American Studies Eckerd College

Overview

The American Studies program of Eckerd College is built around the core disciplines of history, literature, and political science. In order to allow students to shape their courses of study to their own intellectual goals, the major may also include courses in diverse fields such as philosophy, religion, art, film studies, women's and gender studies, and sociology, provided that the courses are related to understanding the society and culture of the United States. Each student's program is developed in consultation with faculty and should form a consistent pattern of courses in American culture and institutions.

Students who complete the American Studies major demonstrate the following competencies:

• Knowledge of American history, institutions, environment, values, and culture from an interdisciplinary perspective, with an emphasis on American experience and identity past and present, demonstrated by the ability to talk and write intelligently about these topics.

• Knowledge of the development of the field of American Studies as an academic discipline, including its methods, scope, and perspectives.

• Understanding of a core discipline in American Studies (e.g., American history, American literature, American government, political science, etc.) and how it relates to the larger field of American Studies, as well as how the study of the core discipline is enriched by the interdisciplinary approach of American Studies.

• Familiarity with the classic works in American Studies and the ability to evaluate the author's methodology.

• Demonstrated ability to undertake a research project that will explore important issues and problems in methodology and interpretation of American Studies.

Careers in American Studies

Career opportunities for American Studies graduates are available in a variety of fields which are enhanced by a knowledge of American culture, as well as interpretative, analytic, and communication skills.

The American Studies Program has embraced information technology, as we believe that it is a powerful medium of communication in our society. Many of the American Studies courses offer significant components of research and development skills for the internet. These skills may provide employment opportunities for students who also possess critical thinking and writing skills.

The major prepares a student for a career in law, journalism, writing, editing, and publishing. Careers in public service such as in government agencies, libraries, museums, and politics are possible with the major. With an appropriate course focus, students may consider the burgeoning environmental areas such as city and regional planning, environmental policy, and cultural preservation as possible career choices. The American Studies major, because of its cultural perspective, is ideal preparation for a wide range of careers in the private sector, including business, advertising, marketing, and media/communications. We believe the major fosters the kind of boundary- free thinking necessary to thrive in a multi-cultural world in any area in which analytic and interpretative skills are valued.