
Students must select two courses from the list below:
| AMST 215 | Discipline and Desire: The History of Sexuality in the United States | 4 units |
| AMST 220 | Race, Gender, and Sexuality in American Film and Media | 4 units |
| AMST 233 | American Queer Novel | 4 units |
| AMST 260/LLAS 260 | United States Latino Literature and Cultural Studies | 4 units |
| AMST 265/WRD 265 | Feminist Rhetorics and Social Change | 4 units |
| AMST 270 | Asian American Literature | 4 units |
| AMST 320 | Graphic Narratives: From Pulp Fiction to Comix Literature | 4 units |
| AMST 335 | Queer of Color Critique | 4 units |
| ENGL 289 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
| ENGL 346/BLST 346 | 19th Century African American Literature | 4 units |
Students may also apply
AMST 295 to the Cultural Productions cluster if they have enrolled in the "Dis/Ability and Care Cultures in the U.S." section of the course.
Historical Perspectives
Students must select two courses from the list below:
Students may also apply AMST 295 to the Historical Perspectives cluster if they have enrolled in the "Origins of the New Right" section of the course.
Additional Electives
Students must take three additional elective chosen either from the list of approved electives below, or one of the thematic clusters above.
| AMST 200/POLS 200 | Democratic Socialism, American Style | 4 units |
| AMST 295 | Topics in American Studies | 4 units |
| AMST 332 | Psychic Life of Violence in the United States | 4 units |
| ARTH 285 | Nineteenth Century Art: Culture, Politics, and National Identity | 4 units |
| BLST 101 | Introduction to Black Studies | 4 units |
| ENGL 142 | Joyful Noise! On Black Literature and Musicality | 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 145 | Introduction to American Religion | 4 units |
| RELS 245/BLST 245 | African American Religious Traditions | 4 units |
| UEP 230 | Climate Justice: Theory and Practice | 4 units |
Second-Stage Writing Requirement
Students majoring in American Studies will satisfy the Second-Stage Writing Requirement by successfully completing the methodology research paper with a grade of B-. Should a student not successfully complete the requirement in AMST 390 during their junior year, they will be required to revise the essay until it meets the passing specifications, which must be done no later than the fourth week of their senior year fall semester.
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.
Coursework
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 five courses for a total of 20 units. AMST 101 is required along with one elective in the "Cultural Productions" category and one elective in the "Historical Perspectives" category and two additional electives from any category.
Courses
American Studies Courses
Faculty
Regular Faculty
Sharla Fett, chair
Professor, History
B.A., Carleton College; M.A., Stanford University; Ph.D., Rutgers University
Heather Lukes
Associate Professor
B.A., University of California, Berkeley; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Julie Prebel
Associate Professor
Director of Writing Center and Programs
B.A., University of California, Berkeley; M.A., California State University, San Francisco; Ph.D., University of Washington
Xiao-huang Yin
Professor
B.A., Nanjing University; M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University
On Special Appointmnet
Alexandra Fine
Non-Tenure Track Assistant
B.A., Oberlin College; M.A., California College of the Arts; Ph.D., University of California, Davis
Affiliated Faculty
Erica Ball
Mary Jane Hewitt Department Chair in Black Studies
Professor, Black
B.A., Wesleyan University; M.A., Ph.D., The Graduate Center, City University of New York
Advisory Committee
Raul Villa
Professor, English
B.A., Yale University; M.A., University of Michigan; Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz