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The Program in
American Studies

Courses

Culture, Advocacy, & Leadership Courses

  • CAL 1002: Fundamentals of Culture, Advocacy, and Leadership
    Subject matter and methods of public engagement. Concepts and practices related to citizenship, civil society, and social change.
  • CAL 1800: Speaking, Leading, Engaging
    Speaking and communicating for community engagement. Historical and contemporary case studies. Skill-building for public advocacy.
  • CAL 2150: Hip-Hop Culture in America
    Hip-hop culture from 1970s to today. Significant texts, music, films, and more trace hip-hop’s growth into a force in music, fashion, media, and activism. Music industry in Nashville.
  • CAL 2175: Conspiracy Culture in America
    Conspiracy theories in American culture and history. Topics include witch trials, anti-Semitism, anti-Catholicism, the red scare, UFOs, and the Kennedy assassination. Relation of conspiracy theories to broader cultures of knowledge.
  • CAL 2300: Responsible Advocacy in a Complicated World
    Theory and practice of advocacy, community engagement, and shared authority across multiple disciplines. Navigating ethical concerns in community-engaged advocacy work.
  • CAL 2700: Religion, Politics, and American Culture
    Political role of religion and religious role of politics. Christian Nationalism; religious social activism; atheism in America; emergent religions and political resistance; immigration, religion, and community.
  • CAL 2800: Global Perspectives on American Cultures
    Production and representation of culture. International, hemispheric considerations of America. Nationalism, conquest, colonialism, race, gender, and inequality.
  • CAL 3200: Democracy, Deliberation, and Lived Experience
    Exploring and debating government in people’s everyday lives. Imagining new ways of democratic life. Research projects involving various people, communities, and groups.
  • CAL 4000: Practicum and Internship Experience
    Coursework to accompany practicum/internship requirement of CAL major. Discussion and application of concepts related to leadership and community engagement.
  • CAL 4500: American Futures
    Reinvestigation of key concepts around culture, advocacy, and leadership. Student-led seminar and research workshop culminating in public-facing research project.