American Studies Concentration
The American Studies concentration is one of the oldest interdisciplinary programs at 韦德体育app官网. It provides both a broad understanding of the American experience and an introduction to the practice of focused interdisciplinary study. Students complete both the concentration and a departmental major.
By taking departmental courses with an American focus in two or three areas outside the major and framing the concentration with two interdisciplinary American studies courses, students can gain a coherent sense of the national experience and appreciate the various contributions of different academic disciplines.
Program Coordinator: Jeff Insko
The American Studies concentration may be the best kept secret in the College of 艺术与科学. Aside from exciting classes on a variety of topics in U.S. 历史, 文学, 政治, 和更多的, all offered by talented faculty, American Studies lets you create your own course of study while expanding upon the knowledge gained in your major area of study. Your concentration will culminate in a senior project (AMS 401) of your own devising— which may be a traditional paper, 创意项目, or even an appropriate internship. 还是不确定? Then consider the fact that chances are you're already well on your way to fulfilling the requirements of the concentration. So the real question is: why NOT concentrate?
In addition to learning about the richness of the American experience, students of American studies develop invaluable skills in critical thinking, written and oral communication, 以及解决问题的能力. Because American Studies by definition draws on a range of fields and their diverse methodologies, it will teach you to approach problems and ask questions from multiple perspectives. By going outside the confines of the perspectives and methodologies associated with a single discipline, students of American Studies get to experience the kind of independence and fearlessness that comes with interdisciplinary problem-solving, 合成, 和具有开创性. It truly demands an independent spirit, mind, and courage.
凡是你能想到的! Most American Studies concentrators do not become professional scholars of American Studies themselves—though some do. 而不是, the broad training and intellectual development students receive in the concentration prepares them well for careers in law, 政府, 新闻, 广告, 政治, work in the non-profit sector, 娱乐领域, 还有更多. Intellectual independence, 爱打听别人隐私, 创造性思维, the ability to conduct research, and to communicate effectively are increasingly important to prospective employers. 当然, American Studies is also excellent preparation for graduate study in any of American Studies’ related disciplines.
Department of English, 创意写作 and Film