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/Institutions/North-Greenville-University/json/2024-2025/2024-2025-Undergraduate-and-Graduate-Catalog-local.json
/Institutions/North-Greenville-University/json/2024-2025/2024-2025-Undergraduate-and-Graduate-Catalog.json
Bachelor of Arts in American Studies
Overview
The American Studies degree is a special, dynamic interdisciplinary program designed to give students a critical understanding of American society and culture. Through select courses in American history, American literature, and political science (as well as other key courses such as Sociology of Social Problems, the History of Christianity in America, and Christianity and Media), the American Studies major gains valuable theoretical and practical knowledge concerning how Americans think and act. Such preparation affords the major a wide variety of career and graduate school paths, ranging from politics and law to non-profit and advocacy work. Our interdisciplinary program’s overarching focus on urban ministries further enhances the student’s preparation along these lines as does our emphasis on becoming “integrators for Christ.” Here, we take the popular notion of “community development” to the next step: that is, we link any attempt to improve society to the hope and healing found only in Christ. Though some of the courses for the American Studies major are mandatory, there is still room for individualized focus.
Degree Requirements
Core Curriculum
Required Courses
Communication
Choose one course from the list below.
Fine Arts
Choose one course from the list below.
Mathematics
Choose one course from the list below.
-
| Any 1000-level math course 1310 or higher | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 44 |
Major Requirements
Required Courses
| ENGL-2340 | American Literature Since 1865 | 3 |
| HIST-2310 | United States History to 1865 | 3 |
| HIST-2320 | United States History Since 1865 | 3 |
| PLSC-3320 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| INTD-2300 | Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies | 3 |
| INTD-3320 | Interdisciplinary Studies Junior Seminar | 3 |
| INTD-4320 | Interdisciplinary Studies Senior Seminar | 3 |
-
| Foreign Language | 12 |
Students may take two different languages of 6 hours each or 12 hours in one language.
American History Focus
Choose 4 classes from the list below.
American Politics Focus
Choose two courses from the list below.
Major Electives
Choose 4 classes from the list below.
Note: COMM-2330 Argumentation and PHIL-2300 Introduction to Philosophy are recommended for pre-law students.
| Total Free Elective Requirements |
14 |
| Total Degree Requirements |
121 |
Plan of Study
Freshman Year - Fall
| COLL-1100 | NGU 101 | 1 |
| CSCI-1100 | Computer Tech for Success | 1 |
| CHST-1301 | Engaging the Biblical Narrative | 3 |
| BIOL-1310 | Scientific Inquiry in a Living World | 3 |
| ENGL-1310 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
-
| | |
| MATH-1310 | College Algebra | 3 |
-
| Or | |
| MATH-1315 | Contemporary Mathematics | 3 |
-
| Or | |
-
| Higher | 3 |
-
| | |
-
| Elective | 1 |
-
| Chapel and CEVT | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Freshman Year - Spring
Fine Arts Choice: (3 Credits)
Required
-
| Chapel and CEVT | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Sophomore Year - Fall
| CHST-1302 | Integrating a Biblical Worldview | 3 |
| INTD-2300 | Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies | 3 |
| ENGL-2330 | American Literature to 1865 | 3 |
-
| Language course 1 | 3 |
American Civic focus: (take 1) (3 Credits)
Required
-
| Chapel and CEVT | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Sophomore Year - Spring
COMM Choice: (3 Credits)
Required
| PSYC-2310 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| ENGL-2340 | American Literature Since 1865 | 3 |
-
| Language course 2 | 3 |
American Civics Focus: (Choose 1 of whichever 2 not already taken) (3 Credits)
Required
-
| Chapel and CEVT | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Junior Year - Fall
| INTD-3320 | Interdisciplinary Studies Junior Seminar | 3 |
| PLSC-3320 | State and Local Government | 3 |
-
| Language course 3 | 3 |
American Civics Focus: (Take 1 whichever course not already taken) (3 Credits)
Required
-
| American History Choice (1) | 3 |
-
| Chapel | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Junior Year - Spring
-
| Language course 4 | 3 |
-
| American History Choice (2) | 3 |
-
| American History Choice (3) | 3 |
-
| American Political Science Choice (1) | 3 |
-
| American Elective (1) | 3 |
-
| Chapel | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Senior Year - Fall
-
| American History Choice (4) | 3 |
-
| American Political Science Choice (2) | 3 |
-
| American Electives (2) | 3 |
-
| American Elective (3) | 3 |
-
| Elective (3 credits) | 4 |
-
| Chapel | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Senior Year - Spring
| INTD-4320 | Interdisciplinary Studies Senior Seminar | 3 |
-
| American Elective | 3 |
-
| Electives | 9 |
-
| Chapel | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Mission Statement and Outcomes
The mission of the Bachelor of Arts in American Studies is for students to gain a critical understanding of American society and its cultural contributions through the integration of Literature, History, and Political Science. This special Christian interdisciplinary coursework prepares them to become contributing members of American society by educating the whole person through cultural, political, and historical contributions to critically understand the changing culture of America.
Learning Outcomes:
1. Exhibit a deep sense of identity as an American interdisciplinarian (including the ability to relate one’s interdisciplinarity to others and to link one’s “calling” as an "integrative Americanist" to a distinct career preparedness).
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the language and concepts of interdisciplinarity.
3. Demonstrate integrative skills (e.g., synthesis, conceptual and methodological blending, holistic processing, contextualization, cognitive-affective learning, interdisciplinary research, and the integration of faith and learning).
4. Exhibit strong communication skills both orally and in written form and where a distinct American Interdisciplinary voice Is attained.
5. Engage in independent learning involving the integration of disciplines and examining American society and cultural identity.