American Studies

Introduction to the Major

Faculty members talk about what you can learn and what makes this major special.

Mission Statement

What is American Studies? What can I learn in an American Studies course? What career does a major or minor in American Studies prepare me for? Maybe you are asking yourself these questions, interested in American music, literature, politics, economy, and broader society but uncertain if a major or minor in American Studies is right for you.

Broadly, American Studies takes an interdisciplinary approach to the culture and politics of the United States, equipping students with a range of content knowledge and critical skills. The field offers us a rich window into modern global history, trains us to critically examine everything from science fiction to polling data, and asks us to rigorously question the relationship between knowledge and power.

Majors in American Studies can expect to develop skills in analysis, writing, and interdisciplinary thinking well-suited to a career in research, law, or education. Moreover, the field's emphasis on historical context and cultural specificity, along with English language skills and study abroad, will prepare you for a range of work in international affairs, public service, communications/media, journalism, and business.

Learning Goals

ICU's liberal arts philosophy encourages you to explore as many subjects as you can to prepare for specialized study in your final undergraduate years. As a fundamentally interdisciplinary field, American Studies affirms ICU's exploratory approach, offering courses across the humanities and social sciences in Anthropology; Economics; International Relations; Literature; Music; Media, Communication, and Culture; Philosophy and Religion; Politics; and Sociology.

To ensure both breadth and depth of knowledge, there are a few key recommendations and requirements for your AMS major or minor:
Core curriculum sequence: All students majoring or minoring in American Studies are required to take AMS 101 "Principles of American Studies" and either AMS 201 "Issues in American Society" or AMS 301 "Special Topics in American Studies."
Specialized course sequence: All students majoring in American Studies are highly encouraged to balance the variety of subject areas available in AMS with a specialized course sequence, building from the material in a foundational course with related 200- or 300-level coursework in such fields as literature, religion, or politics.
Interdisciplinarity: All students majoring in American Studies are highly encouraged to take at least two courses from both the humanities and social sciences as part of their area major course requirements.
Study abroad: All students majoring and minoring in American Studies are highly encouraged to participate in a study abroad program in the United States.
Senior thesis: The American Studies senior thesis is written under the advisorship of American Studies faculty and gives each student the opportunity to strengthen their understanding of a topic, to hone their research and writing skills, and to contribute their ideas to the field of American Studies.
Graduate coursework: All students majoring in American Studies are highly encouraged to take QCAC 514 "Special Topics in Comparative Culture 1" and QPFD 421 "Political and Social Survey Data Analysis," both of which are taught by American Studies faculty and develop students' skills for completing their senior thesis or pursuing a career in research.

Major Faculty

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