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 101-01, Topics in U.S. Cultural Diversity
AMST 201, Introduction to American Studies
AMST 202, Workshop in Cultural Analysis
AMST 200, Mass Media
AMST 200, Fat Studies
AMST 200, Introduction to Latino Studies
AMST 200, American Capitalism and Social Justice

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 the department chairperson Professor Sharon O'Brien.

Introductory courses that fulfill distribution requirements

Division II:
AMST 101-01, Topics in U.S. Cultural Diversity

For course descriptions and requirements for the major, refer to the Academic Bulletin: American Studies.

Suggested curricular flow through the major

First Year/Sophomore Year
AMST 201
AMST 202
One course in American history
One 200-level course in AMST
One course in either American literature or American history

Junior Year
AMST 303
One course in representation
One course in American literature at the 300-level
One course in structures and institutions
One course in history at the upper level

Senior Year
AMST 401 (fall)
AMST 402 (spring)
Any courses remaining to fill out the major

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.