Options within the Major
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.
Admission to Major Status
Students desiring to major in American Studies must have satisfied the following:
1. General Education Goals 1, 2, and 3 in their entirety,
2. American Studies 200 with a C or better, and
3. an overall GPA of 2.5 or better.
Bachelor of Arts in American Studies
Requirements
In addition to the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, American Studies majors will complete required core courses (15 credits), disciplinary methods courses (9 credits), and 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.
Required Courses
AMST 200 Introduction to American Studies 3 cr
AMST 403 Senior Project 3 cr
ENGL 277 or 278 Survey of American Literature I or II 3 cr
HIST 118 U.S. History and Culture 3 cr
POLS 101 Introduction to American Government 3 cr
Total: 15 cr
Disciplinary Methods Courses (9 cr) – 3 courses chosen from three of the following eight discipline groupings (numbered 1 through 8)
1. Fine Arts
ART 103 Creative Process 3 cr
ART/MC 210 History and Appreciation of Photography 3 cr
DANC 105 Survey of Dance 3 cr
MUSC 106 American Music 3 cr
THEA 101 Appreciation of Drama 3 cr
2. Literature
ENGL 211 Introduction to Literary Analysis 3 cr
3. Language Studies
ANTH/ENGL/LANG 107 Nature of Language 3 cr
ENGL 280 Grammar and Usage 3 cr
ENGL 281 Introduction to Language Studies 3 cr
4. Communications
M C 119 Introduction to Mass Media 3 cr
COMM 208 Group Communication 3 cr
COMM 254 Organizational Communication 3 cr
5. History
HIST 291 The Historian's Craft 3 cr
6. Women's Studies
W S 201 Introduction to Women's Studies 3 cr
7. Social Sciences: Culture and Society
ANTH 203 Introduction to Archaeology 3 cr
ANTH 230 Introduction to Biological Anthropology 3 cr
ANTH 250 Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology 3 cr
ANTH/ENGL 212 Introduction to Folklore/Oral Traditions 3 cr
SOC 206 Sociological Methods 3 cr
8. Social Sciences: Economics and Politics
ECON 100 Economic Issues 3 cr
ECON 201 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 cr
ECON 202 Principles of Microeconomics 3 cr
POLS 202 Introduction to Politics 3 cr
POLS 221 Introduction to International Relations 3 cr
Thematic, Special, or General Option (24 or more cr) (A, B, or C detailed below)--Specialized and cross-disciplinary coursework
A. Thematic Option, providing the following 8 tracks:
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's 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)
American Cultures Track 1 (24 cr), American Literature in Context (includes a Minor in English)
Required choices in Disciplinary Methods Courses:
ANTH/ENGL/LANG 107 Nature of Language 3 cr
ENGL 211 Introduction to Literary Analysis 3 cr
Required course:
ENGL 301 Writing About Literature 3 cr
Plus 4 English elective courses chosen from the following:
ANTH/ENGL 367 Language in the United States 3 cr
ANTH/ENGL g453 American Indian Literature 3 cr
ENGL 277 or 278* Survey of American Literature I or II* 3 cr
ENGL 353 The West in American Literature 3 cr
ENGL 356 Ethnicity in Literature 3 cr
ENGL g480 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 being upper-division and no more than 2 being from the same department:
ANTH 238 Peoples and Cultures of the New World 3 cr
ANTH 239 Latino Peoples and Cultures 3 cr
ANTH g452 American Indian Verbal Arts 3 cr
ANTH/HIST 258 Native American History* 3 cr
ANTH/POLS g478 Federal Indian Law 3 cr
ANTH/POLS g479 Tribal Government 3 cr
ART g424 Twentieth Century Art 3 cr
HIST 251 Latin America* 3 cr
HIST 252 East Asian History* 3 cr
HIST 254 Middle Eastern Civilization* 3 cr
HIST 255 African History and Culture* 3 cr
HIST 307 Early North America 3 cr
HIST g435 Colonial Frontiers in America and Africa 3 cr
SOC 248 Social Diversity 3 cr
SOC 366 The Community 3 cr
* Only one course from the HIST 25X sequence may be applied to the American Literature in Context Track.
American Cultures Track 2 (27 cr), American Indian Studies (includes a Minor in American Indian Studies)
Consultation with American Indian Studies director required.
Required Courses:
ANTH 100 General Anthropology 3 cr
ANTH 238 People and Cultures of the New World 3 cr
ANTH g466 Current Issues in Indian Country 3 cr
ANTH g476 Seminar in American Indian Studies 3 cr
Plus one of the following courses:
ANTH/HIST 258 Native American History 3 cr
ANTH/POLS g478 Federal Indian Law 3 cr
ANTH g452 American Indian Verbal Arts 3 cr
ANTH g454 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 being upper division, chosen from the following:
ANTH/ENGL g490 Topics in Folklore 3 cr
ENGL 353 The West in American Literature 3 cr
ENGL 356 Ethnicity in Literature 3 cr
HIST 251 Latin America 3 cr
HIST 307 Early North America 3 cr
HIST g421 Federal Indian Relations 3 cr
HIST g435 Colonial Frontiers in America and Africa 3 cr
SOC 248 Social Diversity 3 cr
SOC 366 The Community 3 cr
American Cultures Track 3 (28 cr), American Languages (includes a Minor in Linguistics)
For area studies and communications/rhetoric:
ANTH/ENGL/LANG 107 Nature of Language 3 cr
For communications/rhetoric:
M C 119 Introduction to Mass Media 3 cr
Required courses:
ANTH/ENGL 367 Language in the United States 3 cr
ANTH g454 Survey of American Indian Languages 3 cr
ENGL 281 Introduction to Language Studies 3 cr
ENGL g480 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 g455 Introduction to Phonetics 3 cr
ENGL g485 Linguistic Analysis 3 cr
PHIL g410 Philosophy of Language 3 cr
Additional contextual courses:
1. Area Studies: 9 credits, at least 3 being 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 g451 Recent Rhetorical Issues 3 cr
COMM g442 American Rhetoric and Public Address 3 cr
MC 290 American Broadcasting 3 cr
THEA g420 American Theatre 3 cr
American Cultures Track 4 (24 cr), The American West (includes a Minor in History)
Required choice in Disciplinary Methods Courses: For area studies and communications/rhetoric:
HIST 291 The Historian's Craft 3 cr
Three of the following courses, at least one of which must be HIST 101 or 102:
HIST 101 Foundation of Western Civilization 3 cr
HIST 102 Development of Western Civilization 3 cr
HIST 251 Latin America 3 cr
HIST 252 East Asian History 3 cr
HIST 254 Middle Eastern Civilization 3 cr
HIST 255 African History and Culture 3 cr
Two courses chosen from the following:
HIST g421 Federal Indian Relations 3 cr
HIST g423 Idaho History 3 cr
HIST g425 Women in the North American West 3 cr
HIST g427 North American West 3 cr
GEOL/HIST/POLS g471 Historical Geography of Idaho 3 cr
Three contextual courses, at least two being upper-division, chosen from the following:
ANTH 238 Peoples and Cultures of the New World* 3 cr
ANTH 239 Latino Peoples and Cultures 3 cr
ANTH/ENGL g453 American Indian Literature 3 cr
ANTH/HIST 258 Native American History 3 cr
ENGL 353 The West in American Literature 3 cr
HIST g435 Colonial Frontiers in America and Africa 3 cr
*(only those offerings focusing on western peoples)
Recommended: Students taking this track should consider taking Spanish or Shoshoni for Goal 10B.
American Cultures Track 5 (24 cr), Gender in America (includes a Minor in Women's Studies)
Required choice in Disciplinary Methods Courses:
W S 201 Introduction to Women's Studies 3 cr
Required course:
W S 401 Feminist Thought 3 cr
Plus at least 2 courses chosen from:
HIST g425 Women in the North American West 3 cr
SOC 321 Families in American Society 3 cr
W S 311 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 g440 Gender and Communication 3 cr
HE g445 Human Sexuality and Health Education 2 cr
HIST g437 Families in Former Times 3 cr
HIST g439 Women in History 3 cr
SOC 250 Women, Crime and Corrections 3 cr
W S 459 Internship 1-6 cr
W S g461 Independent Study 1-3 cr
OR
other courses approved semester-by-semester
for the Minor in Women's Studies
Plus 3 contextual courses, two upper-division, chosen from the following:
ENGL 328 Gender in Literature 3 cr
HIST 307 Early North America 3 cr
HIST 308 Industrialization and Reform
in the United States 3 cr
HIST 309 Modern United States 3 cr
HIST g427 North American West 3 cr
PSYC 250 Female and Male Roles 3 cr
SOC 248 Social Diversity ` 3 cr
America in the World Track 1 (24 cr), America and World Affairs (includes a Minor in Political Science)
Required choice in Disciplinary Methods Courses:
POLS 202 Introduction to Politics 3 cr
Required courses:
POLS 221 Introduction to International Relations 3 cr
POLS 326 Recent American Foreign Policy 3 cr
POLS 331 Comparative Politics: Framework for Analysis 3 cr
plus 2 courses chosen from the following:
POLS g425 Topics in International Politics 3 cr
POLS g433 Politics of Developing Nations 3 cr
POLS g434 Terrorism and Political Violence 3 cr
POLS g492 Seminar (when offered with topic Human Rights)1-3 cr
plus 3 contextual courses chosen from the following, no two in the same discipline:
ANTH 239 Latino Peoples and Cultures 3 cr
ANTH g423 Anthropology of International Health 3 cr
ECON 334 International Economics 3 cr
ECON g472 Comparative Economic Systems 3 cr
HIST g435 Colonial Frontiers in America and Africa 3 cr
HIST g460 The Global Hispanic Monarchy 3 cr
HIST g474 Islam and Nationalism in the Modern World 3 cr
HIST g429 Foreign Relations Since 1900 3 cr
HIST g430 Global Environmental History 3 cr
America in the World Track 2 (24 cr), America in World History (includes a Minor in History)
Required choice in Disciplinary Methods Courses:
HIST 291 The Historian's Craft 3 cr
Three of the following courses, at least one of which must be HIST 101 or 102:
HIST 101 Foundation of Western Civilization 3 cr
HIST 102 Development of Western Civilization 3 cr
HIST 251 Latin America 3 cr
HIST 252 East Asian History 3 cr
HIST 254 Middle Eastern Civilization 3 cr
HIST 255 African History and Culture 3 cr
plus 2 courses chosen from the following:
HIST 307 Early North America 3 cr
HIST 308 Industrialization and Reform
in the United States 3 cr
HIST 309 Modern United States 3 cr
HIST g429 Foreign Relations Since 1900 3 cr
HIST g430 Global Environmental History 3 cr
HIST g435 Colonial Frontiers in America and Africa 3 cr
HIST g460 The Global Hispanic Monarchy 3 cr
HIST g474 Islam and Nationalism in the Modern World 3 cr
plus 3 courses chosen from the following, no more than 2 being from the same discipline:
ANTH g423 Anthropology of International Health 3 cr
ART g424 Twentieth Century Art 3 cr
ECON 334 International Economics 3 cr
ECON g472 Comparative Economic Systems 3 cr
POLS 326 Recent American Foreign Policy 3 cr
POLS 331 Comparative Politics: Framework for Analysis 3 cr
POLS g406 Intergovernmental Relations 3 cr
POLS g425 Topics in International Politics 3 cr
POLS g433 Politics of Developing Nations 3 cr
POLS g434 Terrorism and Political Violence 3 cr
POLS g492 Seminar (when offered with topic Human Rights)1-3 cr
America in the World Track 3 (24-26) cr, Western Hemisphere Studies (includes a Minor in Latino/a Studies)
Required choice in Disciplinary Methods Courses:
ANTH 250 Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology 3 cr
Required courses:
ANTH 239 Latino Peoples and Cultures 3 cr
HIST 251 Latin America 3 cr
Required language courses:
SPAN 201,202 Intermediate Spanish I and II 8 cr
OR
SPAN 301,302 Spanish Conversation and Composition I and II 6 cr
OR
Other 6-credit option with permission of Latino Studies Director
Plus 2 courses chosen from the following:
ANTH g424 Ethnomedicine of Latin America 3 cr
ANTH g487 Ethnographic Field School,
when offered in Mexico, Guatemala
and other Latin American countries 1-6 cr
ANTH g489 Special Topics in American Indian Studies,
when offered as Latin American Indigenous
Resource Management 3 cr
HIST g450 Golden Age Castile 3 cr
HIST g460 The Global Hispanic Monarchy 3 cr
SPAN 342 Survey of Latin American Literature and Civilization 3 cr
SPAN g462 Early Twentieth Century Spanish American Literature 3 cr
Plus 3 contextual courses chosen from among the following, no more than one from any one discipline:
ANTH/ENGL g453 American Indian Literature 3 cr
ANTH/POLS g478 Federal Indian Law 3 cr
ANTH/POLS g479 Tribal Governments 3 cr
ENGL 353 The West in American Literature 3 cr
ENGL 356 Ethnicity in Literature 3 cr
ENGL 367 Language in the United States 3 cr
ENGL g480 Varieties of American English 3 cr
HIST 307 Early North America 3 cr
HIST 308 Industrialization and Reform
in the United States 3 cr
HIST 309 Modern United States 3 cr
HIST g421 Federal Indian Relations 3 cr
HIST g425 Women in the North American West 3 cr
HIST g427 North American West 3 cr
POLS 326 Recent American Foreign Policy 3 cr
POLS g401 Political Parties and Interest Groups 3 cr
POLS g403 The Presidency 3 cr
POLS g404 The Legislative Process 3 cr
POLS g411 American Political Theory 3 cr
POLS g442 Constitutional Law 3 cr
B. Special Option (24 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.
C. 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 courses with strong American content from the following groupings.
It is strongly recommended that students choosing this option add course work in order to minor in one of these disciplines.
Two courses from Anthropology:
ANTH g414 New World Archaeology 3 cr
ANTH g452 American Indian Verbal Arts 3 cr
ANTH g454 Survey of American Indian Languages 3 cr
ANTH g466 Current Issues in Indian Country 3 cr
ANTH g472 Native American Arts 3 cr
ANTH g474 Special Topics in Indian Education 3 cr
ANTH g489 Special Topics in American Indian Studies 3 cr
Two courses from English and Fine Arts:
ANTH/ENGL g453 American Indian Literature 3 cr
ART/M C 210 History and Appreciation of Photography 3 cr
ART g424 Twentieth Century Art 3 cr
COMM g442 American Rhetoric and Public Address 3 cr
ENGL 353 The West in American Literature 3 cr
ENGL 356 Ethnicity in Literature 3 cr
ENGL 367 Language in the United States 3 cr
ENGL g480 Varieties of American English 3 cr
M C 290 American Broadcasting 3 cr
MUSC 106 American Music 3 cr
THEA g420 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)
Two courses from History:
HIST 307 Early North America 3 cr
HIST 308 Industrialization and Reform
in the United States 3 cr
HIST 309 Modern United States 3 cr
HIST 337 Archaeology and History of Southern Idaho 3 cr
HIST g421 Federal Indian Relations 3 cr
HIST g423 Idaho History 3 cr
HIST g425 Women in the North American West 3 cr
HIST g427 North American West 3 cr
HIST g435 Colonial Frontiers in America and Africa 3 cr
HIST g471 Historical Geography of Idaho 3 cr
Two courses from Political Science:
ANTH/POLS g478 Federal Indian Law 3 cr
ANTH/POLS g479 Tribal Governments 3 cr
POLS 308 State and Local Government 3 cr
POLS 326 Recent American Foreign Policy 3 cr
POLS g401 Political Parties and Interest Groups 3 cr
POLS g403 The Presidency 3 cr
POLS g404 The Legislative Process 3 cr
POLS g411 American Political Theory 3 cr
POLS g442 Constitutional Law 3 cr
American Studies Minor
The American Studies minor is designed to give the student majoring in another field an interdisciplinary knowledge of American culture. The minor requires 21 credits:
AMST 200 Introduction to American Studies, 3 cr
ENGL 277 or 278 Survey of American Literature I or II, 3 cr
HIST 118 U.S. History and Culture, 3 cr
POLS 101 Introduction to American Government, 3 cr
3 upper-division courses with strong American content,
approved by the American Studies director, 9 cr
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. 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. R1
AMST 348 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 403 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 410 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