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American Studies Course Descriptions
AMS 2390 Topics in American Studies
(3 semester hours) May be repeated for credit as topics vary (9 hours
maximum). (3-0) Y
AMS 3300 American Popular Culture
(3 semester hours) Examines American culture from the colonial period
to the present through some of its most popular cultural forms: fiction,
drama, film, magazines, advertising, music, and television. Considers
the economics of cultural production, ways of critically reading popular
texts, and how consumers make use of popular culture. Pays particular
attention to the ways gender, race, and class influence how popular
texts are created and consumed. (3-0) Y
AMS 3302 American Cultures (3 semester
hours) Study of contemporary American cultures. Examines institutions,
culture regions, and the interaction between mainstream American culture
and various subcultures. (3-0) Y
AMS 3313 Public Relations (3 semester
hours) Study of the techniques used by U.S. corporations, nonprofit
organizations, and individuals to create and foster the public images
they desire. (3-0) Y
AMS 3314 Public Communication (3
semester hours) Study of communication theory in relation to ways in
which the U.S. government and other institutions present themselves.
(3-0) Y
AMS 3317 United States and the World Community
(3 semester hours) An examination of the relationships among the United
States, its sociocultural institutions, and the world community. Topics
will include globalization, foreign relations, and national security
issues. (3-0) T
AMS 3318 Contemporary American Conflicts
(3 semester hours) An investigation of the core tensions and strains
in contemporary American society and culture with emphasis on individual
freedoms vs. social responsibility, pluralism, social inequality, gender,
and poverty and prosperity. (3-0) Y
AMS 3321 American Ethnic Experience: Immigrants
Before 1945 (3 semester hours) Study of the experiences, conditions,
and contributions of the old immigrants who came to America before 1945.
The course examines the making of mainstream American culture, persistence
of ethnic subcultures, and changes in ethnic relations. (3-0) T
AMS 3322 American Ethnic Experience: Immigrants
After 1945 (3 semester hours) Study of the experiences, conditions,
and contributions of the new immigrants who have arrived in America
since 1945. Topics include the changes in immigration policies, new
patterns of ethnic relations, and impact of new immigrants on American
society. (3-0) T
AMS 3326 The U.S. in the 21st Century
(3 semester hours) An exploration of 21st-century scenarios for the
U.S. by studying the conditions and trends in the 1990s. The course
examines the future roles of the U.S. in the world community. (3-0)
T
AMS 3370 Organized Crime in America
(3 semester hours) An examination of how the vast network of organized
crime has become an ineradicable part of the nation's special fabric
and how it alters the ways in which legitimate business is done. Emphasis
is placed on understanding the phenomenon and its implications for American
life. (3-0) Y
AMS 3374 Entrepreneurs in America
(3 semester hours) An interdisciplinary introduction to various kinds
of entrepreneurial ventures. The basic purpose of the course is to discover
and understand the factors that govern the success (or failure) of entrepreneurial
ventures and the role of the entrepreneur in a capitalist economy. (3-0)
R
AMS 4303 Business, Law and Culture
(3 semester hours) Study of the interactions among business, law and
culture from an interdisciplinary perspective. The course examines business
tangles, legal complexities, ethical dilemmas, and cultural contradictions
in the capitalist system. (3-0) T
AMS 4304 Communication in America
(3 semester hours) Examines the basic verbal and non-verbal elements
affecting communication in American society. Perspectives to be addressed
include communication across cultures, gender differences in communication,
interpersonal communication styles, and communication in peer groups,
families, and work contexts. In addition, the effects of technology
on communication and its impact on individuals and society will be explored.
(3-0) T
AMS 4305 World History for Teachers
(3 semester hours) This course is a comprehensive thematic survey of
world history that parallels the standards in the Texas Essential Knowledge
and Skills (TEKS) as required for teachers in grades 8 through 12. (3-0)
T
AMS 4310 Terrorism and American Foreign Policy
(3 semester hours) Explores in depth the ways in which critical areas
of American foreign policy have been influenced by terrorist events
often led by shadowy forces difficult to defend against. (3-0) Y
AMS 4378 Contemporary Studies of America
(3 semester hours) Subject matter will vary from semester to semester
with emphasis on America in the modern era. May be repeated for credit
(9 hours maximum). (3-0) Y
AMS 4379 Topics in American Studies
(3 semester hours) Subject matter will vary from semester to semester.
May be repeated for credit (9 hours maximum). (3-0) Y
AMS 4381 Senior Honors in American Studies
(3 semester hours) Required for graduation magna cum laude or summa
cum laude. Prerequisite: Completion of at least 39 and no more than
45 hours of work towards a degree in American Studies and consent of
instructor. (3-0) S
AMS 4382 Global Economy (3 semester
hours) Considers the changing relationships of population, resources,
and the economy, the transformation of classical spatial economies,
and the processes producing increasing globalization. Particular attention
is paid to technological change and to the dynamics of world trade and
investment. This course is also recommended for students who are not
economics majors. (Same as ECO 3370 and GEOG 3370) (3-0) T
AMS 4383 Media Issues (3 semester
hours) Investigates the impact and influence of the mass media on society
today, using classical techniques of argument and evidence. Students
engage in debate-styled discussions about topics, such as V-chip technology,
TV talk shows, criminal trial news coverage, TV violence, and American
values, among others. (3-0) T
AMS 4384 North American Archaeology
(3 semester hours) An introduction to archaeological theories and evidence
of the settlement of North America before European Contact. (3-0) T
AMS 4385 Professional Communications in Business
(3 semester hours) Combines theory and practice in improving both the
written and spoken word in business. Students learn to evaluate professional
and technical audiences and how to communicate more effectively to those
audiences. Principles of composition, organization, tone, format, and
punctuation are reviewed. Exercises in effective speaking and group
presentations are also conducted. (3-0) T
AMS 4V80 Independent Study (1-6
semester hours) Independent study under a faculty member's direction.
May be repeated for credit. Consent of instructor required. ([1-6]-0)
S
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