This unit will discuss key texts from politics, history, English, film studies, and music to critically examine the United States from multiple angles, including race and racism, gender, political culture, regionalism, and religion.

Students will study works ranging from de Tocqueville's Democracy in America to the film Birth of a Nation with the aim of developing a critical appreciation of both classic and contemporary debates about American society.

The unit will conclude with a discussion of the ways American Studies as a field deals with these longstanding debates in innovative and challenging ways. Students will have the chance to develop a substantial primary source–driven research project.

“I like that whatever I learn in the American Studies major can be applied to countries outside of America. The major is like a magnifying glass where problems we encounter globally are brought into focus and intensified.” Claudia Skinner, Bachelor of Arts

The fine print

Classes
Taught in Semester 2, 2019
1 x 1 hour lecture per week
1 x 2 hour tutorial per week
View timetable

Assessment
20% 2 x online reading responses (200 words each)
20% proposal with annotated bibliography (900 words)
50% research essay (3000 words)
10% tutorial participation

Prerequisites

12 Senior Credit Points of American Studies including AMST2601 or 12 credit points at 2000 level in American Studies

More details
Visit the University of Sydney website for information about fees, cross-institutional and non-award study, and more.

Unit coordinator

Dr Thomas Adams

Academic Coordinator and Lecturer in American Studies and History, United States Studies Centre (jointly appointed with the School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry, University of Sydney)