American Studies continues to be one of the most desirable majors in The Prime Time Program because of the very broad applicability of the skills you learn. Whether you plan a career in education, public relations, law, journalism, or almost any other field, your foundation begins with acquiring proficiency in critical thinking and analysis and written and oral communication.

Curriculum Highlights
Through progress in the American Studies program, you will obtain a broad liberal arts background. American Studies includes classes in the arts and humanities, courses that develop an understanding of science and management, and other classes that encourage sensitivity to change in art and culture through time.

Important features of the curriculum include:

• An introduction to the rich resources of New England's historical, biographical, and literary manuscripts, including its art, architecture, musical heritage, and government.
• A strong cross-disciplinary sense of the interrelationships among the people, historical events, and physical environment of the region and using local studies to build a comprehensive understanding of America as a whole.
• Provides a foundation of strong understanding and critical ability to interpret American culture and to study it in a global perspective.
• Develops analytical, research, oral and written communication skills which are important in business, education and government.

The major consists of a minimum of 39 credits, distributed among at least three disciplines, concerned with some aspect of American experiences. It is recommended that 18 credits be taken in one discipline.

Required Courses are:
AMST 276 Cultural Studies
AMST 499 The Senior Coordinating Seminar
HIST 120 The American Scene to 1865
HIST 121 The American Scene from 1865

Internship Opportunities
Internships provide an opportunity for practical experience in a professional agency related to one's field of study. The Prime Time Program students majoring in American Studies have held internships at:

Internships for college credit are available at other historical societies, corporations, governmental agencies, and museums.

Numerous Career Opportunities
Career options include:

• Archivist
• Author
• Biographer
• Congressional Aid
• Genealogist
• Historian
• Intelligence Specialist
• Lawyer
• Legislative Aide
• Lobbyist
• Museum Curator
• Museum Tour Guide
• Non-profit Administrator
• Policy Organizer
• Research Assistant
• Research/Reference/Technical Librarian
• Supervisor of Historic Sites
• Teacher
• University Researcher

For more information contact Kenneth Long, Ph.D., chair of the department of history and political science.

Phone: 860.231.5766 E-mail: klong@sjc.edu