Cluster: American Studies

American Studies is an established interdisciplinary "field" both in the United States and in several other countries, including England and Japan. This cluster uses Americanist materials ranging from literature, through landscapes, to art, music and court cases, to explore both the tensions and the traditions of American culture and society.

Cluster Coordinator:

Dr. Tom Fisher
CH 117T
tfisher@pdx.edu
(503) 725-8994

Sophomore Inquiry: American Studies

(UNST 212)

This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of American Studies, provides a focus through which to explore sources in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and performing arts, and offers an opportunity to acquire a variety of skills important in college and the work worlds. As the interdisciplinary study of American Culture, the course focuses on a comparison of "voices" or perspectives as a way of knowing American artifacts, policies, and places. Although the focus of each class may differ, they will all use their subjects as a laboratory for learning the methods and perspectives of American Studies. In the process, students will become familiar with something of the culture, character, and environment of the United States. Each class will focus on several main "texts" or projects during class and students will do an additional project either outside class and/or in their mentor sections.

This SINQ leads to the American Studies Cluster.

Approved Cluster Courses:

Academic Year 09-10

ANTH 313U    Indian/White Relations
ANTH 314U    Native Americans
ANTH 315U    American Culture
ANTH 355U    Historical Archaeology and the Origins of the Modern Pacific Northwest
ANTH 410U    Race and Ethnicity
ANTH 417U    Indians of North America
ArH 486U    American Art and Architecture: Colonial Period
ArH 487U    American Art and Architecture: Jacksonian to 20th Century
BST 302U    African-American 20th Century
BST 412U    Oregon African-American History
BST 414U    Racism
BST 424U    African-American/African Culture in Cinema
BST 427U    African/American Films and Film Makers
BST 484U    African American Community Development
CHLA 375U    Southwestern Borderlands History
CHLA 399U    The History of Race in the New World
EC 399U    Family Values and American Economic Decline
EC 411U    Cultural Economics
EC 417U    Women in the Economy
EC 419U    Economics of Race and Ethnicity (Course Proposal)
ENG 305U    Film and Social Justice
ENG 305U    Topics in Film:  Asian American Film and Video
ENG 305U    The Films and Times of Charlie Chaplin
ENG 306U    The Sixties
ENG 306U    Topics in Literature and Popular Culture: American Fiction in Film
ENG 306U    Topics in Literature and Popular Culture (e.g., Fiction and Film, Practice of Everyday Life)
ENG 306U    Topics in Literature and Popular Culture: Politics in the 50's
ENG 306U    Topics in Literature and Popluar Culture: Cyber/Hyper Literature
ENG 308U    American Jewish Literature
ENG 308U    Cultural Studies in Literature: Native American Women's Writers
ENG 308U    Cultural Studies in Literature: Native American Women's Literature
ENG 308U    Gay and Lesbian Fiction
ENG 308U    Cultural Studies in Literature: Literature of Slavery
ENG 308U    Asian-American Writers
ENG 308U    Writing A Jewish Woman's Life
ENG 308U    Cultural Studies in Literature (when content is appropriate)
ENG 309U    American Indian Literature (when content is appropriate)
ENG 313U    The American Short Story
ENG/BST 351U    Early African American Literature (Course Proposal)
ENG 360U    American Literature to 1865
ENG 363U    American Literature
ENG 365U    American Fiction II
ENG 367U    Topics in American Literature - Immigrant Experience and American Lit/Film
ENG 445U    American Women Writers
ENG 447U    Major Forces in Literature: American Sentimentalism
G 344U    Geology of National Parks
GEOG 351U    Pacific Northwest
GEOG 366U    Historical Geography of North America
GEOG 368U    U.S. and Canada
HST 337U    History of American Cities
HST 338U    Oregon History
HST 340U    Women and Gender in America (to 1865)
HST 341U    Women and Gender in America (1865 to present)
HST 343U    American Family History
HST 346U    The American Revolution
HST 399U    American Values/Conflict
HST 399U    Culture, Religion, Politics:  Jews and Judaism in American Since WWII (becomes 344U)
INTL 321U    Globalization & Identity: Humanities
INTL 322U    Globalization & Identity: Social Science
INTL 323U    Tradition & Innovation: Humanities
INTL 324U    Tradition & Innovation: Social Science
MUS 355U    Jazz History
MUS 361U    History of Rock Music I
MUS 362U    History of Rock Music II
MUS 376U    American Musical Traditions
PHL 399U    American Values/Conflict
PHL 422U    American Philosophy
PS 313U    The Power Game
PS 380U    Women and Politics
PS 431U    State and Local Politics
PSY 310U    Psychology of Women
PSY 410U      Women in Contemporary Film
SOC 337U    Minorities
SOC 350U    The United States in Comparative Perspective
SOC 436U    Social Movements (Course Proposal)
SP 410U    Women in Contemporary Film
SP 457U    The Language of Violence
TA 330U    Multicultural Theater
TA 361U    Contemporary Dance 1920 - Present
TA 370U    American Cinema/American Culture
TA 370U    American Cinema/American Culture II
TA 457U    The Language of Violence
TA 471U    20th Century American Theater & Drama
USP 385U    History of American Cities
WS 310U    Psychology of Women
WS 340U    Women and Gender in America (US to 1865)
WS 341U    Women and Gender in America (1865 to1920))
WS 342U    Women and Gender in America (1920 to present)
WS 343U    American Family History
WS 380U    Women and Politics
WS 410U    Women in Contemporary Film
WS 410U    Power and Knowledge
WS 417U    Women in the Economy
WS 445U    American Women Writers
WS 457U    The Language of Violence