Required courses

The American studies concentration provides both a broad understanding of the American experience and an introduction to the practice of focused interdisciplinary study. The concentration is taken in addition to a departmental major. By electing departmental courses with an American focus in 2 or 3 areas outside the major and framing the concentration with 2 Interdisciplinary American studies courses, students may expect to gain a coherent sense of the national experience and appreciate the various contributions of different academic disciplines.

Although not a vocationally directed program, the American Studies concentration should be of particular interest to students preparing for careers in law, government and journalism, and those planning graduate work in American Studies or any of its contributing disciplines.

The concentration requirements are listed below. Students interested in pursuing this concentration should file a Plan of Study with the Coordinator.

course Topics in American Culture (4)
course Senior Project (4)
One course in anthropology
One American History course at the 3000 level
3 electives from the list of Recommended Departmental Electives, with no more than 2 taken from any 1 department’s offerings and at least 1 representing a field or fields outside the student’s major

Recommended Departmental Electives

Art and Art history

course Art Since 1960 (4)
course American Art (4)
course Michigan Architecture (4)

English

course Race and Ethnicity in American Literature (4)
course Early American Literature (4)
course American Literature 1820-1865 (4)
course American Literature 1865-1920 (4)
course American Literature 1920-1950 (4)
course Selected Ethnic Literature (4)
course African American Literature (4)
course Issues in American Literature (4)

History

Music

course Foundations of Rock (4)
course Exploring Jazz (4)

Political Science

course Introduction to American Politics (4)
course American Political Thought (4)
course Congress and the Legislative Process (4)
course The Judicial Process (4)
course Local Government and Politics (4)
course State Politics (4)
course Media and Politics (4)
course Elections and Voting Behavior (4)
course Political Campaigns (4)
course American Political Culture (4)
course The Politics of Race and Ethnicity (4)
course U.S. Constitutional Law (4)
course Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (4)

Sociology/Anthropology

course Archaeology of North America (4)
course Introduction to Sociology (4)
course Current Social Problems (4)
course Racial and Ethnic Relations (4)
course Social Control of Mass Media (4)

Notes

Some 3000 and 4000 level topics courses offered by contributing departments may also be included in the concentration, with permission of the American Studies Coordinator.

Students majoring in Anthropology or History should be aware that no more than 8 credits may be counted toward both the major and a concentration.

American Studies

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