AM ST 490
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American Studies Capstone
International and Area Studies
Kennedy Center for International Studies
Course Description
In-depth review of American Studies theories, methods, and criticism; content varies; requires original research and substantial writing of paper intended for publication.
When Taught
Fall and Winter
Min
3
Fixed/Max
3
Fixed
3
Fixed
0
Other Prerequisites
Senior status or program coordinator's consent
Title
Engage Disciplinarily and Interdisciplinarily
Learning Outcome
Through class discussions and writing activities, students will be able to demonstrate a fluency in the disciplinary trends of American Studies, an understanding of the field's inherent interdisciplinarity, and an ability to draw upon knowledge that they have acquired in courses taken in other disciplines.
Title
Analyze Rigorously
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to demonstrate high proficiency in reading critically and analyzing primary historical, secondary historical, theoretical, and critical texts. Students will exhibit this high proficiency through engaging in the methods central to the field of American Studies: textual analysis, archive building, institutional contextualization, and theorizing.
Title
Communicate Persuasively
Learning Outcome
Capstone participants will be able to formulate both their oral and written arguments coherently, support them clearly, and communicate them effectively to their audiences using correct conventions of language, style, and the best practices of the discipline.
Title
Work Independently
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to develop their own research project (formulate a sophisticated research question, independently conduct primary and secondary research, and employ the writing skills they have developed over the course of the major) in order to write an original 15–20 page research paper in the last third of the course.
Title
Engage Disciplinarily and Interdisciplinarily
Learning Outcome
Through class discussions and writing activities, students will be able to demonstrate a fluency in the disciplinary trends of American Studies, an understanding of the field’s inherent interdisciplinarity, and an ability to draw upon knowledge that they have acquired in courses taken in other disciplines.
Title
Communicate Persuasively
Learning Outcome
Capstone participants will be able to formulate both their oral and written arguments coherently, support them clearly, and communicate them effectively to their audiences using correct conventions of language, style, and the best practices of the discipline.
Title
Analyze Rigorously
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to demonstrate high proficiency in reading critically and analyzing primary historical, secondary historical, theoretical, and critical texts. Students will exhibit this high proficiency through engaging in the methods central to the field of American Studies: textual analysis, archive building, institutional contextualization, and theorizing.
Title
Work Independently
Learning Outcome
Students will be able to develop their own research project (formulate a sophisticated research question, independently conduct primary and secondary research, and employ the writing skills they have developed over the course of the major) in order to write an original 15–20 page research paper in the last third of the course.
