College of Arts and Sciences

Program of American Studies

Director and Professor: B. Attebery

Bachelor of Arts in American Studies

The American Studies program offers students a broadly based, flexible, interdisciplinary appr oach to education. In so doing, the program challenges students to discover from a number of d irections 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 choo se to pursue further professional training in graduate programs in any of the areas chosen for emphasis. American Studies students are encouraged to design programs that meet personal aspi rations.

Major in American Studies

The American Studies major requires no specific courses beyond the requirements for the B.A. degree in the College of Arts and Sciences. Rather, the student will complete an American Studies component and three areas of emphasis. For the former, the student must take a minimum of 18 credits in American Studies from all courses offered. Then, for a primary departmental emphasis, the student will select a minimum of 24 credits from any one of the following disciplines: English, history, political science, sociology, anthropology, or psychology. For a secondary emphasis, the student will select a minimum of 18 credits from another of the departments listed above or may substitute mass communication, economics, philosophy, biology, geology, or education. For a third area of emphasis, the student will select a minimum of 12 credits from any of the disciplines already listed or, with permission from the director, elect courses offered by multiple departments but focusing on a single topic, such as women's studies, religious studies, or museum studies. (The student desiring teaching certification in American Studies must meet the requirements established by the College of Education.)

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,including the introductory course, AMST 200, and one senior seminar, AMST 401 or 402, or a substitute, cross-listed seminar approved by the program director. The remaining 12 credits mustbe divided equally between courses cross-listed with humanities and social science disciplines. No more than 6 credits cross-listed with any single discipline may be counted toward the minor.

American Studies Course

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. Available on a pass/fail basis for those students who elect such an option (with a pass requiring "C" work). D

AMST 101 Introduction to American Government 3 credits. Constitutional basis, structure, and administrative organization of the national government. Cross-listed as POLS 101. Satisfies Goal 11 of the General Education Requirements. F, S, Su

AMST 106 American Music 3 credits. A listening-oriented course for general students focusing on American folk, popular and art music styles. No music reading/performance skills assumed. Cross-listed as MUSC 106. Satisfies Goal 6 of the General Education Requirements. D

AMST 121 U.S. to 1865 3 credits. Colonial origins and achievement of independence, constitutional government, national boundaries, and the preservation of the union. Cross-listed as HIST 121. Satisfies Goal 9 of the General Education Requirements. F, S

AMST 122 U.S. Since 1865 3 credits. The domestic and international development of a plural, industrial society. Cross-listed as HIST 122. Satisfies Goal 9 of the General Education Requirements. F, S

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 201-202 Issues in American Studies 3 credits. Consideration of American culture, designed for sophomores, to demonstrate the interdisciplinary approach to knowledge through multiple documents such as those from mass media, sociology, literature, history, or fine arts. Issue, theme, or timeblock focus varies with each course offering. 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 210 History and Appreciation of Photography 3 credits. Discovery of the photographic process and its evolution to present. Analysis of many recognized masters of photography. Cross-listed as M C 210 and ART 210. Satisfies Goal 6 of the General Education Requirements. F, S

AMST 212 Introduction to Folklore/Oral Tradition 3 credits. Categories, functions, contexts, and modes of transmission of folk stories, songs, proverbs, games, crafts, customs, and other traditional lore. Cross-listed as ANTH 212 and ENGL 212. D

AMST 225 United States Military History 3 credits. Survey of the origins and development of the U.S. military with appropriate attention to developments outside the U.S. Cross-listed as HIST 225. D

AMST 238 Peoples and Cultures of the New World 3 credits. Overview of the indigenous peoples of the New World. Topics include prehistory, history, and ethnology of American Indians. Cross-listed as ANTH 238. Satisfies Goal 10A of the General Education Requirements. D

AMST 248 Local/National Minorities 3 credits. Sociological assessment of historical backgrounds and contemporary situations of major local and national ethnic groups. Theories of race relations examine issues associated with Black, Chicano, and American Indian populations. Cross-listed as SOC 248. S

AMST 253-254 American Literature 3 credits each. Examination of major works and authors in historical perspective with emphasis upon literary and cultural backgrounds. Cross-listed as ENGL 253-254. D

AMST 258 Native American History 3 credits. Assesses diversity of North American natives, their life and thought; European impact; federal policy; and natives' response to continual cultural and physical assault. Cross-listed as HIST 258. D

AMST 290 American Broadcasting 3 credits. Introduction to the history, structure, economics, programming and regulation of broadcasting in the United States. Cross-listed as M C 290. PREREQ: M C 119. F

AMST 291 The Historian's Craft 3 credits. Takes an interdisciplinary approach to historical research. Trains students in diverse methods of inquiry and analysis. Cross-listed as HIST 291. D

AMST 301-302 Junior Seminar in American Studies 3 credits. Discussion and practice in using the topical or issue oriented approach to problems. Topic or issue to be determined by instructors, subject to approval of department chairpersons. D

AMST 397 Workshop 1-2 credits. Workshops aimed at the development and improvement of skills. Does not satisfy requirements for a major or a minor. May be repeated. Graded S/U. D

AMST 401-402 Senior Seminar in American Studies 3 credits. Seminar using interdisciplinary methodology to explore particular issues in depth. Focus to be determined by instructors, subject to approval of department chairperson. 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 to a maximum of 6 credits. F, S, Su

Idaho State University Academic Information

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Revised: April 24, 1996

URL http://www.isu.edu/academic-info/prev-isu-cat/ugrad96/arts/pas.html