2016-2017 Undergraduate General Catalog


American Studies Major

Coordinator: M.Pehl

The American Studies major provides an interdisciplinary curriculum that exposes students to government, English, history, music and sociology.


Students develop analytical, critical thinking, and writing skills while gaining knowledge about American culture and society. Prospective students have the opportunity to combine classes in different disciplines to get multiple perspectives on a single theme.

36 Credit Hours

Required Courses: (12 credit hours)

HIST 120American Experience to 1877

3

HIST 121American Experience Since 1877

3

ENGL 240Introduction to American Literary History

3

GOVT 200American Government

3

At least two courses from each of the following areas:

American Cultures:

COMM 280History of U.S. Media

3

ENGL 150American Cinema

3

ENGL 320Seminar in Earlier American Literature

3

ENGL 330Seminar in Later American Literature

3

ENGL 340Seminar in Non-Western Literature

3

JOUR 290W/HIST 290WHistory of The American Press

3

MUSI 111The History of Jazz

3

PHIL 280American Philosophy

3

PHIL 282Ethics in America

3

RELI 223Religion and American Culture

3

American Histories:

ANTH 376Prehistory of the Northern Plains

3

HIST 215Flappers, Fundamentalists, FDR: US Experience 1919-1945

3

HIST 218The Search for Equality: The United States since World War II

3

HIST 300WRevolutionary America

3

HIST 303WHistory of The American West

3

HIST 305The Era of American Civil War

3

American Politics and Society:

GOVT 210Congress

3

GOVT 220The American Presidency

3

GOVT 235American Foreign Policy

3

GOVT 305Theories of American Democracy

3

GOVT 335/COMM 335/JOUR 335Elections, Public Opinion and The Media

3

SOCI 340Social Inequality

4

Peoples of the Americas:

ANTH 371Mesoamerican Archaeology and Cultural History

3

HIST 261History of Latin America 1450-2010

3

HIST 230Cultural History of Mexico from the Aztecs to the Zetas

3

NAST 180/HIST 180Red, White, and Black: The People of Early America

3

NAST 320/SOCI 320Native American Social Systems

3

NAST 252/HIST 252History of the Lakota/Dakota

3

SPAN 341Latin American Civilization and Culture

3

SPAN 362History of the Literature of Latin America

3

SPAN 370Modern Latin American Novel

3

American Studies Sample Plan of Study

Following is one possible way to complete the major.  

Students should fill in gaps with coursework required for the core curriculum and other majors/minors to take an average of 14 credit hours each fall and spring, and 3-4 credit hours each Interim.  Total credit hours needs to be 124 for degree completion.

First Year

Fall Semester

FYS 110First Year Seminar I

4

Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Interim

Spring Semester

FYS 111First Year Seminar II

4

Second Year

Fall Semester

Interim

Spring Semester

Third Year

Fall Semester

Interim

Spring Semester

Fourth Year

Fall Semester

Interim

Spring Semester