Professors Albers (Theology), Baas (Political Science), Feaster (English), Janke (Geography and Meteorology), Sponberg (English); Associate Professors Buggeln (Christ College, Chair), Kilpinen (Geography and Meteorology), Ruff (English), Schaefer (History).
Students completing the Program in American Studies will have fulfilled major field requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree under the Interdisciplinary Program Option.
The Program in American Studies offers the undergraduate student an opportunity to study the whole civilization of the United States--its fundamental ideas, institutions and symbolic expressions as these have developed over time. This common subject matter is examined through a variety of methods and materials that reach across traditional disciplines. The student must, therefore, become familiar with the approaches of the social sciences, the fine arts, and the humanities as these bear on the subject of American civilization. By drawing together these different perspectives, American Studies enables students to attain a broad vision of the civilization, while deepening their understanding of what is both unique and universal about the United States.
Valparaiso University has special resources for the student in American Studies. Among these are the Library of American Civilization, containing more than 15,000 volumes of American materials on microfiche; American Women's Diaries (io microfilm reels); Black Abolitionist Papers (17 Microfilm reels); Early American Imprint Collection (49,000 items; The War of the Rebellion: official records of the Union and Confederate Armies (130 volumes); Bulletin of the Bureau of American Ethnology (199 volumes); The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents: Travels and Explorations of the Jesuit missionaries in New France, 1610- 1791 (73 volumes); the Brauer Museum of Art <www.valpo.edu/artmuseum>; the Washington Semester Program; the Lutheran College Washington Consortium; The Chicago Arts Program; The Chicago Urban Semester (see pages 12-13).
A minimum of 48 credit hours in courses approved by the Administrative Committee. Courses must include the 24 credit hours designated in the Program Core and an additional 24 credit hours selected from the list of approved elective courses. The student and the Chair of the Committee, who is advisor for all students in the Program, may select courses that fulfill individual academic or career objectives. Courses not included in the list of approved electives may be substituted in some instances if they are approved by the Chair of the Committee. Students are encouraged to undertake independent study projects. Honors Work may be undertaken in American Studies with appropriate approval. Students should register for AMST 497: Honors Work in American Studies, and 498: Honors Candidacy in American Studies (see page 64).
A student fulfilling major field requirements under a Major Option may present an area minor in American Studies for the required minor. Requirements for the minor are a minimum of 24 credit hours approved by the Committee on American Studies. Courses must include at least 12 credit hours selected from the Program Core. The remaining credit hours are selected from the list of approved elective courses. Interested persons should schedule a visit with the committee chair.