American Studies, Minor
Program Overview:
The American Studies minor provides an interdisciplinary exploration of the history, culture, politics, literature, and social movements that have shaped the United States. Through courses across the humanities and social sciences, students develop critical thinking, research, and communication skills while examining the diverse experiences and ideas that define the American experience. The minor complements a wide range of majors and enhances preparation for careers in education, public service, communications, law, business, and nonprofit organizations.
PROGRAM LEARNING OBJECTIVES
PROGRAM LEARNING OBJECTIVES
PLO 1: Apply the methodologies of multiple disciplines to the research & analysis of topics that defy traditional disciplinary boundaries.
PLO 2: Engage in intersectional thinking to identify connections between environmental concerns, gender, race, class and nationality.
PLO 3: Use the city as a platform for identifying researching & analyzing complex inter-, intra-, and cross-disciplinary topics of historical & contemporary significances.
PLO 4: Describe key concepts central to American culture
PLO 5: Engage in critical thinking, discussion, & writing about the contested nature of those key concepts: freedom, democracy individualism, equality, opportunity & identity.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Code | Title | Credits |
| Select five courses: | 15 |
HIS-3407 | Survey of United States Relations |
|
HIS-3501 | The Atlantic World |
|
FA-2406 | Art of Social Change in the United States |
|
FA-2409 | Art of Social Change in the United States |
|
LWP-2000 | Walt Whitman’s America |
|
LWP-2555 | America in the 1940s |
|
REL-2113 | The Storyof American Evangelicalism |
|
| Total Credits | 15 |
CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS
CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS
• Explores the historical, cultural, literary, artistic, and religious traditions that have shaped the American experience.
• Examines key themes in U.S. history, including American identity, democracy, social movements, and the nation's role in the world.
• Integrates perspectives from history, literature, art, and religious studies to foster interdisciplinary analysis.
• Develops critical thinking, research, and communication skills through the study of diverse texts, historical events, and cultural expressions.
• Encourages students to analyze the complexity and diversity of American society through multiple disciplinary lenses.
• Complements a wide range of majors by providing a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural forces that continue to influence the United States.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
An American Studies minor strengthens preparation for careers that value cultural awareness, historical understanding, research, writing, and critical analysis. It pairs well with majors in history, political science, communication, education, business, sociology, English, and the arts.
Potential career paths include:
• Educator or Teaching Assistant
• Public Historian
• Museum or Cultural Institution Staff
• Archivist Assistant
• Communications or Public Relations Assistant
• Journalist or Editorial Assistant
• Policy or Legislative Assistant
• Community Outreach Coordinator
• Nonprofit Program Assistant
• Government or Public Service Professional
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Assistant
• Law or Legal Studies Pathway
• Social Services or Advocacy Worker
• Media or Cultural Research Assistant
• Graduate Study in American Studies, History, Law, Education, Public Policy, or Cultural Studies