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American Studies

Associate of Arts
American Studies
Home > Programs > American Studies
Overview
Curriculum
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Overview

Overview

American Studies, a concentration within Liberal Arts, is the interdisciplinary study of the United States and all its local, national, and global contexts. Drawing from a variety of content areas and methodologies, American Studies focuses on particular American moments, places, and ideas in order to pursue questions, such as “What is American culture? What does it mean to be American? Who, What, and Where is ‘American’?” and what is at stake when we ask these questions?

The degree program is designed to provide students with the rigorous interdisciplinary training necessary to transfer into baccalaureate programs in not only American Studies, but related fields as well, such as English, History, Political Science, Education, Sociology, Anthropology, and others.

Students with degrees in American Studies have found jobs in a wide variety of fields such as publishing, education, communications, government, public service, public relations, marketing, management, law, and social welfare to name a few.

Transfer Credit Policy

In addition to Great Bay transfer credit policies, Liberal Arts and Science courses will be considered for transfer regardless of when they were taken as long as they meet minimum grade requirements. See individual department policies for program exceptions on general education requirements. In the case of English and math course transfers, it may be recommended that the student take portions of the Accuplacer Placement Test to demonstrate the skill level required for success in subsequent classes within the program.

Transfer of a course to this institution does not guarantee transfer of that same course to subsequent institutions. SAT testing may be required by some transfer institutions. 

Curriculum

Curriculum Outline

It is recommended that students make Lab Science, Math, Humanities/Foreign Language/Fine Arts, and Social Science Elective choices based upon particular 4-year colleges’ transfer requirements and general education cores.

It is recommended students take AMER110G Introduction to American Studies and ENGL110G College Composition I  in the first semester.


First Year: Fall Semester

Course IDCourseTheoryLabCredits
ENGL110GCollege Composition I 404
 Lab Science Elective  4
 US History or American Literature Survey Elective   3
AMER110GIntroduction to American Studies303
Total Credits14

First Year: Spring Semester

Course IDCourseTheoryLabCredits
ENGL214GIntroduction to Creative Nonfiction303
 Math Elective  4
 US History or American Literature Survey Elective  3
ANTH101GIntroduction to Anthropology303
 Foreign Language / Humanities / Fine Arts Elective303
Total Credits16

Second Year: Fall Semester

Course IDCourseTheoryLabCredits
AMER210GAmerican Studies Seminar303
 Lab Science Elective  4
 US History or American Literature Survey Elective  3
POLS110GAmerican Government303
 Social Science Elective303-4
Total Credits16-17

Second Year: Spring Semester

Course IDCourseTheoryLabCredits
 Social Science Elective  3-4
 Social Science Elective  3-4
 

Math Elective

  4
 Foreign Language / Humanities / Fine Arts Elective  3
CRIT150GCritical Thinking in the Humanities303
Total Credits16-18
Total Overall Credits: 62-65
Outcomes

Program Outcomes

• Students will understand the methods, goals, and value of an interdisciplinary investigation of American history, ideology, culture and discourse.

• Students will be acquainted with themes and questions commonly addressed in the field of American Studies and understand how they arise from, and inform particular historical and cultural moments.

• Students will be prepared to move on to a more extensive program of American Studies and/or related fields such as History, American Literature, or Political Science.

Faculty

  • Rick Walters

    Rick Walters

    English, Humanities, Foreign Language
    Program Coordinator / Professor
    (603) 427-7670
    [email protected]

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Contact an Admissions Representative at (603) 427-7600 ex 7500 or [email protected]

Tel: 603-427-7600 |1-800-522-1194
Fax: 603-334-6308
[email protected]

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