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About American Studies

The American studies concentration provides both a broad understanding of the American experience and an introduction to the practice of focused interdisciplinary study. The concentration is taken in addition to a departmental major. By electing departmental courses with an American focus in two or three areas outside the major and framing the concentration with two interdisciplinary American studies courses, students may expect to gain a coherent sense of the national experience and appreciate the various contributions of different academic disciplines.

Although not a vocationally directed program, the American studies concentration should be of particular interest to students preparing for careers in law, government and journalism, and those planning graduate work in American studies or any of its contributing disciplines.



March 18: the 2nd Annual American Studies Colloquium

On Monday, March 18, American Studies will welcome Hester Blum of Penn State University as the speaker for our 2nd AMS Colloquium. Professor Blum will speak on "Melville and Oceanic Studies." She is the author The View From the Masthead: Maritime Imagination and Antebellum American Sea Narratives. The event is free and open to the public. 5:30-7pm, OC Gold Rooms.






American Studies Supports "Woman Behind Little Women" Project

American Studies was proud to be a co-sponsor of this past fall's series of programs on Louisa May Alcott: the Woman Behind Little Women. The project was based on the documentary film, co-produced by Nancy Porter Productions, Inc. and Thirteen/WNET New York’s American Masters, and a biography of the same name, written by Harriet Reisen. Here is a sneak peek of the film:


A screening of the film and talk-back with director Nancy Porter took place in October. For information about the other events in the Alcott program, visit the websites of the Department of English and the Rochester Hills Public Library.
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