American Studies
When we say "it's only natural" to do something, do we mean "it's only cultural?" American Studies is a program designed to play with ideas that help us figure out why we act like Americans. Students learn about America specifically the United States using a variety of disciplinary studies from history, literature, art, music, sociology, anthropology, political science to economics. American Studies investigates the cultural patterns that affect and reflect the ideas, ideals, and institutions of the American people.
Dr. America is the curator of the magnificent (but wholly imaginary) American Studies Museum. The good doctor tours the museum's collections, exploring the facts and artifacts of everyday life and discovering the invisible complexity of American culture. In real life, Dr. America is Jim Farrell, professor of history at St. Olaf College.
