Introduction to American Studies

One-semester course. This course provides students with an introduction to the program of American Studies, as well as practical application through a study of the early Cold War period (1945 – 1965) in American culture.

American Studies is an interdisciplinary approach to studying the Americas. In other words, American Studies makes use of a classical approach to studying American culture. Scholars look at how all aspects of a society are in conversation with one another at a particular moment, or how a particular subject shows up across time. The pattern that emerges from this work gives students a nuanced understanding of American society.

Over the course of a semester, students will pull apart the fabric of American Cold War culture – politics, economics, artistic production, and societal norms – to understand America in context. Topics will include Communism, nuclear war, family structure, gender relations, youth culture, and racism.

Introduction to American Studies is an upper level high school course. Students will be given writing assignments that will prepare them for college work, including how to write a precis, an annotated bibliography, and a paper abstract. Students will be introduced to the mechanics of archival research, and the basics of how to conduct an oral history.


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Introduction to American Studies Information




  • Class meets once per week for 50-55 minutes.
  • Class cap: 15 students.
  • Designed for grades 11-12.
  • High school students may be awarded .5 Elective credit upon completion of this course.
  • Taught by Julia Collier

Course Materials




  • Course materials to be posted by June 2025.


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You may also like...


Advanced Placement U.S. History

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Learn More

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Learn More