American Studies

Welcome Major Courses Faculty Resources Links Contact News Forms Alumnae

Major Requirements for the Major Credits A minimum of 40 credits chosen from courses offered by program faculty and American Studies approved courses in related areas. Courses First-year students are encouraged to take a 100-level course from the program's yearly offerings. amst 201, Perspectives in American Studies amst 301, Senior Seminar 8 credits from surveys, such as these arth 250, American Painting engl 240-241, American Literature I and II hist 170, The American People, 1500-1865; hist 171, The American Peoples since 1865; hist 281, African American History to 1865; or hist 282, African American History: 1865 to the Present Majors should aim for chronological scope in the surveys. 8 additional credits at the 100 or 200 level from the surveys noted above or the courses suggested below 16 credits at the 300-level (not including American Studies 301) Other Within the above course requirements, the major requires the following: 4 credits in the social sciences 4 credits in African American culture 4 credits in a course that critically assesses experiences and peoples of the Americas traditionally excluded from American studies, for instance, courses focusing on Latin American or Native American culture, or on Asian American, Latino, or other immigrant communities in the United States. American studies is an interdisciplinary major. Students who pursue an interdisciplinary major automatically fulfill the College's "outside the major" requirement (see Outside the Major). The committee chair advises all majors until they select appropriate faculty advisers from the committee. In designing individual programs, students should consider electing courses in the theory and methodology of specific disciplines, as well as in non-U.S. courses that allow her to view the American experience from a comparative perspective. Students are encouraged, in consultation with their advisers, to develop their own concentration within the major to give their studies focus. Concentrations may range widely according to individual interests, such as environmental and urban issues, media and popular culture, literature and the arts, immigration and ethnicity. Asian American studies may be selected as a concentration in conjunction with the Five College Certificate in Asian/Pacific/ American Studies (see Five College Asian/Pacific/American Studies (APA) Certificate). A regular exchange program with Sussex University in England allows a limited number of juniors to study abroad each year in one of the premier American studies programs outside the United States. There are also opportunities for study and internships at other institutions, such as the Smithsonian and the Mystic Seaport Maritime Studies Program. Requirements for the Minor Credits A minimum of 16 credits Courses amst 201, Perspectives in American Studies amst 301, Senior Seminar At least two additional courses beyond the 100 level

Design by Wendy Queiros, updates by American Studies. Last updated November 26, 2007 Welcome | Major | Courses | Faculty | Resources | Links | Contact | News