Program of American Studies

Director and Professor: J. Attebery

Bachelor of Arts in American Studies

The American Studies program offers students a broadly based, flexible, interdisciplinary approach to education. In so doing, the program challenges students to discover from a number of directions the complexity of human thought and society. Graduates can find their places in many fields, such as foreign service, civil service, public relations, and law. They also may choose to pursue further professional training in graduate programs in any of the areas chosen for emphasis. Students are encouraged to consult with the American Studies Director to design programs that meet personal aspirations. Students desiring teaching certification in American Studies must meet the requirements established by the College of Education.

Requirements

Beyond the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, American Studies majors will complete four degree components: an American Studies component and three areas of emphasis.

American Studies Component

AMST 200  Introduction to American Studies     3 cr
AMST 495  Senior Seminar                       3 cr
Electives in American Studies to bring total credits to 18

Electives
ANTH 212  Introduction to
            Folklore/Oral Tradition            3 cr
ANTH 258  Native American History              3 cr
ART 210   History and Appreciation
            of Photography                     3 cr
ECON 100  Economic Issues                      3 cr
ECON 201  Principles of Macroeconomics         3 cr
ECON 202  Principles of Microeconomics         3 cr
ENGL 212  Introduction to
            Folklore/Oral Tradition            3 cr
ENGL 277  Survey of American Literature I      3 cr
ENGL 278  Survey of American Literature II     3 cr
HIST 111  U.S. History I (to 1865)             3 cr
HIST 112  U.S. History II (to present)         3 cr
HIST 258  Native American History              3 cr
HIST 291  The Historian’s Craft                3 cr
MC 119    Introduction to Mass Media           3 cr
MC 210    History and Appreciation
            of Photography                     3 cr
MC 270    Journalism History                   3 cr
MUSC 106  American Music                       3 cr
POLS 101  Introduction to American Government  3 cr
SOC 248   Social Diversity                     3 cr
W S 201   Introduction to Women’s Studies      3 cr
*Or chosen from courses listed as approved for this component in semester-by-semester course listings.

Credit in AMST 203 and AMST 403 may also be applied toward the American Studies Component.

Emphasis Area 1
    A minimum of 24 credits from one of the following disciplines: English, history, political science, sociology, anthropology, or psychology.

Emphasis Area 2
    A minimum of 18 credits from another of the departments listed above or substitute mass communication, economics, philosophy, biology, geology, or education.

Emphasis Area 3
    A minimum of 12 credits from any one of the disciplines already listed or, with permission from the American Studies Director, courses offered by multiple departments but focusing on a single topic.

Minor in American Studies

The American Studies minor is designed to give the student majoring in another field an interdisciplinary knowledge of American culture. The minor requires 18 credits in American studies:

AMST 200  Introduction to American Studies          3 cr

Electives distributed as described below           15 cr

Two courses in humanities/fine arts from the following list or from the semester-by-semester listing of courses approved for the American Studies Component:
ART 210   History and Appreciation of Photography   3 cr
ENGL 212  Introduction to Folklore/Oral Tradition   3 cr
ENGL 277  Survey of American Literature I           3 cr
ENGL 278  Survey of American Literature II          3 cr
M C 119   Introduction to Mass Media                3 cr
M C 210   History and Appreciation of Photography   3 cr
M C 270   Journalism History                        3 cr
MUSC 106  American Music                            3 cr

And two courses in social sciences from the following list or from the semester-by-semester listing of courses approved for the American Studies component:
ANTH 212  Introduction to Folklore/Oral Tradition  3 cr
ANTH 258  Native American History                  3 cr
ECON 100  Economic Issues                          3 cr
ECON 201  Principles of Macroeconomics             3 cr
ECON 202  Principles of Microeconomics             3 cr
HIST 111  U.S. History I (to 1865)                 3 cr
HIST 112  U.S. History II (to present)             3 cr
HIST 258  Native American History                  3 cr
HIST 291  The Historian’s Craft                    3 cr
POLS 101  Introduction to American Government      3 cr
SOC 248   Social Diversity                         3 cr
W S 201   Introduction to Women’s Studies          3 cr

At least one course at 400-level chosen from the semester-by-semester course listings for the American Studies component.
No more than 6 credits in any single discipline may be counted toward the minor.

American Studies Courses

AMST 100 Introduction to American Language and Cultures 3 credits. Introduction to the forms, uses, and conventions of American English, with emphasis upon their cultural origins and functional varieties. Intended primarily for speakers of standard English as second language or second dialect. May be graded P/NP (with a pass requiring "C" work). D

AMST 200 Introduction to American Studies 3 credits. This course will introduce essential themes in American studies, will outline a basic canon of interdisciplinary knowledge, and will discuss methods with which aspects of American cultural life may be analyzed. Fulfills Goal 9 of the General Education Requirements. D

AMST 203 American Studies Laboratory 1 credit. Laboratory credit given for active participation in relating course work in any American Studies course to evidence of regional culture in southeastern Idaho. Credit requires approval of major advisor and program director. D

AMST 403 Problems in American Studies 1-6 credits. For any student who wishes to do individual but guided work on a paper or project relating to American culture. Students will need to convince two instructors from different departments and the director of American Studies of the validity of their proposals. May be repeated for up to6 credits. F, S, Su

AMST 495 Senior Seminar 3 credits.  Capstone course consolidating students' grasp of American Studies by examining an issue through at least two academic disciplines.  Seminar topics will vary.  Students will develop an interdisciplinary research paper.  May be cross-listed.  PREREQ: Senior standing. S

IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY Academic Information  Contact: webmaster@isu.edu Revised: July 2005