American Studies

 

Professor Stock, director

 

The Major in American Studies

 

American Studies is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of society and culture in the United States, which traces its roots in the academy to the early twentieth century.  At Connecticut College, the program has dual, but related emphases:  the study of race and ethnicity and the critical examination of the role of the United States in the world.  The American Studies major is affiliated with Unity House, the multicultural center at Connecticut College, the Multiculturalism and Diversity Committee (MDC), and the Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity (CCSRE).

 

The major consists of at least eleven courses, including three required courses:

 

·         American Studies 201A, 201D, or 201S (or English 219 or History 201);

·         American Studies 206 (or Comparative Race and Ethnicity 206/Religious Studies 216);

·         American Studies 465 (or History 465).

 

Also required are:

 

·         Six courses from a single area of concentration;

·         Two courses that treat the United States, its borderlands regions, or race and ethnicity in comparative, transnational, or global perspective;

·         Thirty hours minimum of service learning, internship, fieldwork, or community service fulfilled under the auspices of a college certificate program, college course, Career Enhancing Life Skills (CELS) internship program, or Office of Volunteers for Community Service (OVCS) community activity.

 

The Concentration in Comparative Race and Ethnicity

 

This concentration explores the formation of racial and ethnic categories and identities over time, across geographic space, and within the cultures of the United States and its borderlands.  It examines the political, economic, and social effects of these categories, as they are complicated by the forces of nationality, gender, sexuality, and class.  It also explores the history of anti-racism and other social movements for freedom.

 

American Studies 103, 204, 214, 225, 227, 275, 325, 344, 450, 493A, 494A; Anthropology 202, 229, 234, 260, 275, 325; English 216B, 223, 227, 243, 337, 344, 361, 493H, 494H; Environmental Studies 493G, 494G, 493U, 494U; Film Studies 204, 227, 243, 311; Freshman Seminar 103, 170, 173; Gender and Women's Studies 222, 275, 418; Government 208, 238, 307, 308, 321, 324, 493A, 494A, 493Q, 494Q, 493U, 494U, 493V, 494V; Hispanic Studies 224, 317, 324; History 114, 203, 212, 213 214, 216, 219, 220, 225, 227, 269, 275, 304, 309, 313, 326, 411, 450, 460, 461, 463; Human Development 304, 306, 321, 415; Music 103, 117, 229; Religious Studies 204, 229, 230, 346; Sociology 203, 213, 223, 264, 405, 418, 493A, 494A.

 

The Concentration in Expressive Arts and Cultural Studies

 

This concentration explores the ways in which diverse people in the United States have found meaning through literature, the arts, and popular culture.  It also examines the ways texts and images have represented American identity both to Americans and to others in this hemisphere and around the world.

                Students who concentrate in Expressive Arts and Cultural Studies must take a minimum of six courses in at least two different departments from the following:

 

American Studies 103, 204, 344; Anthropology 229, 356; Art History 217, 231, 232, 234, 240, 245, 263, 325, 326, 356, 493S, 494S, 493Y, 494Y; English 114, 216B, 223, 227, 232, 243, 301C, 337, 343, 344, 361, 493B, 494B, 493H, 494H, 493V, 494V; Film Studies 202, 204, 227, 243, 311, 321; Gender and Women's Studies 212, 418; Hispanic Studies 216, 224, 251, 309, 310, 324, 330; Music 103, 117, 229; Philosophy 207; Religious Studies 230; Theater 339D.

 

The Concentration in Politics, Society, and Policy

 

This concentration focuses on the development of social and political theories and policies that have tried to identify difference in human society.  It will also explore how race and ethnicity informs public policy.

                Students who concentrate in Politics, Society, and Policy are required to take a minimum of six courses from at least two departments from the following:

 

American Studies 450, 493A, 494A; Anthropology 202, 234, 275, 302; Economics 237, 247, 401, 430, Education 202; Environmental Studies 326, 493E, 494E, 493G, 494G; Government 206, 212, 250, 252, 260, 326, 352, 493A, 494A, 493Y, 494Y; Gender and Women's Studies 315; Hispanic Studies 316; History 450; Human Development 111, 302, 306, 321, 414, 415; Religious Studies 204, 230, 346; Sociology 203, 207, 213, 223, 227, 264, 315, 364, 405, 408, 414, 418, 493A, 494A, 493B, 494B.

 

Courses that Examine Race and Ethnicity Outside the United States

 

American Studies majors must take two courses from either the courses listed above under areas of concentration that examine Latin America or any of the following:

 

Economics 319, 408; Environmental Studies 251, 493U, 494U, English 314, 493K, 494K; French 493O, 494O; Freshman Seminar 108; Gender and Women's Studies 103, 224; Government 251, 307, 308, 323, 324, 348, 352, 493K, 494K, 493U, 494U; 493V, 494V; History 226, 250, 324, 325, 410, 424, Music 108; Psychology 450; Religious Studies 207, 230, 328, 330, 401; Slavic Studies 251.

 

The Minor in American Studies

 

The minor consists of American Studies 201A, 201D, or 201S (or English 219 or History 201); and 206 (or Comparative Race and Ethnicity 206/Religious Studies 216); and at least four other American Studies or cross-listed courses.  The four electives must come from a single area of concentration and from at least two different departments.

 

Courses

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  103  AMERICAN MUSIC  This is the same course as Music 103.  Refer to the Music listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  117  HISTORY OF JAZZ  This is the same course as Music 117.  Refer to the Music listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  201A  INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN STUDIES  A multi-disciplinary approach to the study of American culture and society.  Introduces students to the history of the American Studies movement, its current debates, and literature.  Readings are organized around two questions or themes:  Who is an American?  And where is America?  Other issues include race, class, gender, sexuality, borderlands, disability studies, citizenship, and transnationalism.  This is the same course as English 219.

                Open to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors; and to seniors with permission of the instructor.  Enrollment limited to 30 students.  This course satisfies General Education Area 4.  T. Ammirati

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  201D/201S  INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN STUDIES  A multi-disciplinary approach to the study of American culture and society.  Introduces students to the history of the American Studies movement, its current debates, and literature.  Readings are organized around two questions or themes:  Who is an American?  And where is America?  Other issues include race, class, gender, sexuality, borderlands, disability studies, citizenship, and transnationalism.  This is the same course as History 201.

                Open to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors; and to seniors with permission of the instructor.  Enrollment limited to 30 students.  This course satisfies General Education Area 7.  J. Downs, C. Stock

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  204  AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM  This is the same course as Film Studies 204.  Refer to the Film Studies listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  206  THEORIZING RACE AND ETHNICITY  This course employs a comparative approach to introduce students to concepts and theories of race and ethnicity that emerged primarily in Europe and the United States in the eighteenth to twentieth centuries.  Case studies from other national contexts are presented to broaden students' understanding of the subject beyond the United States.  This is the same course as Comparative Race and Ethnicity 206/Religious Studies 216.

                Enrollment limited to 30 students.  D. Kim

 

American Studies  207  Introduction to American Literature:  The 19th Century  This is the same course as English 207.  Refer to the English listing for a course description.

 

American Studies  208  Introduction to American Literature:  The 20th Century and the Present  This is the same course as English 208.  Refer to the English listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  213  NATIVE AMERICAN RELIGIONS  This is the same course as Anthropology/Religious Studies 213.  Refer to the Religious Studies listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  214  POLITICS AND CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1917  This is the same course as History 214.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  217  SAME-SEX SEXUALITY IN WORLD HISTORY  This is the same course as Gender and Women?s Studies/History 217.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  225  AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY 1865-PRESENT  This is the same course as History 225.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  227  AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY 1619-1865  This is the same course as History 227.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  231  ASIAN AMERICANS AND RACIALIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES  This is the same course as Anthropology/Comparative Race and Ethnicity 231.  Refer to the Comparative Race and Ethnicity listing for a course description.

 

American Studies  242  The History of Women and Gender in The United States  This is the same course as History/Gender and Women's Studies 242.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  248  NARRATIVES OF ILLNESS  This is the same course as History 248.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  275  HISTORY OF WITCHCRAFT AND MAGIC  This is the same course as Gender and Women's Studies/History 275.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  305  vampires, miracles, ghosts, and god(S):  the supernatural in american popular culture  This is the same course as Religious Studies 305.  Refer to the Religious Studies listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  325  ETHNOHISTORY OF MINORITY COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND  This is the same course as Anthropology 325/History 326.  Refer to the Anthropology listing for a course description.

 

American Studies  330  MEDITATIONS ON THE  HISTORY OF  THE AMERICAN SOUTH  This is the same course as History 330.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  341  CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN U.S. HISTORY  This is the same course as Gender and Women's Studies/History 341.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  344  empires of selfhood  This is the same course as English 344.  Refer to the English listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  347  SAME-SEX LOVE AND THE AMERICAN RENAISSANCE  This is the same course as English/Gender and Women′s Studies 347.  Refer to the English listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  371  NATIONS WITHIN:  INDIGENOUS HISTORIES AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE  This is the same course as Gender and Women's Studies/History 371.  Refer to the History listing for a course description

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  404  COMPARATIVE RACIAL FORMATIONS:  ASIAN AMERICANS, AFRICAN AMERICANS, AND LATINOS  This is the same course as Anthropology/Comparative Race and Ethnicity 404.  Refer to the Comparative Race and Ethnicity listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  422  American Society and Politics  This is the same course as Sociology 422.  Refer to the Sociology listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  450  latin american immigration and migration  This is the same course as History 450.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  452  SWEATSHOP WARRIORS AND GLOBAL CAPITALISM  This is the same course as Gender and Women's Studies/History 452.  Refer to the Gender and Women's Studies listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  453  HISTORY OF SEXUALITY IN THE U.S.  This is the same course as Gender and Women's Studies/History 453.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  454  THE REAGAN REVOLUTION:  AMERICAN CONSERVATISM, 1940-1990  This is the same course as History 454.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  458  SOUTH OF CANADA IS THE MASON-DIXON LINE:  THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE NORTH, 1925-1975  This is the same course as History 458.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  465  THE GLOBALIZATION OF AMERICAN CULTURE SINCE 1945  An exploration of the impact of increased American economic, cultural, and military presence throughout the world since the end of World War II.  This is the same course as History 465.

                Prerequisite:  Open to senior American Studies majors, and to others with permission of the instructor.  Enrollment limited to 16 students.  Formerly American Studies/History 493Q, 494Q; cannot receive credit for both courses.  C. Stock

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  473  THE COLD WAR IN THE THIRD WORLD  This is the same course as History 473.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  474  THE ATOMIC AGE  This is the same course as History 474.  Refer to the History listing for a course description.

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  493A, 494A  CULTURE, POLITICS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT  An examination of the impact of culture on environmental policy-making.  An exploration of the ways in which present-day decisions about environmental policy have been reflective of cultural presumptions (whose culture?) about the environment, human settlement and economic development, and social values and power.  Classes focus on such diverse issues as water resources, cultural resources, nuclear waste storage, and urban development and suburban sprawl.  This is the same course as Environmental Studies 493G, 494G/Government 493A, 494A.

                Previous study in United States government and/or history is required.  Enrollment limited to 16 students.  M. A. Borrelli

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  291, 292  INDIVIDUAL STUDY

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  391, 392  INDIVIDUAL STUDY

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  491, 492  INDIVIDUAL STUDY

 

AMERICAN STUDIES  497-498  HONORS STUDY