American Studies

American Studies is an interdisciplinary major that enables students to explore the complex interactions of peoples, cultures, social structures, and political institutions that have shaped the experiences of those living in the United States. Students are introduced to canonical and non-canonical literatures, to historical studies, and to main currents in historical and contemporary cultural production, as well as to questions of the relationship of the United States to the rest of the world.

Attention is called to the major in African-American/American studies; requirements are listed under "African-American Studies."

Honors Program: Students majoring in American studies may apply during their junior year for admission to the honors program. Permission is required; guidelines are established by the department. Successful completion of the work of the honors project, and of the major, will enable the student to graduate "With Honors in American Studies."

Past Honors Theses have covered a wide range of topics. Here are the honors theses that were completed in 2004-05 and 2005-06:

       2005-06

• Noah Balazs: "iDentity: Constructing Identity in a Mass Mediated and Postmodern Society"
  
• Anna Erdheim: "Exploring Opportunity in America: Immigrant Entrepreneurship and Rags to Riches Success"
  
• Kara Fagan: "From Ball of Fire to Cattle Queen: Gender and Class in the Films of Barbara Stanwyck"
  
• Tyler Hales: "Does Baseball Remain America's National Pastime, or has Football Become the All-American Game"
  
• Katie Hamm: "Is it Just a Song? The Connection Between Female Rock Musicians and the Ways Men View Women and Feminism"
• Emily Judem: "Off the Tracks"
• Christina Terrell: "The Racialization of Female Body Image Perception in the United States"

• Nathaniel Hulme: "Marriage and Family: A Closer Look at the Debate Over Same-Sex Marriage"
• Emma Lynch: "If You Build it, They Will Come: A History of Changing Notions of Wilderness Along the Appalachian Trail"