American Studies

Program Requirements

B.A. in American Studies

For students majoring in American studies, all courses designated AMST and all elective courses chosen from Areas A, B, and C (see below) that may apply to the major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.

Note: There are additional specific requirements for American studies majors who are also majoring in inclusive adolescence education. Please refer to these specific course requirements below under the Inclusive Adolescence Education Dual Major/Concentration heading.

Requirements

Core Courses – 13 credits

Core courses must be taken at Fisher.

• AMST 210P – P3 The American Experience (3)
• AMST 270 – Career Planning Seminar (1)
• AMST 300D – P1 Reading American Culture (3)
• AMST 370 – American Studies: Discipline and Theory (3)
• AMST 470 – Senior Research Seminar (3)

Electives – 21 credits

Seven American studies elective courses are drawn from Areas A, B, and C with at least two courses required from each area as listed below. Electives may be transferred but at least two of the seven elective courses must be completed at St. John Fisher College.

Area A (American History)

HIST 103D and HIST 104D are required of all American studies majors. If you choose to take only two courses from this area, you must take HIST 103D and HIST 104D. If you choose to take more than two courses from this area, you must include HIST 103D and HIST 104D.

• HIST 103D – P3 The United States to 1865 (required) (3)
• HIST 104D – P3 The United States Since 1865 (required) (3)
• AMST 233D – P1 American Memory (3)
• AFAM 240 – CC The Struggle for Civil Rights (3)
• HIST 205D – CC American Social History: The Family (3)
• HIST 296D – History of Rochester (3)
• HIST 298D – New York State History (3)
• HIST 340D – America Between the Wars, 1918–1941 (3)
• HIST 351P – The United States Since 1945 (3)
• REST/HIST 272P – CC Martin and Malcolm (3)

Area B (Social Sciences)

• AMST 140 – American Dialogues (3)
• AMST 190C – Work in America (3)
• AMST/WGST 216 – P2 Feminist Theory (3)
• AMST 2120 – College Life is Civic Life (3)
• AMST 273P – P5 American Social Justice (3)
• AFAM 150D – P5 Introduction to African American Studies (3)
• AFAM 305P – P5 Black Thought in the 20th Century (3)
• CRIM 230 – Prison Nation (3)
• CRIM 335 – Crime Films (3)
• ECON 105C – P3 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
• ECON 106C – P3 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
• ECON 110P – CC Gender and Race in the American Workplace (3)
• HIST 300 –The Modern World: Geography and Politics (3)
• POSC 111C – P3 Introduction to American Government (3)
• POSC 224 – P3 Campaigns and Elections (3)
• POSC 267 – P3 Foundations of U.S. Law (3)
• SOCI 205 – CC Savage Inequalities (3)
• SOCI 314 – U.S. Race Relations (3)
• SOCI 315 – Our Gendered World (3)
• SPST 201P – P3 Sport and Society (3)
• WGST 101C – CC Introduction to Women and Gender Studies (3)
• WGST 203P – CC Introduction to Queer Studies (3)
• WGST 2303 – Queer Studies (3)

Area C (Humanities)

• AMST 180D – CC “Indians” in American Culture (3)
• AMST/ARTS 201C – P1 Picturing the Past (3)
• AMST 203C – P1 Hollywood Film Genres (3)
• AMST 204P – P1 Film, Television, and Visual Culture (3)
• AMST 217 – P1 American Crime Narratives (3)
• AMST 2201 – Photography and the American Scene (3)
• AMST 234D – P1 Promised Land: Narratives of Exile and Migration (3)
• AMST/REST 235 – P2 Catholics in America (3)
• AMST/WGST 237P – P3 Social Protests (3)
• AMST 250 – P1 American Modernism (3)
• AMST 251 – P1 Class in American Culture (3)
• AMST/ARTS 320C – P1 Culture and Art in America (3)
• AMST/ARTS 321P – P1 Culture and Art in America II (3)
• AFAM/REST 282P – Black Church Issues (3)
• ARTS 102C – P1 Encounter with the Arts (3)
• ARTS 109D – CC Film and Society (3)
• ARTS 203D – P1 Art History: 1700–Present (3)
• ARTS 2200 – Arts and Culture in America I (3)
• ENGL 204 – P1 Nature Writing (3)
• ENGL 220D – P1 Black Writers in the U.S. (3)
• ENGL 2247 – War in Literature and Film (3)
• ENGL 2263 – The Image and the Word (3)
• ENGL 236D – CC The American Dream (3)
• ENGL 262P – CC Coming to America (3)
• ENGL 264D – P5 Topics in Politics and Literature (3)*
• ENGL 297 – P1 Readings in American Literature (3)
• PHIL 215C – P2 American Philosophy (3)
• REST 173D – CC Religions of North America (3)

*Applicable depending on topic; consult with AMST department chair to determine in which area the course may be applied.

Total: 34 credits

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B.S. Inclusive Adolescence Education/American Studies Dual Major

Students pursuing teaching certification in inclusive adolescence education (social studies) may dual major in inclusive adolescence education and American studies and earn a Bachelor of Science degree. In addition to meeting all of the inclusive adolescence education requirements (40–43 credits: see Inclusive Adolescence Education for details) the American Studies Department in conjunction with the Education Department has outlined the following requirements for the American studies major and certification in social studies. Students must earn grades of "C" or higher in all courses in the content area.

• AMST 210P – P3 The American Experience (3)
• AMST 300D – P1 Reading American Culture (3)
• AMST 370 – American Studies: Discipline and Theory (3)
• AMST 470 – Senior Research Seminar (3)
• HIST 103D – P3 The U.S. to 1865 (3)  AREA A
• HIST 104D – P3 The U.S. Since 1865 (3)  AREA A
• HIST 300 – The Modern World: Geography and Politics (3)  AREA B
• POSC 111C – P3 The American Government (3)  AREA B
• Choose ONE:
  • ECON 105C – P3 Principles of Microeconomics (3) AREA B
  • ECON 106C – P3 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)  AREA B
• Any TWO courses from AREA C (6)
• Choose ONE:
  • HIST 291D – P3 Japan Since 1800 (3)
  • HIST 292D – P3 China Since 1800 (3)
• ONE additional history courses chosen from:
  • HIST 101D – P3 Western Civilization: Europe and the World, 1500-1815 (3)
  • HIST 102D – P3 Western Civilization: Europe and the World Since 1815 (3)
  • HIST 291D – P3 Japan Since 1800 (3) – OR – HIST 292D – P3 China Since 1800 (3) (if not taken above)

Total: 39 credits

Note: These requirements add six additional credits to the content area of the American studies major. As early as possible, students should consult with an education advisor to set up a program leading to certification. It is highly recommended that students interested in teaching social studies take HIST 208 – Ancient and Medieval Europe, HIST 298D – New York State History, and a Global History to 1500 course. HIST 298D may be used as an elective in the AMST major under area A; the other HIST courses if taken, would be used as general electives.

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B.S. Inclusive Adolescence Education Major with a Social Studies Concentration (AMST)

Students pursuing teaching certification in inclusive adolescence education (social studies) may choose to complete a concentration in American studies instead of a major, resulting in a Bachelor of Science degree. In addition to meeting all of the inclusive adolescence education requirements (40–43 credits: see Inclusive Adolescence Education for details), the American Studies Department in conjunction with the Education Department has outlined the following courses for the American studies concentration which meet the New York state requirement for social studies certification. Students must earn grades of "C" or higher in all courses in the content area.

• AMST 210P – P3 The American Experience (3)
• AMST 300D – P1 Reading American Culture (3)
• AMST 370 – American Studies: Discipline and Theory (3)
• HIST 103D – P3 The U.S. to 1865 (3)
• HIST 104D – P3 The U.S. Since 1865 (3)
• HIST 300 – The Modern World: Geography and Politics (3)
• POSC 111C – P3 The American Government (3)
• Choose ONE:
  • ECON 105C – P3 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
  • ECON 106C – P3 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
• Choose ONE:
  • HIST 291D – P3 Japan Since 1800 (3)
  • HIST 292D – P3 China Since 1800 (3)
• ONE additional history courses chosen from:
  • HIST 101D – P3 Western Civilization: Europe and the World, 1500-1815 (3)
  • HIST 102D – P3 Western Civilization: Europe and the World Since 1815 (3)
  • HIST 291D – P3 Japan Since 1800 (3) –OR– HIST 292D – P3 China Since 1800 (3) (if not taken above)
• ONE AMST elective from AREA C (3)

Total: 33 credits

Note: It is highly recommended that students interested in teaching social studies take HIST 208 – Ancient and Medieval Europe, HIST 298D – New York State History, and a Global History to 1500 course. HIST 298D may be used as an elective in the AMST major under area A; the other HIST courses if taken, would be used as general electives.

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B.S. Inclusive Childhood Education Major with a Liberal Arts Major/Concentration in Social Studies (AMST)

Students pursuing teaching certification in inclusive childhood education must declare either a second major or a concentration in a liberal arts field. Either choice results in a Bachelor of Science degree. Inclusive childhood education majors who wish to pursue a dual major with American studies take all of the major requirements as listed above (B.A. degree requirements) with the exception of the Career seminar, in addition to meeting all of the inclusive childhood education requirements (49-55 credits: see Inclusive Childhood Education for details). If an inclusive childhood education major wishes to complete a concentration in American studies, the American Studies Department in conjunction with the Education Department, has outlined the following courses which meet the New York state requirement for a liberal arts concentration in this field. Student must earn grades of "C" or higher in all courses in the content area.

• AMST 210P – P3 The American Experience (3)
• AMST 300D – P1 Reading American Culture (3)
• AMST 370 – American Studies: Discipline and Theory (3)
• HIST 103D – P3 The U.S. to 1865 (3)
• HIST 104D – P3 The U.S. Since 1865 (3)
• ONE course from AREA B (3)
• ONE course from AREA C (3)
• THREE AMST electives from any AREA (9)

Total: 30 credits