Interdisciplinary
College of Arts and Sciences
105 Bowman Hall
Tel: 330-672-2062
Web: http://as.kent.edu

American Studies Major 

Courses in the American studies program enable undergraduates to study the many rich facets of the United States and its place in the global world using a variety of disciplines, including historical and literary studies, visual studies, musicology, media studies, and ethnic and gender studies. The curriculum emphasizes the diversity of American society and culture while stressing the importance of studying the often conflicting stories of nationhood and the range of experiences of what it has meant—and continues to mean—to be American.

Drawing on coursework in history, literature, the arts and the social sciences, the American studies major offers a broad perspective for students seeking to understand American culture. This program takes an interdisciplinary approach to American life and thought while permitting considerable emphasis on a particular field of analysis chosen by the student.

Students with degrees in American studies may pursue graduate work in American studies or a related field. In the latter instance, students would be well advised to pursue a second major in the related field.

I. Core Requirements   48-51
AMST 10001 Introduction to American Studies

3

  
  40197 Senior Colloquium

3

  
English    
Choose from the following:

9

  
ENG 33001 U.S. Literature to 1865 (3)    
  33002 U.S. Literature from 1865-1945 (3)    
  33003 U.S. Literature from 1945-Present (3)    
  33011 African American Literature (3)    
  34021 Women's Literature (3)    
  36001 Literary Criticism (3)    
  39695 ST: Ethnic Literature of the U.S. (3)    
History    
Choose from the following:

9

  
HIST 31070 History of American Business Enterprise (3)    
  41056 History of Colonial America: 1492-1714 (3)    
  41057 Eighteenth-Century America: 1714-1789 (3)    
  41070 American Social and Intellectual History, 1790-1876 (3)    
  41071 American Social and Intellectual History, 1876-Present (3)    
  41074 American Economic History (3)    
  41079 History of the Immigrant in America (3)    
  41083 U.S. Foreign Relations Through World War I (3)    
  41084 U.S. Foreign Relations From 1920 (3)    
Humanities    
Choose from the following: 12-15  
ARTH 42056 American Art: 1607-1860 (3)    
  42057 American Art and Architecture: 1860-1940 (3)    
  42058 History of Photography (3)    
JMC 40008 History of American Mass Communication (3)    
MUS 42131 America's Music (3)    
  42161 History of Jazz (3)    
PAS 33110 The Black Woman: Historical Perspectives (3)    
  35100 African American Social, Political and Economic Systems (3)    
  35200 African Social, Political and Economic Systems (3)    
  41192 African American Affairs Practicum (3)    
  42500 Black Education in America (3)    
  49095 Selected Topics (3)    
PHIL 31010 Twentieth-Century Philosophy (3)    
  31020 American Philosophy (3)    
  41060 Pragmatism (3)    
WMST 30000 Colloquium in Women's Studies (3)    
Social Sciences    
Choose from the following:

12

  
ANTH 18210 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3)    
  48270 Native Peoples of North America (3)    
ECON 32083 The Economics of Poverty (3)    
GEOG 17064 Geography of the United States and Canada (3)    
  42064 Historical Geography of the United States and Canada (3)    
POL 40112 Politics and the Mass Media (3)    
  40116 Public Opinion and Political Behavior (3)    
  40830 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)    
II. Electives upper-division  

6-9
Select from American studies (40095 or 40096), anthropology, English, history, political
science and sociology in consultation with the coordinator, with two areas represented.
At least 21 hours must be taken in the humanities and major electives combined.
   

Total

   113-114




American Studies Minor

Drawing on coursework in history, literature, the arts and the social sciences, the American studies minor offers a broad introduction to American culture. This program takes an interdisciplinary approach to American life and thought, encouraging the drawing of connections among various aspects of American culture.
AMST 10001 Introduction to American Studies

3
  40197 Senior Colloquium in American Studies

3
  American Literature  
  Choose from the following:

6
ENG 33001 U.S. Literature to 1865 (3)

 
  33002 U.S. Literature from 1865 to 1945 (3)

 
  33003 U.S. Literature from 1945 to Present (3)

 
  33011 African-American Literature (3)

 
  34021 Women's Literature (3)

 
  36001 Literary Criticism (3)

 
  39695 Topics in Ethnic Literature in the U.S. (3)

 
  American History  
  Choose from the following:

6
HIST 31070 History of American Business Enterprise (3)

 
  41056 History of Colonial America: 1492-1714 (3)

 
  41057 Eighteenth-century America: 1714-1789 (3)

 
  41070 American Social and Intellectual History, 1790-1876 (3)

 
  41071 American Social and Intellectual History, 1876-Present (3)

 
  41074 American Economic History (3)

 
  41079 Migrations to America, 1607 to Present (3)

 
  41083 U.S. Foreign Relations through World War I (3)

 
  41084 U.S. Foreign Relations from 1920 (3)

 
  Pan-African Studies

 
  Choose from the following:

3
PAS 33110 The Black Woman: Historical Perspectives (3)

 
  35100 African American Social, Political and Economic Systems (3)

 
  35200 African Social, Political and Economic Systems (3)

 
  41192 African-American Affairs Practicum (3)

 
  42500 Black Education in America (3)

 
  49095 Special Topics in Pan-African Studies (3)

 
  The Arts or Methods  
  Choose two courses from one group:

6
  The Arts  
ARTH 42056 American Art: 1607-1860 (3)

 
  42057 American Art and Architecture: 1860-1940 (3)

 
  42058 History of Photography (3)

 
JMC 40008 History of American Mass Communication (3)

 
MUS 42131 America's Music (3)

 
  42161 History of Jazz (3)

 
   

OR

  
  Methods  
ANTH* 18210 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3)

 
  48270 Native Peoples of North America (3)

 
GEOG* 17064 Geography of the United States and Canada (3)

 
  42064 Historical Geography of the United States and Canada (3)

 
PHIL** 31010 Twentieth-Century Philosophy (3)

 

**

 31020 American Philosophy (3)

 
  41060 Pragmatism (3)

 
POL 40112 Politics and the Mass Media (3)

 
  40116 Political Opinion and Political Behavior (3)

 
  40830 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)

 
   

Total    

 27


* Only one of these two course may be counted toward the American studies minor requirements.
** Only one of these two courses may be counted toward the American studies minor requirements.

Appropriate special topics courses, particularly those in American studies, may be substituted for courses listed above if approved by the program coordinator.

Minimum cumulative 2.00 GPA required for graduation.

 
 

This page was last modified on August 20, 2009