WCU American Studies Program

American Studies emerged as an academic movement shortly after World War II. With the United States suddenly thrust upon the world stage as a relatively young leader and with growing specialization fragmenting knowledge and communication, various American scholars felt compelled to integrate information and insights from many sources in an effort to understand what was "American" about America.

The American Studies program operates on the assumption that all aspects of America's intellectual, artistic, and material culture, and its vernacular tradition as well as its cultivated tradition, are valuable sources of information and insights about American civilization. American Studies is interdisciplinary in nature because it draws from a number of academic disciplines covering all facets of American civilization in the pursuit of an understanding of American culture.

Karin E. Gedge, History
Charles A. Hardy, History
Sterling Murray, Music History
C. James Trotman, English
William Hewitt, History
Steve Gimber, History, Coordinator

Students are introduced to a broad spectrum of American culture, and are encouraged to study an area in depth and to develop career interests through concentrations in American art history, African-American studies, historic preservation, environmental studies, journalism and editing, and museum studies. An optional internship provides on-the-job experience.

AMS 200 American Civilization (3)
AMS 367 American Material Culture (3)
AMS 400 Senior Project (3) or AMS 401 Independent Study (3) or AMS 415 American Studies Internship (1-15)
HIS 151 History of the United States I and HIS 152 History of the United States II (6)
LIT 200 American Literature I and LIT 201 American Literature II (6)

Six American-topic courses are to be taken in anthropology, art history, geography, history, literature, philosophy, political science, sociology, and music history and literature, with no more than two courses from one discipline.

A student must take enough courses to ensure that a minimum of 120 semester hours are completed successfully. Each American Studies major must submit for approval a proposed course of study at the beginning of the junior year. For guidance consult advisor or the American Studies program coordinator.

For transcript recognition of an American Studies minor, a student must take 18 semester hours allocated in the following areas:

American Studies (6)
American History, preferably HIS 151 or HIS 152 (3)
American Literature, preferably LIT 200 or LIT 201 (3)
American topics:

One course from the arts, literature, or philosophy, and one course from history or social and behavioral sciences, or other courses approved by the adviser. (6)

200 American Civilization (3) An interdisciplinary study of the forces, forms, and values that have contributed to the making of American civilization. Several academic disciplines are drawn upon in exploring what is American about American institutions, thought, behavior, and material culture. Approved interdisciplinary course.

210 Mass Media and Popular Culture (3) An exploration of the role of media in development of American popular culture. Particular emphasis will be given to the transformations brought about by mass media after 1880 and the increasing corporate involvement in mass media during the 20th century. Approved interdisciplinary course.

250 Myths and Modernization (3) An interdisciplinary exploration of American civilization during three stages of development from Columbus to the present. Focuses on analysis of civic and popular culture to decode myths of national identity and the media in which they are disseminated. Approved interdisciplinary course.

367 American Material Culture (3) An interdisciplinary study of American civilization through the examination of its built environment and crafted and manufactured artifacts from the Colonial period to the mid-20th century.

400 Senior Thesis of Project (3) A concluding "statement" incorporating the interdisciplinary generalist approach.

401 Independent Study (1-3) An opportunity to pursue alternative study projects outside the classroom such as field work in community resources.

415 American Studies Internship (1-15) Cooperative, service/learning experience at a community agency, business, or institution, This course may be taken again for credit.

	Department of History 500 Main Hall West Chester, Pennsylvania 19383	(610)436-2201 http://www.wcupa.edu/