Program Description

The American studies program is committed to a self-critical and historically grounded examination of the United States and its diverse people, viewed within a local and global context. The major is designed to be comparative along a number of axes. First, it is an interdisciplinary project, drawing on a mix of methodological and theoretical approaches. Second, it compares the United States with other imperial enterprises and states. And third, it compares different social groups and identities in historical context. The program aims to help students develop critical thinking, research, and writing skills so that they will be able to function effectively in an ever-changing, complicated, and culturally diverse world.

Students will take courses and work closely with faculty who are committed to interdisciplinary, multicultural, and transnational work and who include these interlocking themes in their courses: (1) Political Economy addresses the ways in which global capitalism structures everyday life and life chances in the United States; (2) Comparative Race, Ethnicity, and Diaspora Studies features research concerning the myriad relations among different racial, ethnic, and diasporic groups; (3) Cultural Representation and Practice supports comparative research into the history, aesthetics, and politics of different cultural forms, including music, visual culture, literature, film, mass media, popular culture, and vernacular performance; and (4) Power and Agency encourages comparative research into the range of ways in which people seek to exercise power over the cultural, social, political, and economic dynamics of the United States.

Because of their broad-based exposure to the United States, collective learning experience, and ability to focus on topics of particular interest to them, American studies students find the major a useful preparation for careers in education, law, journalism, social work, community organizing, business, and government. The major also offers an excellent liberal education for students interested in exploring their responsibilities and opportunities as American citizens. Students who intend to go on to graduate school, whether in American studies or another discipline, should determine an appropriate selection of courses with their American studies faculty adviser.

Requirements for the Major

Students wishing to pursue a major in American studies must submit a proposed study plan specifying courses of study that satisfy the requirements for the major in a coherent manner and, at the same time, enable efficient pursuit of their particular interests. The study plan must be approved by the American Studies Department before the student is formally accepted into the major. Students are urged to submit their study plan no later than the third quarter of their sophomore year or, in the case of transfer students, no later than the first quarter of their junior year. Forms and information about the major are available from the American Studies Department Office in Oakes 231.

Upon acceptance to the major, each student is formally assigned a faculty adviser from the department. Through periodic conferences with this adviser, students can make appropriate revisions in their major plans and decide on the best way to fulfill the comprehensive requirement.

Course Requirements

To graduate with a major in American studies, a student is required to complete 12 courses with the approval of the department:

• one lower-division course chosen from 1 or 2;
• one lower-division course chosen from 80A, 80B, 80C, or 80D;
• seven upper-division courses chosen from 100–159;
• one senior seminar from the 190 series to fulfill the comprehensive exit requirement in the major; students may petition to complete a senior thesis project or teach a senior-directed seminar in lieu of taking the senior seminar;
• two courses outside the program that are integrated and related to American studies: two language courses in the same language at level 4 or above or two Education Abroad Program (EAP) courses or two upper-division courses in the same department or two upper-division courses in an area of ethnic study or 10 credits of fieldwork or internship.

Graduate Studies

Graduate students in the Literature and History of Consciousness Departments may work toward a parenthetical annotation in American studies on their Ph.D. degree documents. Students in other departments must initiate the request through their home departments. Guidelines and application forms are available in the American Studies Department Office in Oakes 231. The following are required for the annotation:

• a designated graduate adviser who is a faculty member of the American Studies Department and who will serve on the student’s qualifying examination or dissertation committee;
• submission of a significant piece of scholarly writing in the area of American studies;
• five graduate courses in American studies selected from relevant offerings of any UCSC department or program, with at least three courses taught by faculty members of the American Studies Department;
• teaching experience as a teaching assistant or instructor in an American studies course.