Idaho State University Undergraduate Catalog 2010-2011
The American Studies program provides students with the opportunity to examine American culture, literature, institutions, and history through the combined perspectives and methods of the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences. Graduates can find their places in many fields that require interdisciplinary skills and knowledge: journalism, politics, publishing, social services, or writing and editing. Graduates may choose to pursue further professional training in graduate programs in American Studies or in a discipline or professional area emphasized within the option they choose for the major.
The major's "American Cultures" and "America in the World" thematic tracks enable students to minor in one of the College of Arts and Sciences' interdisciplinary minors or in English, history, or political science. Students may also choose a special option, in which they design a thematic track in consultation with the American Studies director. Special option tracks might be possible, for example, in topics such as ethnic studies, regionalism, social groups, popular culture, political processes, health issues, local history and museology, environmental history, or the arts. Students are encouraged to consult with the American Studies director to design programs that meet personal aspirations.
Students desiring to major in American Studies must have satisfied the following:
1. General Education Goals 1, 2, and 3 in their entirety,
2. AMST 2200 with a C or better, and
3. an overall GPA of 2.5 or better.
In addition to the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, American Studies majors will complete (A) required core courses (15 credits), (B) disciplinary methods courses (9 credits), and (C) a thematic, special, or general option of at least 24 credits. Thematic options also satisfy an interdisciplinary minor or a minor in a discipline. Some of the thematic options require completion of particular methods courses.
AMST 2200 Introduction to American Studies 3 cr
AMST 4403 Senior Project 3 cr
ENGL 2277 or 2278 Survey of American Literature I or II 3 cr
HIST 1118 U.S. History and Culture 3 cr
POLS 1101 Introduction to American Government 3 cr
Total: 15 cr
| 5. History 6. Women Studies 7. Culture and Society 8. Economics and Politics |
ART 1103 Creative Process 3 cr
ART/MC 2210 History and Appreciation of Photography 3 cr
DANC 1105 Survey of Dance3 cr
MUSC 1106 American Music3 cr
THEA 1101 Appreciation of Drama 3 cr
ENGL 2211 Introduction to Literary Analysis 3 cr
ANTH/ENGL/LANG 1107 Nature of Language3 cr
ENGL 2280 Grammar and Usage 3 cr
ENGL 2281 Introduction to Language Studies 3 cr
MC 1119 Introduction to Mass Media 3 cr
COMM 2208 Group Communication3 cr
COMM 2254 Organizational Communication 3 cr
HIST 2291 The Historian's Craft 3 cr
WS 2201 Introduction to Women Studies 3 cr
7. Social Sciences: Culture and Society
ANTH 2203 Introduction to Archaeology 3 cr
ANTH 2230 Introduction to Biological Anthropology 3 cr
ANTH 2250 Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology 3 cr
ANTH/ENGL 2212 Introduction to Folklore/Oral Traditions 3 cr
SOC 2206 Sociological Methods 3 cr
8. Social Sciences: Economics and Politics
ECON 1100 Economic Issues 3 cr
ECON 2201 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 cr
ECON 2202 Principles of Microeconomics 3 cr
POLS 2202 Introduction to Politics 3 cr
POLS 2221 Introduction to International Relations 3 cr
American Cultures Tracks:
1. American Literature in Context (includes English minor)
2. American Indian Studies (includes American Indian Studies minor)
3. American Languages (includes Linguistics minor)
4. The American West (includes History minor)
5. Gender in America (includes Women Studies minor)
6. American Folk Cultures (includes Folklore minor)
America in the World Tracks:
1. America and World Affairs (includes political science minor)
2. America in World History (includes history minor)
3. Western Hemisphere Studies (includes Latino/a Studies minor)
Required Disciplinary Methods Courses:
ANTH/ENGL/LANG 1107 Nature of Language 3 cr
ENGL 2211 Introduction to Literary Analysis 3 cr
Required course:
ENGL 3301 Writing About Literature 3 cr
Plus 4 English elective courses chosen from the following:
ANTH/ENGL 3367 Language in the United States 3 cr
ANTH/ENGL 4453 American Indian Literature 3 cr
ENGL 2277 or 2278* Survey of American Literature I or II* 3 cr
ENGL 3353 The West in American Literature 3 cr
ENGL 3356 Ethnicity in Literature3 cr
ENGL 4480 Varieties of American English 3 cr
OR
Upper-division ENGL period or genre courses with
an American Literature emphasis (chosen in consultation
with Director of American Studies)
*(whichever is not taken for the American Studies Core)
Plus 3 contextual elective courses chosen from the following, with at least one upper-division and no more than 2 from the same department:
ANTH 2238 Peoples and Cultures of the New World 3 cr
ANTH 2239 Latino Peoples and Cultures 3 cr
ANTH 4452 American Indian Verbal Arts 3 cr
ANTH/HIST 2258 Native American History* 3 cr
ANTH/POLS 4478 Federal Indian Law 3 cr
ANTH/POLS 4479 Tribal Government3 cr
ART 4424 Twentieth Century Art 3 cr
HIST 2251 Latin America*3 cr
HIST 2252 East Asian History*3 cr
HIST 2254 Middle Eastern Civilization* 3 cr
HIST 2255 African History and Culture* 3 cr
HIST 3307 Early North America3 cr
HIST 4435 Colonial Frontiers in America and Africa 3 cr
SOC 2248 Social Diversity3 cr
SOC 3366 The Community3 cr
* Only one course from the HIST 225X sequence may be applied to the American Literature in Context Track.
Consultation with American Indian Studies director required.
Required Courses:
ANTH 1100 General Anthropology 3 cr
ANTH 2238 People and Cultures of the New World 3 cr
ANTH 4466 Current Issues in Indian Country 3 cr
ANTH 4476 Seminar in American Indian Studies 3 cr
Plus one of the following courses:
ANTH/HIST 2258 Native American History 3 cr
ANTH/POLS 4478 Federal Indian Law 3 cr
ANTH 4452 American Indian Verbal Arts 3 cr
ANTH 4454 Survey of American Indian Languages 3 cr
An approved American Indian Language course (minimum) 3 cr
Plus 2 additional approved upper-division American Indian Studies courses (6 credits)
Plus 2 contextual electives, at least one upper division, chosen from the following:
ANTH/ENGL 4490 Topics in Folklore3 cr
ENGL 3353 The West in American Literature 3 cr
ENGL 3356 Ethnicity in Literature3 cr
HIST 2251 Latin America3 cr
HIST 3307 Early North America3 cr
HIST 4421 Federal Indian Relations 3 cr
HIST 4435 Colonial Frontiers in America and Africa 3 cr
SOC 2248 Social Diversity3 cr
SOC 3366 The Community 3 cr
ANTH/ENGL/LANG 1107 Nature of Language 3 cr
--For communications/rhetoric:
MC 1119 Introduction to Mass Media 3 cr
Required courses:
ANTH/ENGL 3367 Language in the United States 3 cr
ANTH 4454 Survey of American Indian Languages 3 cr
ENGL 2281 Introduction to Language Studies 3 cr
ENGL 4480 Varieties of American English 3 cr
One year of a foreign language in addition to the 8 credit hours of foreign language required under General Education Goal 10B
Plus one course chosen from the following:
ANTH/ENGL/LANG 4455 Introduction to Phonetics 3 cr
ENGL 4485 Linguistic Analysis 3 cr
PHIL 4410 Philosophy of Language 3 cr
Additional contextual courses:
1. Area Studies: 9 credits, at least 3 upper-division, chosen from History, Anthropology, and English in a culture area of the student's choice and approved by the American Studies director and committee.
OR
2. Communications/Rhetoric: 9 credits chosen from:
COMM 4451 Recent Rhetorical Issues 3 cr
COMM 4442 American Rhetoric and Public Address 3 cr
MC 2290 American Broadcasting 3 cr
THEA 4420 American Theatre 3 cr
The American Studies Program recommends that student taking this track consider taking Spanish or Shoshoni for Goal 10B
Required Disciplinary Methods Course:
HIST 2291 The Historian's Craft 3 cr
Plus three of the following courses, at least one of which must be HIST 1101 or 1102:
HIST 1101 Foundations of Europe 3 cr
HIST 1102 Modern Europe 3 cr
HIST 2251 Latin America 3 cr
HIST 2252 East Asian History 3 cr
HIST 2254 Middle Eastern Civilization 3 cr
HIST 2255 African History and Culture 3 cr
Plus two of the following:
HIST 4421 Federal Indian Relations 3 cr
HIST 4423 Idaho History 3 cr
HIST 4425 Women in the North American West 3 cr
HIST 4427 North American West 3 cr
GEOL/HIST/POLS 4471 Historical Geography of Idaho 3 cr
Three contextual courses, at least two upper-division, chosen from the following:
ANTH 2238 Peoples and Cultures of the New World* 3 cr
ANTH 2239 Latino Peoples and Cultures 3 cr
ANTH/ENGL 4453 American Indian Literature 3 cr
ANTH/HIST 2258 Native American History 3 cr
ENGL 3353 The West in American Literature 3 cr
HIST 4435 Colonial Frontiers
in America and Africa 3 cr
*(only those offerings focusing on western peoples)
Required Disciplinary Methods Courses:
WS 2201 Introduction to Women Studies 3 cr
Required course:
WS 4401 Feminist Thought 3 cr
Plus at least 2 courses chosen from:
HIST 4425 Women in the North American West 3 cr
SOC 3321 Families in American Society 3 cr
WS 3311 American Women's Movements 3 cr
Plus 2 courses, totaling at least 6 credits, chosen from the following:
ANTH 215 Anthropology of Gender 3 cr
COMM 4440 Gender and Communication 3 cr
HE 4445 Human Sexuality and Health Education 2 cr
HIST 4437 Families in Former Times 3 cr
HIST 4439 Women in History 3 cr
SOC 2250 Women, Crime and Corrections 3 cr
WS 4459 Internship 1-6 cr
WS 4461 Independent Study 1-3 cr
OR
other courses approved semester-by-semester
for the Minor in Women Studies
Plus 3 contextual courses, two upper-division, chosen from the following:
ENGL 3328 Gender in Literature 3 cr
HIST 3307 Early North America 3 cr
HIST 3308 Industrialization and Reform
in the United States 3 cr
HIST 3309 Modern United States 3 cr
HIST 4427 North American West 3 cr
PSYC 2250 Female and Male Roles 3 cr
SOC 2248 Social Diversity 3 cr
American Cultures Track 6, American Folk Cultures (24 cr) (includes a Minor in Women Studies)
Required Disciplinary Methods Course:
ANTH/ENGL 2212 Introduction to Folklore/Oral Tradition 3 cr
ANTH 3301 Introduction to Shoshoni Folklore 3 cr
ANTH 4404 Material Culture Analysis 3 cr
ANTH 4449 Methods and Techniques
of Ethnographic Field Research 3 cr
ANTH 4452 American Indian Verbal Arts 3 cr
ANTH 4472 Native American Arts 3 cr
ANTH/ENGL 4449 Topics in Folklore 3 cr
ENGL 4492 Folklore and Literature 3 cr
Plus 9 credits in course work related to cultural media or a culture area, approved by the American Studies Committee and Director of American Studies.
Required Disciplinary Methods Course:
POLS 2202 Introduction to Politics 3 cr
Required courses:
POLS 2221 Introduction to International Relations 3 cr
POLS 3326 Recent American Foreign Policy 3 cr
POLS 3331 Comparative Politics: Framework for Analysis 3 cr
Plus 2 of the following:
POLS 4425 Topics in International Politics 3 cr
POLS 4433 Politics of Developing Nations 3 cr
POLS 4434 Terrorism and Political Violence 3 cr
POLS 4492 Seminar (when offered with topic Human Rights) 1-3 cr
Plus 3 contextual courses chosen from the following, with no two in the same discipline:
ANTH 2239 Latino Peoples and Cultures 3 cr
ANTH 4423 Anthropology of International Health 3 cr
ECON 3334 International Economics 3 cr
ECON 4472 Comparative Economic Systems 3 cr
HIST 4435 Colonial Frontiers in America and Africa 3 cr
HIST 4460 The Global Hispanic Monarchy 3 cr
HIST 4474 Islam and Nationalism in the Modern World 3 cr
HIST 4429 Foreign Relations Since 1900 3 cr
HIST 4430 Global Environmental History 3 cr
Required Disciplinary Methods Course:
HIST 2291 The Historian's Craft 3 cr
Three of the following courses, at least one of which must be HIST 1101 or 1102:
HIST 1101 Foundations of Europe 3 cr
HIST 1102 Modern Europe 3 cr
HIST 2251 Latin America 3 cr
HIST 2252 East Asian History 3 cr
HIST 2254 Middle Eastern Civilization 3 cr
HIST 2255 African History and Culture 3 cr
Plus two of the following:
HIST 3307 Early North America 3 cr
HIST 3308 Industrialization and Reform
in the United States 3 cr
HIST 3309 Modern United States 3 cr
HIST 4429 Foreign Relations Since 1900 3 cr
HIST 4430 Global Environmental History 3 cr
HIST 4435 Colonial Frontiers in America and Africa 3 cr
HIST 4460 The Global Hispanic Monarchy 3 cr
HIST 4474 Islam and Nationalism in the Modern World 3 cr
Plus three of the following, no more than two of which may be from the same discipline:
ANTH 4423 Anthropology of International Health 3 cr
ART 4424 Twentieth Century Art 3 cr
ECON 3334 International Economics 3 cr
ECON 4472 Comparative Economic Systems 3 cr
POLS 3326 Recent American Foreign Policy 3 cr
POLS 3331 Comparative Politics: Framework for Analysis 3 cr
POLS 4406 Intergovernmental Relations 3 cr
POLS 4425 Topics in International Politics 3 cr
POLS 4433 Politics of Developing Nations 3 cr
POLS 4434 Terrorism and Political Violence 3 cr
POLS 4492 Seminar (when offered with topic Human Rights) 1-3 cr
Required Disciplinary Methods Course:
ANTH 2250 Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology 3 cr
Required courses:
ANTH 2239 Latino Peoples and Cultures 3 cr
HIST 2251 Latin America 3 cr
SPAN 2201,2202 Intermediate Spanish I and II 8 cr
OR
SPAN 3301,3302 Spanish Conversation and Composition I and II 6 cr
OR
Other 6-credit option with permission of Latino Studies Director
Plus two of the following:
ANTH 4424 Ethnomedicine of Latin America 3 cr
ANTH 4487 Ethnographic Field School,
when offered in Mexico, Guatemala
and other Latin American countries 1-6 cr
ANTH 4489 Special Topics in American Indian Studies,
when offered as Latin American Indigenous
Resource Management 3 cr
HIST 4450 Golden Age Castile 3 cr
HIST 4460 The Global Hispanic Monarchy 3 cr
SPAN 3342 Survey of Latin American Literature
and Civilization 3 cr
SPAN 4462 Early Twentieth Century
Spanish American Literature 3 cr
Contextual Electives
Choose three of the following courses, with no more than one from any one discipline:
ANTH/ENGL 4453 American Indian Literature 3 cr
ANTH/POLS 4478 Federal Indian Law 3 cr
ANTH/POLS 4479 Tribal Governments 3 cr
ENGL 3353 The West in American Literature 3 cr
ENGL 3356 Ethnicity in Literature 3 cr
ENGL 3367 Language in the United States 3 cr
ENGL 4480 Varieties of American English 3 cr
HIST 3307 Early North America 3 cr
HIST 3308 Industrialization and Reform
in the United States 3 cr
HIST 3309 Modern United States 3 cr
HIST 4421 Federal Indian Relations 3 cr
HIST 4425 Women in the North American West 3 cr
HIST 4427 North American West 3 cr
POLS 3326 Recent American Foreign Policy 3 cr
POLS 4401 Political Parties and Interest Groups 3 cr
POLS 4403 The Presidency 3 cr
POLS 4404 The Legislative Process 3 cr
POLS 4411 American Political Theory 3 cr
POLS 4442 Constitutional Law 3 cr
For their final 24 credits toward the Bachelor of Arts in American Studies, students may write a proposal for a thematic track of their own design, including at least 15 upper-division credits, in accordance with their academic interests and career goals. The proposal must include a rationale and a list of courses. These will be subject to review and approval of the American Studies Committee and Director of American Studies.
(3) General Option (24 cr)
For the final 24 credits toward the Bachelor of Arts in American Studies, students may choose a general interdisciplinary approach by taking two courses with strong American content from each of the the following four groupings.
It is strongly recommended that students choosing this option add course work in order to minor in one of these disciplines.
1. Two courses from Anthropology:
ANTH 4414 New World Archaeology 3 cr
ANTH 4452 American Indian Verbal Arts 3 cr
ANTH 4454 Survey of American Indian Languages 3 cr
ANTH 4466 Current Issues in Indian Country 3 cr
ANTH 4472 Native American Arts 3 cr
ANTH 4474 Special Topics in Indian Education 3 cr
ANTH 4489 Special Topics in American Indian Studies 3 cr
2. Two courses from English and Fine Arts:
ANTH/ENGL 4453 American Indian Literature 3 cr
ART/MC 2210 History and Appreciation of Photography 3 cr
ART 4424 Twentieth Century Art 3 cr
COMM 4442 American Rhetoric and Public Address 3 cr
ENGL 3353 The West in American Literature 3 cr
ENGL 3356 Ethnicity in Literature 3 cr
ENGL 3367 Language in the United States 3 cr
ENGL 4480 Varieties of American English 3 cr
MC 2290 American Broadcasting 3 cr
MUSC 1106 American Music 3 cr
THEA 4420 American Theatre History 3 cr
Upper-division ENGL period or genre literature courses – chosen
from semester offerings with American emphasis (subject to review
of American Studies director)
3. Two courses from History:
HIST 3307 Early North America 3 cr
HIST 3308 Industrialization and Reform
in the United States 3 cr
HIST 3309 Modern United States 3 cr
HIST 3337 Archaeology and History of Southern Idaho 3 cr
HIST 4421 Federal Indian Relations 3 cr
HIST 4423 Idaho History 3 cr
HIST 4425 Women in the North American West 3 cr
HIST 4427 North American West 3 cr
HIST 4435 Colonial Frontiers in America and Africa 3 cr
GEOL/HIST/POLS 4471
Historical Geography of Idaho 3 cr
4. Two courses from Political Science:
ANTH/POLS 4478 Federal Indian Law 3 cr
ANTH/POLS 4479 Tribal Governments 3 cr
POLS 3308 State and Local Government 3 cr
POLS 3326 Recent American Foreign Policy 3 cr
POLS 4401 Political Parties and Interest Groups 3 cr
POLS 4403 The Presidency 3 cr
POLS 4404 The Legislative Process 3 cr
POLS 4411 American Political Theory 3 cr
POLS 4442 Constitutional Law 3 cr
AMST 2200 Introduction to American Studies 3 cr
ENGL 2277 or 2278 Survey of American Literature I or II 3 cr
HIST 1118 U.S. History and Culture 3 cr
POLS 1101 Introduction to American Government 3 cr
3 upper-division courses with strong American content,
approved by the American Studies director 9 cr
AMST 1100 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. F, S
AMST 2200 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. R
AMST 3348 Independent Problems 3 credits. Consultation course for American Studies majors interested in problems in American Studies not adequately covered by regular offerings; for use in the American Studies Special Option. PREREQ: 58 credits and permission of the Director of American Studies. D
AMST 4403 Senior Project 3 credits. Capstone interdisciplinary research project consolidating students' grasp of American Studies by examining an issue through at least two academic disciplines. Directed by the program director and evaluated by the American Studies Committee. PREREQ: Senior standing. D
AMST 4410 Internship 1-6 credits. On-the-job experience in business, industry, government, or non-profit organization settings; for use in the American Studies Special Option. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. PREREQ: 58 credits and permission of the Director of American Studies. D
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IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY Academic Information Contact: webmaster@isu.edu Revised: July 2010 |