American Studies

This course is designed to introduce students to the topics, materials and methods attendant to an interdisciplinary study of American culture, identity, and experience. Students will develop their critical, writing, and reading skills through a focused inquiry into particular American moments, places, and ideas, and in doing so, begin to address some of the large questions around which American Studies are centered.

This seminar is designed to provide a collaborative praxis in which, as a class, students formulate and develop interdisciplinary American Studies research topic/problem. Using the class work as a model, students will then personalize an individual interdisciplinary American Studies research topic/problem and complete that project with peer and advisor support. Though final demonstration of the projects may vary, the project requirements will include: a topic centered on a particular defining moment, idea, or element of American culture; research; critical thinking; communications skills; and the use of at least two methodologies.