Curriculum for American Studies Majors

This page is a general guide to the American Studies degree and minor programs. For course descriptions, see the Undergraduate Bulletin, and for the upcoming semester's offerings, see the Course Schedules database. We have identified five core areas for your study. Majors must take one course from each area:

American Biography and Work
Need ONE, select from Lower Division Courses:

* 1001 – American Lives
* 1042 – Work in America
* 1002 – Key Documents in American Civilization

American Culture
Need ONE, select from Upper Division Courses:

* 2011 – Arts in America
* 2022 – Museums and American Culture
* 2012 – Introduction to Material Culture
* 3011 – Photography in America
* 3012 – Film and American Society
* 3061 – Mass Media and American Popular Culture
* 3013 – The Documentary Mode
* 2120 – Topics in American Culture*

Place in American Life
Need ONE, select from Upper Division Courses:

* 2051 – American Places: Home, City, Region
* 2021 – Philadelphia Neighborhoods
* 3022 – The City: Urban Design and American Culture
* 3051 – American Frontiers
* 2001 – Tourism in America
* 2120 – Topics in American Culture*

Diversity in America
Need ONE, select from Upper Division Courses:

* 2071 – Immigrant Experiences in America
* 3071 – African American Experiences
* 3096 – American Woman: Visions and Revisions
* 2107 – Asian American Experiences
* 2003 – The American Sexual Past
* 2072 – Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia
* 2096 – Asian Diaspora
* 2097 – Asian Women in Transition
* 3074 – Introduction to Asian-American Literature
* 2901 – Quest for the American Dream –Honors
* 2120 – Topics in American Culture*

Change in America
Need ONE, select from Upper Division:

* 3041 – Contemporary Trends in the American Workplace
* 2041 – Technology and American Culture
* 3901 – Ideal America: Reform, Revolution, and Utopia – Honors
* 3032 – Literature and Political Change
* 3033 – Courtroom in American Society
* 2064 – America in the 1950s
* 3075 – Literature of American Slavery
* 3031 – Political Protest & Culture in the 60’s
* 2031 – Radicalism in the United States
* 2032 – Critical Moments in American Past
* 2065 – Global America
* 2120 – Topics in American Culture*

*Specific topics change each semester. See course descriptions for information on a particular offering. American Studies 2120 may meet one or more of the above requirements with permission of director.

Students must also complete three additional courses in American Studies. These can include choices from the AS core courses as well as choices from all other American Studies courses.

In addition, students take at least four courses outside of the major selected in consultation with the American Studies Director and Congruent with an American Studies focus. We recommend that at least 6 of these credits be in American history and literature.

All Majors must take the Capstone course in their last year of study– offered every fall.

* 4097 – Senior Seminar in American Studies

Curriculum for Minors
MINORS TAKE SIX courses in American Studies, at least three of which must be from three different American Studies core areas. Most students find a minor can be accommodated within their regular program. Minors in American Studies are particularly useful in journalism, business, education and those fields that are served by creative thinking that draws inspiration from more than one area.

Other Interested Students
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED in American Studies but hesitate to make a commitment, we recommend that you take one of our introductory level courses. You'll have the opportunity to see whether American Studies is for you. Students in the University Honors program will find that several of our courses have Honors sections – one example of the high regard given to our program by the University community. Finally, the American Studies program periodically sponsors field trips and programs that are open to all students. Keep an eye out for announcements and don't hesitate to sign up.