American Studies (AMS)
Assistant Professors Olbertson and von Wallmenich, coordinator; courses taught by faculty in art and design, communication, economics, English, history, music, political science, religious studies, and sociology and anthropology.
The American Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary program designed to help students understand the meaning(s) of the many dimensions of the American experience by integrating their experiences and course work at Alma College.
Minor Requirements
- Total credits: 30. No more than eight credits that have been applied toward another major or minor may be applied to the AMS minor.
- Core: 22 credits. Each student must take AMS 101, 102 and 301, plus four courses from the following list (no more than one course per department): ART 113; COM 110; ECN 201; ENG 260 or 261; HST 104, 105, 180A or 228; POL 101; REL 107; and SOA 101.
- Advanced electives: eight credits. Each student must take two courses from the following list (no more than one course per department): ART 249 or 250; ENG 361, 362 or 366; HST 208, 277, 323, 325, 326 or 436; POL 231, 325 or 336; and SOA 241 or 380A; or other approved (with substantial American content) topics courses (e.g., African American literature or religion, Native-American literature, etc.) AMS independent study or practicum subject to approval of the AMS coordinator.
| AMS 101. | Introduction to American Studies | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 credits | ||
| Focuses on the multi-disciplinary perspectives needed to understand the complexity of "the American experience(s)." (Open only to freshmen and sophomores.) | ||
| AMS 102. | Perspectives on the American Experience(s) | |
| 2 credits | ||
| Focuses on seminal sources for deepening one's perspectives on "America." (Open only to freshmen and sophomores.) | ||
| AMS *301. | American Studies Seminar | |
| 2 or 4 credits | ||
| AMS 101 and 102 | ||
| Open only to students who have completed or are concurrently enrolled in the completion of 24 credits toward the AMS minor. | ||