American Studies
Overview
American Studies is an interdisciplinary exploration - with an emphasis on history and literature - of the voices and visions that interpret and in turn shape the American experience. The search for a distinctive American culture has a long-standing tradition. How that experience is represented is influenced by the changing dynamics of domestic affairs and the geopolitics of United States foreign policy. The study of what it means to be "American" both at home and abroad is to understand the often conflicting voices and visions of Americans over time. Therefore, we encourage our majors to apply for international and domestic off-campus study.
The field is concerned with questions such as whether or not there is a national culture. Can we, for example, reconcile the tension between traditional narratives of individualism and self-reliance, and the counter-narratives of community and oppression? This discussion is particularly appropriate as we enter a new century of challenges in a post-Cold War world. The strengths of our department include courses offering multiple perspectives on American history, literature, culture, art, and politics.
Major Requirements
The American Studies major consists of a minimum of 10 courses (40 units). Students must complete three required courses: one introductory course in American Studies (AMST 101); a junior seminar in American Studies Theory and Methods (AMST 390); and the capstone senior seminar (AMST 490). In addition to these courses, students will take seven electives. These will consist of two courses from each of the two thematic clusters ("cultural productions" and "historical perspectives"); and three additional electives. Three of the seven electives must be 300-level courses.
REQUIRED COURSEWORK
Core Required Courses
All majors must take these three courses.
| AMST 101 | Introduction to American Studies | 4 units |
| AMST 390 | Theories and Methods of American Studies | 4 units |
| AMST 490 | Senior Seminar | 4 units |
Cultural Productions
Students must select two courses from the list below:
| AMST 115 | American Literary Culture | 4 units |
| AMST 215 | Discipline and Desire: The History of Sexuality in the United States | 4 units |
| AMST 233 | American Queer Novel | 4 units |
| AMST 260/LLAS 260 | United States Latino Literature and Cultural Studies | 4 units |
| AMST 265/WRD 265 | Feminist Rhetorics and Social Change | 4 units |
| AMST 270 | Asian American Literature | 4 units |
| AMST 320 | Graphic Narratives: From Pulp Fiction to Comix Literature | 4 units |
| BLST 252/MAC 252 | African-American Film: 1967-Present | 4 units |
| ENGL 189 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
| ENGL 289 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
| ENGL 346/BLST 346 | Beautiful Democracy: 19th Century African American Literature | 4 units |
Historical Perspectives
Students must select two courses from the list below:
Students may also apply AMST 295 to the Historical Perspectives cluster if they have enrolled in the "Origins of the New Right" section of the course.
Additional Electives
Students must take three additional elective chosen either from the list of approved electives below, or one of the thematic clusters above.
| AMST 200/POLS 200 | Democratic Socialism, American Style | 4 units |
| AMST 295 | Topics in American Studies | 4 units |
| ARTH 285 | Nineteenth Century Art: Culture, Politics, and National Identity | 4 units |
| BLST 101 | Introduction to Black Studies | 4 units |
| ENGL 142 | Joyful Noise! On Black Literature and Musicality | 4 units |
| HIST 312/BLST 312 | Race, Rights, and Revolution in the Atlantic World | 4 units |
| LLAS 385/PSYC 385 | Chicanx Identities and Social Institutions: Education, Health, Politics | 4 units |
| POLS 208 | Movements for Social Justice | 4 units |
| RELS 147 | "Cults" and "Sects": New Religious Movements in the Americas | 4 units |
| RELS 245/BLST 245 | African American Religious Traditions | 4 units |
Second-Stage Writing Requirement
The majority of students majoring in American Studies will satisfy the Second-Stage Writing Requirement by successfully completing AMST 390 with a B- or better. In lieu of taking AMST 390, students may take a 300-level AMST course from the list below.
| AMST 320 | Graphic Narratives: From Pulp Fiction to Comix Literature | 4 units |
| AMST 376/BLST 376 | Slavery, Freedom, and American Memory | 4 units |
| AMST 390 | Theories and Methods of American Studies | 4 units |
Comprehensive Requirement
Students fulfill the Senior Comprehensive Requirement by successful completion of a paper and a presentation on a topic in the student's area of emphasis, as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the senior seminar (
AMST 490).
College Honors
Students meeting college requirements for honors may apply for admission to the program by submitting a written proposal for an honors thesis by October 1 of their senior year. Those accepted may register for honors independent study (
AMST 499) during the fall or spring semester of the senior year; the thesis should be completed no later than the beginning of April of the senior year.
Coursework
In general it is expected that honors students will take both:
For further information see the Honors Program and the department chair.
Transfer Credit Policies
The American Studies Program accepts online courses for general elective credit, but will not accept online courses for major or minor credit. Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for more details.
Information that can be included in this section include:
- specific policies for majors/minors
- AP/IB Exam credit - course equivalencies?
- Online courses
- Policies specifically for matriculating frosh, transfer students, returning students after a leave of absence
Information that can be included in this section include:
- specific policies for majors/minors
- AP/IB Exam credit - course equivalencies?
- Online courses
- Policies specifically for matriculating frosh, transfer students, returning students after a leave of absence
Information that can be included in this section include:
- specific policies for majors/minors
- AP/IB Exam credit - course equivalencies?
- Online courses
- Policies specifically for matriculating frosh, transfer students, returning students after a leave of absence
Minor Requirements
The American Studies Minor consists of five courses for a total of 20 units. AMST 101 is required along with one elective in the "Cultural Productions" category and one elective in the "Historical Perspectives" category and two additional electives from any category.
COURSEWORK
Introduction to American Studies
| AMST 101 | Introduction to American Studies | 4 units |
Cultural Productions
Students must select one course from the list below:
| AMST 115 | American Literary Culture | 4 units |
| AMST 215 | Discipline and Desire: The History of Sexuality in the United States | 4 units |
| AMST 260/LLAS 260 | United States Latino Literature and Cultural Studies | 4 units |
| AMST 265/WRD 265 | Feminist Rhetorics and Social Change | 4 units |
| AMST 270 | Asian American Literature | 4 units |
| AMST 320 | Graphic Narratives: From Pulp Fiction to Comix Literature | 4 units |
| BLST 252/MAC 252 | African-American Film: 1967-Present | 4 units |
| ENGL 189 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
| ENGL 289 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
Historical Perspectives
Students must select one course from the list below:
Students may also apply
AMST 295 to the Historical Perspectives cluster if they have enrolled in the "Origins of the New Right" section of the course.
Additional Electives
Students must select two additional electives, either from the list of approved electives below or one of the thematic clusters above.
| AMST 200/POLS 200 | Democratic Socialism, American Style | 4 units |
| AMST 295 | Topics in American Studies | 4 units |
| ARTH 285 | Nineteenth Century Art: Culture, Politics, and National Identity | 4 units |
| BLST 101 | Introduction to Black Studies | 4 units |
| HIST 312/BLST 312 | Race, Rights, and Revolution in the Atlantic World | 4 units |
| LLAS 385/PSYC 385 | Chicanx Identities and Social Institutions: Education, Health, Politics | 4 units |
| POLS 208 | Movements for Social Justice | 4 units |
| RELS 245/BLST 245 | African American Religious Traditions | 4 units |
Courses
American Studies Courses
Faculty
Regular Faculty
Sharla Fett, chair
Professor, History
B.A., Carleton College; M.A., Stanford University; Ph.D., Rutgers University
Heather Lukes
Associate Professor
B.A., University of California, Berkeley; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Julie Prebel
Associate Professor
Director of Writing Center and Programs
B.A., University of California, Berkeley; M.A., California State University, San Francisco; Ph.D., University of Washington
Xiao-huang Yin
Professor
B.A., Nanjing University; M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University
On Special Appointment
Adrienne Tien
Non-Tenure-Track Assistant Professor
B.A., Wellesley College; M.S., Syracuse University
Advisory Committee
Raul Villa
Professor, English
B.A., Yale University; M.A., University of Michigan; Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz