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Cultural History and Literature

 

Other concentrations:
Nature, Environment, and Culture
Politics, Institutions, and Values
Popular Culture
Race and Ethnicity
Work, Technology and Society

Rationale and Purpose

The traditional core of American Studies programs, the Cultural History and Literature concentration focuses upon two areas of study: major cultural products by the principal novelists, philosophers, poets, political and religious thinkers, historians, artists, musicians, and intellectuals in American history; and major cultural movements which have shaped the world view and attitudes of literate Americans in each period of American history.     In the first area of focus, a heavy emphasis will be given to the individual creative work, its form and content, its specific antecedents and influences as well as its later impact, and the cultural and philosophical implications of the document itself. The relationship between each work and larger trends of the period, both cultural and social, will also be explored.     In the second field of study, the focus will be upon broader cultural movements which are diffused through the larger literate society, which include both major cultural documents as well more popular expressions of these ideas, beliefs and attitudes. Thus, the focus here will be more upon the cultural reception and diffusion of ideas, the relation between innovative movements and mainstream belief systems and attitudes, and the nature and direction of cultural exchange. Top of Page    

While the materials for study in this concentration will emphasize more than other concentrations highly individualized expressions of cultural and social ideas, they will differ from the materials traditionally chosen in American Studies programs. Unlike the traditional focus upon elite movements and their leading figures, the DePaul program takes an expansive view of whose ideas are worth listening to. Thus, it will explore a wide range of cultural expressions, and consider not only their role in our polyphonic culture, but also why certain powerful cultural products have had more impact and exposure than others which are also worthy of this attention and audience.     Other courses in the schedule, sometimes under "Topics" headings , may also meet the U.S. subject matter criterion to count toward American Studies. If you see a course that you're interested in which is not on these lists, consult the Director of the American Studies Program about applying it to your concentration. Students may take an unlimited number of AMS 395: Topics in American Studies, as long as the topics of each course are different. Top of Page


Cultural History and Literature Courses                

Course

Course Title (Prerequisite)

 

AMS 150

Perspectives on America

 

AMS 300

Domestic Studies

 

AMS 392

Internship

 

AMS 395

Topics in American Studies

 

ART 322

Contemporary Art Rec. (Art 102)

 

ART 335

American Art Rec. (Art 102)

 

ART 337

Native Art of the Americas Rec. (Art 102)

 

ART 339

Chicago Architecture Rec. (Art 102)

 

CMN 346

Culture & Media Rec. (Art 102)

 

CPL 312*

Literature of Identity

 

ECO 340

Development of Economic Thought
(ECO 105 or 106)

 

ENG 222

Intro to American Culture

 

ENG 265

The American Novel

 

ENG 360

Early American Literature (ENG 120)

 

ENG 361

Romanticism in American Lit (ENG 120)

 

ENG 362

Realism & Naturalism in American Lit (ENG 120)

 

ENG 364

American Genre Studies (ENG 120)

 

ENG 365

Modern American Fiction (ENG 120)

 

ENG 367

Topics in American Studies (ENG 120)

 

ENG 369

Topics in American Lit (ENG 120)

 

ENG 371*

African American Fiction (ENG 120)

 

ENG 372

African American Poetry & Drama (ENG 120)

 

ENG 373

Multiethnic Lit of the US (ENG 120)

 

ENG 374

Native American Lit (ENG 120)

 

ENG 375*

Studies in Short Fiction (ENG 120)

 

ENG 379*

Topics in Literature (ENG 120)

 

ENG 383*

Women & Literature (ENG 120)

 

ENG 386*

Popular Literature (ENG 120)

 

ENG 465*

Studies in the Modern American Novel

 

GEO 133

Urban Geography

 

GEO 333

City Problems & Planning

 

HST 237

Ideology in US Hist: Progressivism & Populism

 

HST 246

African-American History in US to 1800

 

HST 247

African-American History in US 1800-1900

 

HST 248

African-American History in US 1900-present

 

HST 253

Race, Nationality, & Nat'l. Consciousness

 

HST 265*

Themes in African American History

 

HST 269

Introduction to Public History

 

HST 270

Geographic Approach to US History

 

HST 278

History of American Religion

 

HST 279

Westward Expansion in US

 

HST 280

US to 1830

 

HST 281

US from 1830-1920

 

HST 282

US from 1920-present

 

HST 284

History of Education in the US

 

HST 287

History of the Antebellum in US

 

HST 288

Women in US History to 1860

 

HST 289

Women in US History since 1860

 

HST 312

Latinos in the US HST 199/consent

 

HST 346

African-American Intellectual History
(HST 199/consent)

 

HST 376

The US since 1945 (HST 199/consent)

 

HST 378

America's 19th Century: Pragmatic Tradition
(HST 199/consent)

 

HST 384

Topics in American History (HST 199/consent)

 

HST 385

US Constitutional History to 1865
(HST 199/consent)

 

HST 386

US Constitutional History since 1865
(HST 199/consent)

 

PHL 376

American Philosophy
(PHL 100 or any 200 level PHL)

 

PSC 120

The American Political System

 

PSC 328

Topics in American Politics

 

PSC 330

American Political Thought

 

PSY 345

Cultural Diversity in the US (PSY 105 or 106)

 

REL 211

American Religious Experience

 

REL 215

African American Religious Experience

 

SCU 380*

Philosophical Foundations of Education

 

SOC 343*

Social Dimensions of Religion (SOC 101 or 105)

* = specified sections only

The 3 remaining elective courses of the 13 total required for the major may be chosen from any U.S. subject courses in any department or program. Double majors may double count American courses.

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