The United States is still the most powerful nation and the single biggest economy on earth. Whatever the United States does affects the rest of the world in a variety of ways, and so it is vital to understand the broader framework within which it acts on the world stage. A Minor in American Studies assists students to develop their knowledge of the U.S. through a range of courses dealing with its history, politics, literature and other aspects of its culture.
The Minor in American Studies caters for students who seek a multi-disciplinary suite of courses that exposes them to a variety of perspectives on the United States and its development. A Minor in American Studies, alongside a Major in History, International Relations, Literature or Politics, also provides an excellent grounding for honours-level and graduate study of the United States in those disciplines.
Learning Outcomes
Students completing a Minor in American Studies will:
- develop research, analysis and writing skills in courses based in a variety of disciplines but linked by their focus on the United States;
- deepen their understanding of the ways in which key institutions, cultures and socio-economic structures have developed in the United States;
- broaden their understanding of the United States by using perspectives gained through courses grounded in history, literature and politics.
- prepare themselves for future study of the United States at Honours and Postgraduate level.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This minor requires the completion of 24 units, which must include:
24 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL2006 | Modern American Fiction | 6 |
| ENGL3021 | American Literature: Nature, Retreat, Experiment | 6 |
| FILM 2006: US Cinema | ||
| HIST 2107: American Voices | ||
| HIST 2121: Electric Citizens | ||
| HIST2126 | American Sixties | 6 |
| HIST2141 | The Cold War: 1945-1989 | 6 |
| HIST2214 | The Great War, 1914-1918 | 6 |