American Studies Program
James P. Jacobson, Coordinator
The American Studies Program offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the history, culture and society of the United States. It provides students with the opportunity to develop an integrated understanding of American society by transcending the boundaries of traditional disciplines. Students may major in American Studies or choose a Composite Major with an individualized area of concentration such as: The American City, The American Family, American Public Policy, Politics in America, Race and Ethnicity in America, Visual, Literary and/or Performance Cultures, Criminal Justice in America, American Government, Women in America and Minority Groups in America. Areas of concentration may be highly individualized, depending on the student’s intellectual focus, prior preparation and the availability of courses.
Requirements for American Studies Major
Degree of Bachelor of Arts
HS-341 | American Main Currents I | 3 |
HS-342 | Main Currents in American History II | 3 |
Select two of the following in American Literature: | 6 | |
EL-353 | ||
EL-356 | ||
Interdisciplinary Electives (one course from five of the following groups) | 15 | |
AM-XXX | Capstone Course | 3 |
Total Credits | 30 |
Interdisciplinary Electives
Select one course from five of the following groups.
Group 1 | ||
AR-214 | Art Advertising and Design | 3 |
AR-240 | Cultural Diversity in Art | 3 |
AR-250 | Live Performance Art | 3 |
AR-340 | The Visual Arts in America | 3 |
AR-420 | 3 | |
AR-293 | Today's Film Scene | 3 |
Group 2 | ||
CJ-165 | Introduction to Criminology | 3 |
CJ-170 | Intro to Criminal Justice | 3 |
CJ-175 | Intro to Law Enforcement | 3 |
CJ-210 | Multiculturalism in Justice | 3 |
CJ-222 | Family Law | 3 |
CJ-240 | Gangs and Organized Crime | 3 |
CJ-253 | Social Deviance | 3 |
CJ-258 | Criminal Justice Ethics (Values course) | 3 |
CJ-280 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
CJ-306 | 3 | |
CJ-390 | Criminal Law | 3 |
CJ-420 | Drugs Society & Human Behavior | 3 |
CJ-485 | Child Protection Agencies and the Law | 3 |
Group 3 | ||
CU-256 | The Horror Film | 3 |
CU-282 | Leadership | 3 |
CU-285 | Gender & Communication | 3 |
Group 4 | ||
EC-324 | Poverty & Inequality | 3 |
EC-351 | 3 | |
Group 5 | ||
ED-160 | Education/Schooling/Multicultural Soc | 3 |
ED-390 | Innovative Projects in Education I | 3 |
Group 6 | ||
EL-353 | 3 | |
EL-356 | 3 | |
EL-493 | Film Noir: Dark Side of American Film | 3 |
Group 7 | ||
HS-344 | Alexander Hamilton's America | 3 |
HS-345 | The Era of the Civil War | 3 |
HS-347 | American Republic 1919-1945 | 3 |
HS-375 | The World Wars | 3 |
HS-444 | History of American Immigration | 3 |
Group 8 | ||
PO-201 | American Government | 3 |
PO-207 | The Mass Media and American Politics | 3 |
PO-215 | United States Foreign Policy | 3 |
PO-303 | 3 | |
PO-304 | 3 | |
PO-310 | Feminist Political Theory | 3 |
PO-311 | 3 | |
PO-409 | Constitutional Law & Governmental Powers | 3 |
PO-417 | Constitutional Law & Civil Liberties | 3 |
Group 9 | ||
SO-208 | 3 | |
SO-224 | 3 | |
SO-256 | Sociology of Sports | 3 |
SO-345 | Sociology of Intimacy | 3 |
SO-370 | Urban Anthropology | 3 |
Group 10 | ||
TH-343 | Black Theology | 3 |
TH-496 | Theology and Urban Problems | 3 |
Group 11 | ||
UR-151 | The Contemporary City 2 | 3 |
UR-202 | Urban Music: Jazz to Hip-Hop | 3 |
UR-308 | Analysis of Urban Social Class | 3 |
UR-309 | Women in Changing Urban World | 3 |
1 May count towards the Core Theology Requirement.
2 May count towards the Core Social Science Requirement.
Special Notes on Major Requirements
- 1
All American studies majors must enroll in the capstone course during their senior year.
- 2
For Elementary Education majors who have chosen American Studies as their second major, the capstone project is to develop a two week unit of study on an aspect of American studies that they will teach during their student teaching assignment.