American Studies Major Requirements
American Studies Major Requirements |
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The American Studies major gives students the opportunity to apply the methods and learning of several disciplines to the study of the culture and society of the United States. It draws upon the resources of many departments and programs at Trinity. To learn a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives on the United States, students take courses with American subject matter offered by several departments. To integrate their knowledge of American culture and society and to master a variety of methodological approaches to American Studies, students participate in a required series of American Studies courses and seminars..
Students who are considering a major in American Studies should consult with the Program Director as early in their undergraduate career as possible. In addition, it is strongly recommended that students prepare themselves for the major by selecting at least one of the following survey courses: English 204: Introduction to American Literature I; English 205: Introduction to American Literature II; History 201: The United States from the Colonial Period through the Civil War; History 202: The United States from Reconstruction to the Present. Students are also advised to plan their schedule so that they take American Studies 203 in their sophomore year and American Studies 301 and 302 in their junior year.
A course will not count for the major if the course grade is below C-.
The American Studies Major Requirements The American Studies major consists of twelve courses, as follows.
- AMST 203: American Conflicts and Cultures. This course is ordinarily taken in the spring of the sophomore year.
- AMST 301: Junior Seminar I: American Texts
- A senior seminar in American Studies
- A senior exercise, consisting of ONE of the following:
- A two-credit, two-semester thesis, ordinarily a research paper of at least 75 pages. This thesis will be read by the thesis adviser and at least one other professor who regularly participates in the program.
- A one-credit, one-semester independent research project, ordinarily a research paper of 40 pages and written in the second semester. The project will be read by the project adviser and at least one other professor who regularly participates in the program.
- A second seminar (either a second American Studies seminar or a senior seminar cross-listed in American Studies).
5. Student-designed thematic concentration of four courses, at least three of which must be at the 300 level or above. This concentration, designed by the student in consultation with his or her adviser, must be submitted in writing and approved by the adviser no later than the end of the fall of the junior year. Every major will receive a concentration proposal worksheet which lays out the structure such proposals are to take. Examples of possible concentrations: race, gender, modernity, class, popular culture, protest movements, law, war and society.
6. Three additional courses in American Studies.
To ensure adequate breadth of study, in the course of completing the major and excluding required courses (that is, excluding the Junior and Senior seminars) students must take a course at or above the 300 level in at least three different departments.
Honors in American Studies To receive honors in American Studies a student must complete a thesis or project with a grade of A- or better and earn a GPA of at least 9.5 in courses counted towards the major.