American Studies Center

NOTE: The Minor in American Studies requires the successful completion of 30 credit hours or ten courses. Currently, AMST 211, 212, 213, and 214 are the only four required courses for the Minor in American Studies. An additional six courses can be chosen from the remaining selection of American Studies courses, albeit at least two of the remaining courses must be upper division courses, i.e. 300-400 level.

AMST 211: Introduction to American Studies I: Aspects of American Culture

An interdisciplinary course that examines the ways different disciplines have approached the study of American culture. Students are introduced to the main cultural movements in American history and to contemporary intellectual debates within the field.

AMST 212: Introduction to American Studies II: Aspects of American History and Government

Selected topics, themes and issues in American history, politics and government with emphasis on their contemporary relevance.

AMST 213: American Fiction

A survey of American writers of fiction (short stories and novels) from the late 18^th century to the present, including prominent representatives such as Hawthorne, Melville, Poe, and Twain from the 19^th century and Hemingway, Faulkner, and Steinbeck from the 20^th century.

AMST 214: American Poetry and Drama

A survey of major American poets and dramatists, including 19^th century poets such as Whitman and Dickinson, and representatives of the 20^th century such as Pound, Eliot, Stevens, Ginsberg, and Plath. Drama will begin with the works of O’Neill and continue with major successors such as Williams, Miller, Albee, et al.

Survey of American history from the early American experience to the end of the Era of Reconstruction with an overview of political institutions, constitutional development, the Revolution, the sectional crisis, the Civil War, race relations, economic development, foreign policy, and intellectual and cultural ideas.

Survey of US history from the end of the era of Reconstruction to the present. The rise of new constitutional and political developments, America’s ascent to industrial supremacy, America’s rise as a world power, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, social, political and cultural changes since the 1960s, and the rise of neo-conservatism and neo-liberalism.

Theories in government that influenced the framers of the US Constitution, Federalism, political participation, public opinion, the media, political parties and interest groups at the national and local governments.

Political institutions at the national and local levels, such as the legislature, judiciary and the executive. America’s economic policy, bureaucracy, civil liberties, civil rights, and foreign and defense policies.

An examination of the literary contributions—essays, fiction, poetry and drama—by Native, African, Asian, Latino and other American ethnic minorities, reflecting the cultural diversity of America’s literary heritage.

An examination of a variety of approaches to cultural criticism as they relate to American culture, encompassing the nature of aesthetic accomplishment as well as the social contexts that alter and enrich the shape of cultural expressions in America.

An exploration of relationships between American ideas and American society, with particular concern for the changing ways in which Americans have thought about themselves, their communities and their role in the world.

The historical development of the US approach and policies toward the Middle East since the colonial era, with special emphasis on the relationship from World War I to the present.

A survey of the physical, political and cultural geography of the United States.

A descriptive survey of the constitutional and structural principles, processes and functions of the American governmental system, along with an examination of major political institutions.

A survey of prominent literary movements in the United States, together with an analysis of significant works and themes associated with these movements.

An introduction to various aspects of popular culture in America, as manifested in movies, radio and television programs, and other forms of popular entertainment.

An examination of the questions of race, ethnicity and identity in the United States with special emphasis on minorities.

A historical survey of America’s rise to international prominence and a discussion of its current place on the international scene and its stance on various regional and global issues.

Various specialized topics are offered for discussion in fields such as science and technology, anthropology, art, music, religion, politics and sociology. The range of topics changes from year to year and is announced at the beginning of each semester.