Baruch Collge

Undergraduate Bulletin - Academic Programs and Courses

American Studies Program


The Faculty

Program Coordinator:  John E. Todd - English

Committee Members:
  • Ruth Adler - Modern Languages and Comparative Literature
  • Tuzyline Allan - English
  • Louis Bolce - Political Science
  • Gerald DeMaio - Political Science
  • Elizabeth Gareis - Communication Studies
  • Thomas Heinrich - History
  • Gail Levin - Fine and Performing Arts

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Field Description

American studies offers students the opportunity to investigate the content and meaning of American culture from multidisciplinary perspectives in the humanities and social sciences. To minor in American studies, students are required to take two courses at the 3000 level or above from the following four areas: Culture and Society,Myths and Identities in the American Context, The Political Sphere, and Urban Studies. Students must also take AMS 4900 Capstone Course in American Studies.

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The Minor and Courses

The minor in American studies is a multidisciplinary program that investigates the content and meaning of American culture within the United States.

Required Course
AMS 4900 Capstone Course in American Studies

Electives
Choose any two additional related courses from one or more of the four categories of electives: Culture and Society, Myths and Identities in the American Context, The Political Sphere, and Urban Studies. Students must select those courses from at least two different departments.

Culture and Society
ART 3250 Art of the United States 3 credits
BLS 3013 Mass Media and the Black American 3 credits
BLS 3020 Black History in Newspaper and Fiction: 1940-2000 3 credits
COM 3060 Media Analysis and Criticism 3 credits
COM 3062 Broadcast and Cable Communication 3 credits
COM 3067 American Television Programming 3 credits
ENG 3020 Survey of American Literature I 3 credits
ENG 3025 Survey of American Literature II 3 credits
ENG 4500 Main Currents of Literary Expression in Contemporary America 3 credits
ENG 4510 The American Novel 3 credits
HIS 3455 Science and Technology in American Culture 3 credits
LTT 4900 Hispanic Writers in New York City 3 credits
MSC 3022 American Popular Song 3 credits
MSC 3024 Jazz: From Its Origins to the Present 3 credits
MSC 3036 Commercial Music and the Media 3 credits
POL 3310 Public Opinion 3 credits
POL 3008 Religion and Politics in the United States 3 credits
or        
HIS 3008 Religion and Politics in the United States 3 credits
or        
REL 3008 Religion and Politics in the United States 3 credits
PSY 4051 Psychology of the Family 3 credits
PSY 4064 Psychological Analysis of American Culture 3 credits


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Myths and Identities in the American Context
BLS 3011 Variations in the Black American Family 3 credits
BLS 3024 Women of Color in the Americas 3 credits
ENG 3032 Ethnic Literature 3 credits
ENG 3034 Survey of African American Literature 3 credits
ENG 3830 Tradition and Influence in African American Literature 3 credits
ENG 3835 Black Women Writers 3 credits
HIS 3550 The Immigrant in American History 3 credits
HIS 3650 Women in America 3 credits
SOC 3125 Minority Groups 3 credits
SOC 3141 Introduction to Religion 3 credits
SOC 3159 Social Change in the Black Community 3 credits
THE 3043 Theatre of Color in the United States 3 credits


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The Political Sphere
BLS 3014 Civil Rights Legislation and Litigation 3 credits
HIS 3410 History of American Business Enterprise 3 credits
HIS 3450 Health Care in America: 1800-Present 3 credits
HIS 3460 Topics in American History 3 credits
HIS 3552 The Great Depression, 1929-1940 3 credits
POL 2332 American Political Thought 3 credits
POL 3005 Social Welfare Policy 3 credits
POL 3102 American Conservatism 3 credits
POL 3311 Political Parties and Elections 3 credits
POL 3314 Civil Liberties 3 credits
POL 3315 Government and the American Economy 3 credits
POL 3332 American Political Thought 3 credits
SOC 3136 Social Welfare Institutions 3 credits


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Urban Studies
ART 3254 Architecture and the City 3 credits
BLS 3015 Black Economic Development: 1860 to the Present 3 credits
HIS 3472 American Urban History 3 credits
HIS 3551 History of the People of the City of New York 3 credits
HSP 3000 The Puerto Rican Child in His Urban Setting 3 credits
POL 3321 Urban Government 3 credits
POL 3323 Government and Politics of New York City 3 credits
POL 3422 Urban Public Policy 3 credits
SOC 3155 Social Welfare Institutions 3 credits


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