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American Studies

Advisory Board:

Dr. Christopher Strain (cstrain@fau.edu)
Dr. Mark Tunick (tunick@fau.edu)
Dr. John Hess (jhess17@fau.edu)

The American Studies Concentration is designed to provide students with an interdisciplinary background in American society and culture. Areas of study may include: history, literature, politics, gender studies, women’s studies, Latin-American studies, African-American studies, Native-American Studies, cultural studies, social sciences, environmental studies, rhetoric, film and media studies, art, and music. The program is designed to help students draw connections and build bridges between the diverse aspects of the American experience, past and present.

The American Studies Concentration hones students’ proficiencies in a variety of skills, including reading, writing, and critical thinking. It prepares students for careers in business, education, journalism, library science, communications, public relations, management, foreign service, social welfare, city planning, and government, as well as graduate and professional schools such as law. It also cultivates in students the flexible and integrated thinking necessary in a post-industrial, information-based economy and society.

Available Options: Concentration in American Studies

Concentration in American Studies
Course NumberCourse NameCredits
AMS 3003Honors Colloquium in American Studies3
AMH 2010Honors U.S. History to 18773
AMH 2020Honors U.S. History from 18773
 American Literature6
 American Law or Government3
 Ethnic Studies3
 American Studies Electives9
AMS 4970Senior Thesis (2 semesters)6
 Total Credits36
American Literature
Course NumberCourse NameCredits
AML 2010Honors American Literature to 18653
AML 2022Honors American Literature, 1865-19453
AMH 2053Honors American Literature, 1945-Present3
AML 3111Honors American Novel to 19003
AML 3121Honors American Novel since 19003
AML 4310Honors Major American Writers:
19th Century
3
American Law and Government
Course NumberCourse NameCredits
POS 1041Honors Government of the U.S.3
POS 3691Honors Law and American Society3
POS 4603Honors Constitutional Law I3
POS 4604 Honors Constitutional Law II3
POS 4414Honors U.S. Presidency3
POS 4423Honors U.S. Congress3
POS 4685Honors American Legal Development3
Ethnic Studies
Course NumberCourse NameCredits
HUM 3320Honors Cont. Multicult. Studies 3
PHI 2642Honors Ethics of Social Diversity3
AMH 4932Honors Civil Rights Movement3
AML 4603Honors Honors African-American Literature3
AML 4640Honors Native American Literature3

Senior Thesis

The honors thesis is a manuscript of at least fifty pages, demonstrating the student’s original contribution to his/her chosen area. The thesis will be written under the direction of a faculty advisor; students are expected to prepare for an oral presentation of the project.

Restrictions:

At least half of the total coursework (15 credit hours) should be three-credit, upper-division (3000- or 4000-level) courses. Grades in all courses in the major must average "C" or higher; no course with a grade of "C-" or below will count in the requirements for the major.