Program in American Studies

The Major 

Drawing on coursework in history, literature, the arts and the social sciences, the American studies major offers a broad perspective for students seeking to understand American culture.  This program takes an interdisciplinary approach to American life and thought while permitting considerable emphasis on a particular field of analysis chosen by the student.

A graduate with an American studies major and a minor in education may be licensed to teach in the Ohio public school system.  Students with degrees in American studies may pursue graduate work in American studies or a related field.  In the latter instance, students would be well advised to pursue a second major in a related field.

For course descriptions, click this hyperlink to the Kent State University Undergraduate Catalog.

For information on current semester course schedules, click this hyperlink to the Kent State University Registrar.

For cognate departments' webpages, click on hyperlinked course prefixes below.

 

REQUIRED COURSES (54 credits total)

AMST   

10001    Introduction to American Studies (3)

40197    Senior Colloquium (3)

Choose from History (9 credits):

HIST   

31070    History of American Business Enterprise (3)

31078    African American History (3)

41056    History of Colonial America: 1492-1714 (3)

41057    Eighteenth-Century America, 1714-1789 (3)

41069    Recent America:  The United States, 1929-Present (3)

41070    American Social and Intellectual History, 1790-1876 (3)

41071    American Social and Intellectual History, 1876-Present (3)

41074    American Economic History 

41079    History of the Immigrant in America (3)

41083    U.S. Foreign Relations Through World War I (3)

41084    U.S. Foreign Relations From 1920 (3)

Choose from English  (9 credits):

ENG   

33001    U.S. Literature to 1865 (3)

33002    U.S. Literature from 1865 to1965 (3)

33003    U.S. Literature from 1945 to Present (3)

33011    African American Literature (3) 

34021    Women's Literature (3)

36001    Children's Literature (3)

39695    Special Topics in Ethnic Literature of the U.S. (3)

Choose from Social Sciences (12 credits):  

ANTH  

18210    Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3)

48270    Native Peoples of North America (3)

ECON   

32083    Economics of Poverty (3)

 

GEOG   

17064    Geography of the United States and Canada (3)

42064    Historical Geography of the United States and Canada (3)

 

POL      

40112    Politics and the Mass Media (3)

40116    Public Opinion and Political Behavior (3)

40510    U.S. Foreign Policy (3)

 

Choose from Humanities (12-15 credits):

ART     

42056    American Art:  1607-1860 (3)

42057    American Art and Architecture:  1860-1940 (3)

42058    American Film, Photography, Art and Ideas (3)

 

A & S   

30000    Colloquium in Women's Studies (3)

 

JMC     

40008    History of American Mass Communication (3)

 

MUS    

42131    America's Music (3)

42161    History of Jazz (3)

 

PAS    

33110    The Black Woman:  Historical Perspectives (3)

35100    African American Social, Political, and Economic Systems (3)

35200    African Social, Political, and Economic Systems (3)

41192    African American Affairs Practicum (3)

49095    Selected Topics (3)

 

PHIL

31010    Twentieth-Century Philosophy (3)

31020    American Philosophy (3)

41060    Pragmatism and Beyond (3)

Major Electives (6-9 credits):

Six to nine upper-division hours in American Studies (40095, 40096), anthropology, English, history, political science and sociology elected in consultation with the coordinator, with two areas represented.  At least 21 hours must be taken in the Humanities and major electives combined.