American Culture Studies

Summer 2013 Course Descriptions

Fall 2013 Course Descriptions

ACS 2000. Introduction to American Culture Studies
Regional, ethnic and economic aspects of American national experience as reflected in verbal, visual and material artifacts. Culture theory and models used to examine selected topics and problems. Required of all American culture studies majors. Applicable to the BG Perspective (general education) humanities and arts requirement. Approved for Distance Ed. 3 Credits.

ACS 2300. Issues in American Civilization
Characteristically American themes, issues or problems reflecting relationships among ideas, values, traditions, events and personalities. Subject matter designated in schedule of classes; may be repeated once if topics differ. 3 Credits.

ACS 2500. Cultural Pluralism in the United States
Interdisciplinary exploration of race, ethnicity, class, gender and sexual orientation in the United States, emphasizing imaginative expressive forms, such as fiction, poetry, film and the visual arts. Applicable to the BG Perspective (general education) cultural diversity in the United States requirement. Approved for Distance Ed. 3 Credits.

ACS 2520. Indigenous Cultures of North America
Field-based overview of the variety of indigenous North American cultures, both past and present, with emphasis on the use of archaeological record to interpret past lifeways. Focus on each culture's interactions with the physical and biological world. Taught in the field as part of a nine week field/camping trip across the United States. Corequisites: GEOL 250, GEOL 251, and ENVS 253 with permission of instructor. Honors credit optional. Applicable to the BG Perspective (general education) cultural diversity in the United States requirement. 3 Credits.

ACS 3000. Interpretations of American Culture
Approaches to the interpretive understanding and appreciation of American culture and society. Such theories as cultural studies, frontier thesis, feminism, critical race theory, cultural pluralism, etc. are incorporated into the interpretive study of various American cultural practices. Prerequisite: junior standing or consent of instructor. May be repeated once if topics differ. Applicable to the BG Perspective (general education) humanities and arts requirement. Approved for Distance Ed. 3 Credits.

ACS 3380. American Environmental History
Three centuries of changing American attitudes and actions toward natural environment, rise of conservation movement, and development of ecological perspective. Prerequisite ENG 112. Credit allowed for only one of HIST 338, ACS 338. 3 Credits.

ACS 4000. The Literature of American Culture Studies
Interdisciplinary approach to the institutional study of American culture. Course focus is on American culture, society, economy, politics, media, or other institutions from a broad interdisciplinary perspective. Prerequisite: senior standing or permission of instructor. May be repeated once if topics differ. 3 Credits.

ACS 4050. Qualitative Research Methods
Introduces students to modes of qualitative social research commonly found in fields of ethnic studies and American culture studies. Focus on data gathering process as well as data analysis. Credit allowed only for one of ETHN 405, ACS 405. 3 Credits.

ACS 4990. Capstone Tutorial in American Culture Studies
Independent study in preparation of ACS senior capstone project. Prerequisites: senior standing; tutor must be ACS joint-appointment or affiliated faculty member. Proposal, signed by proposed tutor, must be submitted for approval by undergraduate advisor in American Culture Studies prior to semester in which tutorial begins. 3 Credits.

ACS 5800. The Literature of American Studies
Study of the dominant paradigms of American culture studies as reflected in key works of American studies scholarship. Emphasis on the development of the discipline, its characteristic methodologies and its relationship to traditional humanities and social sciences disciplines. 3 Credits.

ACS 5860. Workshop in American Culture Studies
Workshops designed for current topics and issues of an interdisciplinary nature. Topics vary from semester to semester. 3 Credits.

ACS 5870. Workshop in American Culture Studies
Workshops designed for current topics and issues of an interdisciplinary nature. Topics vary from semester to semester. 1 to 3 Credits.