Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Undergraduate-Newark
 
About the University
Undergraduate Education in Newark
School of Arts and Sciences-Newark
Admission to the Liberal Arts Colleges
Newark College of Arts and Sciences
University College–Newark
Academic Programs and Courses
Availablity of Courses, Majors, and Minor Programs
Course Notation Information
Academic Foundations 003
African American and African Studies 014
American Studies 050
Learning Goals
Minor Requirements
Courses
Ancient and Medieval Civilizations 060
Anthropology 070
Arabic 074
Art, Design, and Art History (080, 081, 082, 083, 085)
Asian Studies 098
Biological Sciences 120
Chemistry 160
Chinese 165
Clinical Laboratory Sciences 191
Computer Science 198
Economics 220
English (350 and 352)
English: Composition and Writing 355
Environmental Sciences 375
Film Studies 380
French 420
Geoscience (Geology 460)
Geoscience Engineering 465
Global Politics 487
Health Information Management 504
Health Sciences: Aging 499J
History (History 510, American 512)
Honors 525
Honors Living-Learning Community 526
Information Systems 548
International Affairs 551
Italian 560
Japanese 565
Journalism 086
Latin 580
Latin American Studies 590
Latina/o Studies 595
Legal Studies 603
Linguistics 615
Mathematics 640
Medical Imaging Sciences 658
Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies 686
Music 087
Neuroscience 112
Peace and Conflict Studies 735
Philosophy 730
Physics 750
Political Science 790
Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies 812
Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Psychology 819
Psychology 830
Social Work 910
Sociology 920
Spanish 940
Theater 088
Urban Education 300
Video Production 089
Women's and Gender Studies 988
Writing 989
Administration and Faculty
Consortium with New Jersey Institute of Technology
Rutgers Business School: Undergraduate-Newark
School of Criminal Justice
School of Public Affairs and Administration
Academic Foundations Center
Honors College
Honors Living-Learning Community
Academic Policies and Procedures
Divisions of the University
Camden Newark New Brunswick/Piscataway
Catalogs
  Newark Undergraduate Catalog 2018-2020 School of Arts and Sciences-Newark Academic Programs and Courses American Studies 050 Learning Goals  

Learning Goals



The undergraduate minor in American studies at Rutgers University-Newark explores American politics, culture, and society in Newark, northern New Jersey, and around the world. Our courses embrace interdisciplinary methods and draw on disciplines ranging from English to sociology to history.

Our students conduct research in traditional academic settings and also learn to interpret American culture as it is expressed in cities and suburbs, cultural institutions, and everyday life. Research, analysis, and writing are central to our minor, but we also encourage students to work in the public humanities in ways that encourage dialogue between our university and the public around us.

Learning Goal 1: Train students in the interdisciplinary study of American culture and develop research skills enabling them to produce essays and cultural productions that illuminate and analyze American culture.

Assessment of student achievement of Goal 1.

Students who minor in American studies are required to take both introductory and advanced courses in a broad range of academic disciplines so that they can analyze American culture in interdisciplinary ways.

While the entry-level course in the minor is specific to the interdisciplinary field of American studies, students are also required to take core courses in American history and American literature before moving on to take three upper-level courses in an area of concentration of their choosing. Courses in an area of concentration are taken in programs and departments affiliated with the American studies program: English; history; political science; arts, culture and media; sociology/anthropology; philosophy; Spanish and Portuguese; African and African American studies; and women and gender studies. A total of 21 credits is required for the minor.

Grades and written evaluations in coursework.

Role of the program in helping students to achieve Goal 1.

Writing and research are integrated into Introduction to American Studies. When a student needs assistance to learn effective strategies for writing and research, the instructor may refer the student to the Writing Center for help.

To focus their studies, students who minor in American studies are required to organize their elective courses in American studies around an area of concentration of their choice.

Learning Goal 2: Foster student research that explores American civilization's heterodox identities, institutions, and cultures.

Assessment of student achievement of Goal  2.

Students write essays and exams that require them to produce analytical arguments grounded in evidence found in libraries, archives, cultural institutions, and communities around our campus.

Students meet with their professors to discuss the state of their work.

Role of the program in helping students to achieve Goal 2.

Introduce students to research strategies starting in Introduction to American Studies.

Visits to archives and other collections of sources in our region in both coursework and independent trips.

The program brings scholars to campus for lectures and seminars to introduce students to leading scholars and research topics in American studies.

Learning Goal 3: Encourage the original, creative, and academically substantial work in public history and public humanities that engages diverse audiences and questions.

Assessment of student achievement of Goal 3.

Students may take a course or internship in public humanities that will introduce them to key themes and practices in the field.

Students are encouraged to conduct for-credit independent study or fieldwork, under faculty supervision, to produce works of public history and public humanities.

Role of the program in helping students to achieve Goal 3.

Where appropriate, faculty members encourage students to produce work in the public humanities as part of their coursework.

The program supports lectures, conferences, performances, and presentations relevant to American studies on campus.

 
For additional information, contact RU-info at 848-445-info (4636) or colonelhenry.rutgers.edu.
Comments and corrections to: Campus Information Services.

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