American Studies Advising Guide

Introduction

American studies is an innovative field of study that looks at the American past and present through an interdisciplinary lens. Students in the major draw upon concepts and methods developed in history, literature, sociology, philosophy, political science, anthropology, art history and music in their analyses of various American social, cultural and political phenomena. American studies majors are eclectic, critical thinkers who are able to analyze a variety of texts (such as photography and visual arts, novels, films, sports, advertising and popular music) and to investigate how these texts reflect or challenge dominant conceptions of identity and power. The American studies curriculum has a strong transnational focus (emphasizing that “America” does not stop at the borders of the United States), as well as a distinctive fieldwork component, which sends majors out into the community to learn and to contribute their knowledge.

At Dickinson, the American Studies Department offers both a major and a minor. Students take  core courses in American Studies and draw coursework from across the curriculum. Each American Studies student has a unique program that is given coherence through the core American Studies courses and through careful planning and advising.

Courses appropriate for prospective majors 

 AMST 101, Cultures of the United States, is available to all first-year students.  It is not required for the major, but provides a good introduction to the concerns of American Studies and counts for the major.  Specific focus and title depends on the instructor.

 AMST 201, Introduction to American Studies, is a required introductory course, and introduces students to the interdisciplinary nature of the field.  Normally, students take this course in the second semester for the first year or during the sophomore year.  Less preferably, it may also be taken in the junior year for those who discover American Studies later.  It may be taken before or after (or concurrently with) AMST 202.

 AMST 202, Workshop in Cultural Analysis, is the second required introductory course for American Studies majors.  Normally, students take this in the sophomore year, but it may be taken in the second semester of the first year, or less preferably, in the junior year.  It may be taken before or after (or concurrently with) AMST 201.  AMST 202 is usually offered as a writing intensive course.

First-Year students: In the first year, students interested in exploring American Studies might take AMST 101, HIST 117 or 118, an ENGL 101 course in American literature, or SOCI 110.  They might also take AMST 201, AMST 202, or a 200-level American Studies topics course in the second semester of their first year.  Anyone interested in the American Studies major should contact Professor Cotten Seiler, the department chairperson (seilerc@dickinson.edu).

Introductory courses that fulfill distribution requirements 

Division II:    

 AMST 101, Cultures of the United States;                                  

AMST 200, Topics in American Studies

AMST 201, Introduction to American Studies

AMST 202, Workshop in Cultural Analysis

US Diversity:   

 AMST 101, Cultures of the United States

Course descriptions, requirements for the major refer to the  College Bulletin: American Studies.  

Additional remarks

Related activities: When appropriate, American Studies offers films and lectures that are coordinated with the core courses, but which are open to the entire community, often in cooperation with the participating departments.

Student Advisory Committee: Interested American Studies majors serve on the student advisory committee.

 Careers: Recent graduates have found jobs in the non-profit and social services areas, business, publishing, journalism, teaching, government, counseling, and law.  Some have gone on to graduate education in a variety of fields including American Studies, business, education, fine arts, historic preservation, museum studies, history, law, political science, urban planning, religion, journalism, and medicine.   

Further information: Information on the major and minor as well as on the particular courses being offered each semester are available from the American Studies Department Chairperson.