American Studies Program
By definition, American Studies is dynamic and pluralistic. The program at UT Knoxville is interdisciplinary, drawing upon the perspectives of a variety of fields to promote an integrated understanding of American culture and society.
The concentration in American Studies provides an excellent background for careers which stress critical thinking, effective communication, social awareness, and creative problem-solving. Many American Studies majors go on to become lawyers, journalists, teachers and professors, poets, playwrights, film critics, museum curators, politicians, diplomats, social activists and entrepreneurs.
Beyond two required courses in American Studies, each student takes classes in American literature and history to acquire a broad foundation in the development of American culture. Then, in consultation with an advisor, the student develops a coherent, individualized course of study, choosing from a broad array of courses in various disciplines — anthropology, sociology, philosophy, religious studies, art history, geography, English, and history.
Because requirements for this program often overlap with those of other majors, American Studies can be combined easily with a major in another field, such as English, history, philosophy, religious studies, sociology, or anthropology.
Students of American culture at UTK can benefit from the region’s unique resources. The area is rich in the history of Native American culture and early "frontier" life. The nearby Museum of Appalachia is an impressive living exhibit of pre-modern Southern Appalachian culture, while the impact of modernization is graphically evident in the dams of the Tennessee Valley Authority. The nearby Highlander Research and Education Center puts American Studies to use by educating people in democratic methods of social change and community development.
Resources
- The American Studies Association (ASA)
- American Quarterly: Index of Articles (1975-1995)--access AQ via library catalog
- American Studies Electronic Crossroads--Sponsored by ASA
- Association Française d'études américaines--French Association for American Studies
- H-AMSTDY WWW Site--join a e-mail discussion list
- ASA Newsletter
- American Memory from the Library of Congress
- ASA Guide to Graduate Programs
- American Studies Programs on the Web
Contact Information
Dr. Michael Fitzgerald, Chair
Professor of Political Science
1009 McClung Tower
Knoxville, TN 37996-0410
Phone: (865) 974-7049
Fax (865) 974-7037
Email: mfitzge1@utk.edu