Requirements for the Major

The major in American studies consists of 6 units:

• AMST 108 Introduction to American Studies (.5 unit)
• Four diversification courses (2 units)
• Six courses of elective study (3 units)
• The Senior Seminar (.5 unit)

AMST 108 Introduction to American Studies (.5 unit). This course is normally taken during the first or second year at Kenyon.

Diversification courses (2 units). See the list of courses below. One unit must be from A. History and Politics, and one unit from B. Culture and Society. Some courses may have prerequisites in the home department; others may have limited enrollment. Students majoring in American studies should work closely with their advisors to ensure their acceptance.

A. History and Politics. Two courses (1 unit) from the following:

HIST 101 U.S. History, 1492-1865
HIST 102 U.S. History, 1865-Present
HIST 175 African-American History: Slavery to Emancipation
HIST 176 Contemporary African-American History
HIST 205/PSCI 309 U.S. Political History
HIST 208 Women in America
HIST 388 Public History
HIST 411 Civil Rights Era
PSCI 200 Liberal Democracy in America
PSCI 301 The American Presidency
PSCI 331 American Political Thought

B. Culture and Society. Two courses (1 unit) from the following:

AMST 109 American Art and Culture
AMST 314 American College and University Architecture
AMST 382 Baseball and American Culture
ARHS 227 American Art to 1900
ENGL 270 American Fiction
ENGL 280 American Modernist Literature
HIST 189 African-American History through Fiction
MUSC 302 The History of Jazz
RLST 230 Religion and Society in America (U.S.)
RLST 332 African-American Religions
SOCY 111 American Society
SOCY 246 American Folk Music

Elective study (3 units). Six courses from a single area, discipline, or set of disciplines that form a coherent program in American Studies. Examples of such areas would be: writing and literature, race and ethnicity, history and society, politics, and economics, African-American Studies, women's studies, law and society, landscape and the environment, and America in a global context. Many other areas of focus are possible as well. The elective-study program undertaken by the student requires approval of the director of American Studies Program. At least one unit ( 2 courses) must be at the 300 or 400 level.

Senior Seminar (.5 unit). A one-semester seminar taken during the spring of the senior year. The Senior Seminar will typically entail individual research and public presentation.