American Studies, Minor

Program Description

This interdisciplinary minor is designed for students who want to complement their major program. American Studies is an interdisciplinary field that explores the patterns of life and thought of the American peoples, past and present. American Studies helps students prepare for further study or careers in education, government, business, science, communication, law, museums, historical and cultural agencies, and archives. Internships are available for qualified students in American Studies. The internship is an extension of the student's academic studies and is an opportunity to gain practical experience.

A student seeking admission to the American Studies Minor must first be admitted to a major at Penn State. Upon admission, a Minor Adviser will be appointed from within the American Studies faculty to guide the student. For the American Studies Minor, a total of 18 credits is required. At least 6 credits must be at the 400 level.

What is American Studies?

American Studies examines the country’s history in a way that emphasizes culture – literature, art & architecture, film, folklore, music, and media. While discovering America’s past, students learn to think critically – to analyze and evaluate information; to write and speak clearly and expressively; and to conduct research.

Program Requirements

Requirements for the Minor

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
AMST 491W	American Studies Perspectives	3
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
AMST 100	Introduction to American Studies	3
or AMST 100Y	Introduction to American Studies
Select 12 credits from any American Studies offerings (AMST) or from courses related to American Studies chosen from a list provided by the college. At least six of those credits must be at the 400 level. Substitutions must be approved by the American Studies Program head at the appropriate college.		12

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

Harrisburg

Anne Verplanck, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator
Olmsted Building, W356
Middletown, PA 17057
717 948 6391
aav3@psu.edu

Abington

Friederike Baer
Program Chair
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7593
fbaer@psu.edu

Brandywine

Julie Gallagher
Associate Professor of History and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1464
jag63@psu.edu

Contact

Harrisburg

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
Olmsted Building, W356
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6189
cpb5942@psu.edu

https://harrisburg.psu.edu/humanities/american-studies-minor

Abington

DIVISION OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7593
fbaer@psu.edu

https://www.abington.psu.edu/campus-directory/Friederike-Baer

Brandywine

25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1464
jag63@psu.edu

https://www.brandywine.psu.edu/academics/minors/american-studies