Interdepartmental Programs

AMERICAN STUDIES MAJOR

Randall, Administrative Coordinator.

The American Studies major offers an exploration of American civilization in a
structured, integrated manner and allows the freedom of choice desirable in this broadly interdepartmental major. The major enables the student to study the culture in some depth, learning of its many facets and synthesizing the knowledge and ideas acquired.

1. A student majoring in American Studies must have a plan of study approved by the student’s advisor and by the American Studies Major Committee (ASC). The proposal form should be obtained from the administrative coordinator.

2. Students wishing to include off campus programs, transfer credits, occasional
courses, and other courses not listed below should, whenever possible, obtain prior approval from ASC. All such courses must be approved by ASC before the student may officially complete the major.

3. Proposals for Independent Studies (AMS 8_5) should be submitted to ASC three weeks before pre registration for the term in which the study is to be conducted and may not be considered if submitted less than two weeks before that term begins.

Courses in American Studies

AMS-705 Integrative American Studies
The capstone of the major. Allows faculty and students maximum flexibility in exploring ways to integrate their knowledge of American civilization. Considers a specific era, issue,or institution in American history through examination of historical, sociological, literary, and popular works. Prerequisite: open to all American Studies majors; open to others by consent of instructor. (Offered Spring Term)

AMS 8_5 Independent Studies
Independent work on a selected project under the supervision of the American Studies Committee. The major consists of 11 courses selected from the approved list below. Four courses are required: The United States to 1865
(HIS-145), The United States Since 1865 (HIS-155), Integrative American Studies (AMS-705), and United States Literature (ENG-335). All majors must also complete a distribution requirement involving nine courses. The student must take at least three courses from each of three divisions below. Required courses may be used to help satisfy the distribution requirement. These requirements are designed to ensure that the student attains a reasonably broad knowledge of American civilization while gaining experience with the methods and materials of several general areas. Students are encouraged to strengthen their majors by selecting all electives from upper division courses and to consider carefully the appropriateness of the selection to their intellectual and career goals.

APPROVED COURSES

American History

AAM-367 The African American in the United States I
AAM-377 The African American in the United States II
HIS-145 History of the United States to 1865
HIS-155 History of the United States Since 1865
HIS-397 Women In America
HIS-487 American Colonial History
HIS-505 United States Legal History
HIS-525 Recent American History I
HIS-535 Recent American History II
HIS-545 Intellectual and Social History of the U.S. I
HIS-555 Intellectual and Social History of the U.S. II
HIS-725 Seminar in American History I
HIS-735 Seminar in American History II

American Culture

ART-265 American Art
ART-457 Late 20th-Century Art
ENG-202 Popular Literature (Topic must be American; one course credit only)
AAM/ENG-267 African American Literature
ENG-275 Current Literature
ENG-335 United States Literature
ENG-425 Modern Poetry
ENG-785,-795 Seminar in Black Literature
REL-215 Religion in America
RHE-277 Cultural Studies
WSH-715 Arts of Washington, D.C.

American Social and Natural Sciences

BIO-105 Introduction to Environmental Studies
ECO-205 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECO-215 Principles of Microeconomics
ECO-305 Money and Banking
ECO-317 Labor Economics
ECO-457 U.S. Economic History
POL-115 American National Government and Politics
POL-207 Religion and American Politics
POL-245 Political Parties and Elections
POL-277 Women and Politics in the United States
POL-315 Topics in Political Science
POL-325 The American Congress
POL-335 The Constitution and the Roles of Government
POL-345 The American Presidency
POL-375 The Constitution and Individual Liberties
SOC-217 Sociology of Religion
SOC-328 Urban Sociology
SOC-415 Social Conflict
SOC-425 Social Change
WSH-725 Washington, D.C. Seminar in American Government