American Studies
Overview
The American Studies program operates on Lionel Trilling's premise that
"the primary function of art and thought is to liberate the individual
from the tyranny of his [or her] culture in the environmental sense and to
permit him or her to stand beyond it in an autonomy of perception and
judgment." Both the matter and the method of American Studies are
encompassed by the national motto "E Pluribus Unum," which suggests the
ways that we create communities -- both cultural and academic -- from
differences. American culture is a complex dialectic of different regional
and cultural strains, and the best methodological approach to America is a
multiplicity of disciplinary perspectives, unified by the analytical and
integrative skills of each student.
By discovering the American cultural patterns that influence their lives,
students in American Studies learn how to make lives of critical
consequence. Their interdisciplinary training also helps them to make a
living in a variety of ways -- as journalists, attorneys, ministers,
social workers, educators, etc.
General Education Credit
American Studies courses that fulfill General Education Requirements are
listed in the Class and Lab Schedule.
Requirements for the Major
In consultation with an adviser, students construct nine-course majors
which normally include American Studies 100, a 200-level topics course, and a 300-level seminar (when
subjects are different, the topics course and the seminar may be taken
more than once), and six designated disciplinary courses (with at least
one course in each of three departments). Of the nine courses, at least
three must be at Level III.
Because the United States is composed of a multiplicity of peoples, at
least one course dealing with racial and multicultural studies is
recommended. Because American Studies is an active interaction with an
ongoing culture, we recommend programs of service and/or internships.
Because American Studies is implicitly comparative, we also recommend the
"perspective by incongruity" of foreign study.
Courses
Among the courses which count for American Studies are: American Racial
and Multicultural Studies 121; Art 250; Dance 246, 251; Economics 241, 242, 244,
245, 371, 374,
376; English 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 385, 392; Family Resources 232 242; Level I History courses (American
topics) and History 205, 206, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 249, 330, 333, 335, 33 8, 345;
Music 345 (American topics); Philosophy 253; Physical Education 384; Political Science 111, 232,
235 240, 246, 255, 372, 373, 374, 376, 381; Religion 243, 249;
Social Work 221, 235, 258;
Sociology/Anthropology 121, 126, 235,
240, 244, 246,
248 , 260, 265,
266; Speech-Theater 160, 260, 382, 389 (American
topics).
Interim courses which count as designated disciplinary courses in American
Studies are offered annually; see the Interim announcement or the
coordinator for the approved list.
- 100 American Culture: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
- This analysis of modern American society introduces theories and
methods of culture studies, beginning with anthropological definitions of
culture and including perspectives of sociology, political science,
history, art history and Eng-lish. Students use these tools to exa-mine
the moral ecology of everyday life in America, looking at the cultural
meanings of work, clothes, food, family, gender, buildings, bodies,
television, advertising and education. Offered Fall Semester.
- 201 American Studies: A Topical Approach
- Students apply theories and methods of culture studies to a selected
major topic in American culture. The course employs a discussion format,
focusing on critical reading, analytic essays.
- 294, 394 Internship
- 298 Independent Study
- 301 Seminar
- This course undertakes an intensive study of a particular period or
topic through the interdisciplinary perspective of American Studies. This
course employs a seminar format, with concentration on student research.
Offered Spring Semester.
- 398 Independent Research
Paracollege Seminars
The following Paracollege seminars, approved for American Studies credit and
open to general college students, were offered in 1995-96:
- American Culture and Politics
- Intellectual History of the Environment
- Mass Media and Popular Culture
- Media and Politics
Faculty
(The faculty of interdisciplinary programs are drawn from a variety of
departments. See faculty listing under department for individual degree
information.)
James Farrell (Coordinator)
Professor of History, 1977-
Contemporary culture, environmental history
Mark Allister
Associate Professor of English, 1986-
American literature
Christopher Grasso
Assistant Professor of History, 1992-
Colonial, early national history
Carol Holly
Professor of English, 1975-
American literature, autobiography
Frieda Knobloch
Assistant Professor of History, 1994-
Environmental history
Mary Titus
Associate Professor of English, 1989-
African-American literature