The major in American Studies equips students with an interdisciplinary skill set for interpreting the cultural heritage and contemporary trends in the United States. The program may especially appeal to foreign students seeking to acquire a clear grasp of the American experience in order to apply that knowledge, for example, to a career in international business. Read below to learn more about the American Studies Major.
Potential Careers:
- Journalism
- Community development
- Public policy
- Foreign service
Core Requirements
Required lower division courses:
One of the following:
One of the following:
One of the following:
Choose one more course from the ENGL or HIST list above, depending upon one’s preferred track: ENGL or HIST 3 cr.
Required upper division courses: 24 credits for the history track. For the English track, 21 upper division credits and 3 lower-division credits (see ENGL210 College Writing II “capstone sequence,” below):
Choose one English elective:
- COMM362 Social Media Communication 3 cr.
- ENGL335 African-American Literature 3 cr.
- ENGL350 Literary Theory 3 cr.
- ENGL480 Topics in Literature and Language [when topics pertain to America] 3 cr.
Choose one History elective:
- HIST405 Native American History 3 cr.
- HIST410 The Era of the American Revolution 3 cr.
- HIST420 Constitution and Early Republic 3 cr.
- HIST430 The American Civil War and Reconstruction 3 cr.
- HIST450 Civil Rights Movement 3 cr.
- HIST470 The Supreme Court and the American People 3 cr.
- HIST480 Topics in American History 3 cr.
Choose one Religious Studies elective:
- HIST460 Religion in American History 3 cr.
- RELG330 Christian Social Thought 3 cr.
- RELG340 Apologetics 3 cr.
- RELG425 Eastern Religion/Spirituality in America 3 cr.
Required Sociology course:
Capstone Track (choose one)
English Track:
- ENGL210 College Writing II 3 cr.
- ENGL320 The English Language 3 cr.
- ENGL493 Senior Seminar I 1.5 cr.
- ENGL494 Senior Seminar II 1.5 cr.
History Track:
- HIST4xx (a second course from History Elective section) 3 cr.
- HIST490 Introduction to Historical Research and Writing 3 cr.
- HIST493 Senior Seminar I 1.5 cr.
- HIST494 Senior Seminar II 1.5 cr.
American Studies Minor
The minor in American studies requires:
One of the following:
One of the following:
One of the following:
Three of the following:
- ENGL335 African-American Literature or ENGL480 Topics in Literature and Language [when topics pertain to America] 3 cr.
- HIST450 Civil Rights Movement or HIST470 The Supreme Court and the American People 3 cr.
- HIST460 Religion in American History or RELG425 Eastern Religion/Spirituality in America 3 cr.
- SOCL330 American Minorities 3 cr.
To view the most recent course list and requirements for the American Studies major, please consult the Academic Catalog.
American Studies Faculty
| Name | Title | Office / Phone | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Lars Johnson HH 221 507-344-7731 | ProfessorAssociate Professor | HH 221 507-344-7731 | |
 | Ryan MacPherson HH 308 507-344-7787 | ProfessorDirector of Apologetics and Worldview Studies | HH 308 507-344-7787 | |
Next Steps
Interested in studying at Bethany? Scheduling a campus visit is a great way to see what we have to offer. You can meet professors or sit in on a class too! Contact our admissions office to learn more.