Faculty of Arts

 American Studies

Table of Contents

Convener: David Tucker (Department of Political Science)

American Studies is a Faculty of Arts interdepartmental program housed in the departments of History and Political Science. It allows students to examine American society through popular culture, literature, cinema and history. It also offers an opportunity to explore the political life of the country examining recent elections, foreign policy and the more important political institutions.

 1. Prerequisites

The American Studies program commences in second year. The general prerequisite for entry is the completion of 50 points of first year from any areas of study within the Arts Faculty.

Please note that you should choose your first-year subjects carefully to ensure that you have the appropriate prerequisites for the areas of study that offer the subjects within the program.

 2. Requirements for a Major

A Major in American Studies usually consists of nine 12.5 point subjects totalling 112.5 points. It comprises:

• Two first-year subjects in any area of study (25 points), and;

• Seven second/third-year subjects totalling 87.5 points, which must include:

  • 131-145 Contemporary American Society and Culture: Whose Country? Whose Culture?, the program's compulsory subject offered in the History department, and;

  • Six subjects from the list of American Studies subjects below.

 2.1. American Studies subjects

The following second/third-year subjects are part of the American Studies program. Students must consult the relevant area of study entries in this handbook to make sure that they meet the prerequisites, if any, for these subjects.

Second/third-year subjects
Compulsory subject		Semester
	131-145 Contemporary American Society and Culture: Whose Country? Whose Culture?	1
English
	106-031 Modernist Fiction	2
	106-049 American Liberals and Moderns	2
	106-068 Imagining Hollywood	2
Art History
	107-059 Art and Mass Culture in the 1960s	2
History
	131-079 Slavery and Freedom in the USA: 1790-1920	1
	131-018 Creating America: Immigration, Class, and Conflict in New England and New York	2
	131-080 American Modern: The United States 1890-1965	2
Political Science:
	166-016 American Politics and Society	1
	166-040 Constitutional Design and Change	1
	166-023 Issues in American Foreign Policy	2
The Australian Centre
	100-003 Australia and America: Comparing New Worlds	1

 3. Honours

Currently, there is no Honours program in American Studies. However, several departments do offer fourth-year subjects with American subject content. These include: Political Science, History, English and Fine Arts. See the relevant area of study entries in this handbook.

 4. For more information

Assoc. Professor David Tucker
Department of Political Science
Fourth Floor, John Medley Building
The University of Melbourne
Parkville Victoria 3052
Tel: +61 3 9344 6585
Web: http://www.politics.unimelb.edu.au

Status:                   Official 1999
Last Modified:            Tuesday October 20 11:46
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Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au