American Studies (AMST)College of Arts and Humanities1102 Holzapfel Hall, 301-405-1354 amst.umd.edu americanstudies@umd.edu Chair: N. Struna Professors: J. Caughey, R. Kelly Associate Professors: J. Paoletti, S. Parks, M. Sies, P. Williams-Forson Assistant Professors: J. Farman, P. Guerrero, C. Hanhardt, J. McCune Lecturers: M. Brody, R. Chester, L. Gordon, C. LaRoche, J. Maffie, S. Pramschufer Affiliate Professors: J. Auerbach, I. Berlin (Dist Univ Prof), A. Bolles, S. Brower, C. Caramello, E. Chambers, W. Cohen, B. Dill (Dean), J. Donawerth, W. Falk, B. Finkelstein, J. Greene, R. Harrison, M. Howland, J. Klumpp, M. Leone, R. Levine, S. Michel, B. Pearson, C. Peterson, S. Ray, B. Richardson, G. Ritzer (Dist Univ Prof), D. Rosenfelt, P. Shackel, B. Shneiderman, S. Simpson, M. Smith, O. Wang, M. Washington, D. Wyatt, R. Zambrana, M. Zilfi Affiliate Associate Professors: R. Ater, S. Barkin, R. Bauer, M. Bell, E. Barkley Brown, C. Eades, J. Freidenberg, D. Freund, M. Geores, S. Giovacchini, I. Gournay, M. Graber, S. Harley, S. Kim, K. King, M. Kirschenbaum, M. Lindemann, D. Linebaugh, L. Mar, A. Moss, R. Muncy, Z. Nunes, A. Rodriguez, L. Rowland, D. Sicilia, J. Sullivan, O. Wang Affiliate Assistant Professors: F. Carpenter, M. Chateauvert, V. MacDonald, R. Ontiveros, J. Richardson, T. Rodgers, M. Rowley, P. Warfield Adjunct Professors: B. Finn Adjunct Associate Professors: E. Hughes Professors Emeriti: L. Mintz (Assoc Prof Emeritus) The Major American Studies provides students with a flexible, coherent program of study that focuses on the cultures of everyday life and the cultural construction of identity and difference in Americans' lives, past and present. The B. A. degree prepares students for graduate work or careers in fields such as law, government and social policy, media, non-profit and social justice organizations, cultural institutions, education, and business. There are opportunities for internships, research, and departmental honors. Faculty advisors assist each student to plan an individualized course of study tailored to his or her interests and goals. Courses offered by the Department of American Studies may be found under the acronym AMST. Program Learning Outcomes Students are expected to engage fully with the curriculum, faculty, their fellow students, and the opportunites available for learning and research. Upon completion of the degree program, students will have demonstrated an understanding of multiple dimensions of diversity, possess the ability to answer research questions by using appropriate American Studies methodologies, and have acquired the following knowledge and skills:
Requirements for the Major The major in American Studies requires a minimum of 42 credits distributed as follows:
Some or all of the 200-level courses may also fulfill General Education Requirements.
AMST 340 and AMST 450 constitute a sequence emphasizing independent research based on original sources and culminating in a senior thesis. AMST 340 is a prerequisite for AMST 450 and must be completed before enrollment in the senior seminar. The sequence is usually taken in the student's senior year.
At least twelve of the upper level credits must be at the 400 level. A grade of C- or better is required in every course submitted in fulfillment of major requirements. An overall GPA of 2.0 in the major is required for graduation.
Total credits: 42 Requirements for the Minor
Minor in U.S. Latina/o Studies Requirements (15 credits) A. Two Lower-Level Foundation Courses (6 credits) - All students are required to take the two foundational courses:
USLT 201/U.S. Latina/o Studies I: An Historical Overview to 1960s
B. One Upper-Level Course (3 credits) One from each of two of the following categories: Humanities, Social Sciences, Languages, and Education. For these electives, students can choose USLT 498/Special Topics in U.S. Latina/o Studies and from a list of pre-approved courses offered through other departments or programs. Elective courses will explore the historical, cultural, political, economic, and sociological dimensions of U.S. Latina/o experiences. These courses will be approved by the faculty advisory committee. Additional courses that include comparative U.S. Latino content, such as in LASC or GVPT, would be eligible for inclusion in the minor with the approval of the USLT advisor.
No course grade below the grade of C- may count toward the minor. An overall GPA of 2.0 in the minor is required for graduation.
Advising Advising in American Studies is mandatory every semester for all majors. Students pursuing the major should review the academic benchmarks established for this program. See: www.4yearplans.umd.edu. Students will be periodically reviewed to insure they are meeting benchmarks and progressing to the degree. Students who fall behind program benchmarks are subject to special advising requirements and other interventions. Undergraduate Research Experiences Majors in American Studies complete a research project for the senior seminar, AMST 450. They are encouraged to gain additional research experience by working with individual faculty members and advanced graduate students or participating in one of the Department's Working Groups. See the Department Web site for more information about research: www.amst.umd.edu. Internships Juniors and seniors with a 2.5 GPA or better may apply 3 credits of internship (AMST 386) to the 42 credits required for the major. Students must consult with a faculty advisor about a prospective internship prior to registration and complete and sign an internship contract. All internships must have an approved academic component. For further information, contact Associate Professor Jo Paoletti (jpaol@umd.edu). Honors Program The departmental honors program offers outstanding students an opportunity to add distinction to their academic records by undertaking an independent research project in an area of particular interest to them.
The program is intended to allow students preparing for graduate study or a professional career to apply and further develop their research, analytic, and writing skills in an independent project of their own design, in consultation with a faculty mentor. Students are encouraged to make use of the rich resources of the Washington-Baltimore area, including major research institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives.
Scholarships and Financial Assistance The department awards the David Ellis Memorial Scholarship annually. For information and requirements, contact the American Studies office (301-405-1354). Awards and Recognition The department recognizes outstanding accomplishments by undergraduates at its commencement ceremony. Monetary prizes are awarded to the graduate with the highest cumulative GPA, to the author of the best Honors thesis, and to a graduate who has provided exceptional service to the campus or the community. |