Job Application Assignment:
    Opening Links, Improvement Areas, and Target Courses


Application links

Job opening at Maryland
Same job opening, different source
Vita with writing samples

American Studies Faculty (Cultural, identity (gender, children, race), pop cult & humor)
American Studies Grad Courses
American Studies Undergrad Courses

Digital Cultures and Creativity -- see job description; an undergrad Honor Program (w/ MGK and an "eDickinson scholar")

Portfolio Improvement Areas

  1. Understanding of American studies as a field -- I've read many of the scholars, but not as a body constellated around American studies as a field
  2. Practical digital humanities productions -- The "citation project" is pretty strong, but I need online demos in addition to a publication. Another project would be useful.
  3. Literature publication to go with the MLA presentation
  4. Identity Studies -- Could probably use a third-tier publication here

Target Undergraduate Courses

AMST 200 American Studies Portfolio I: Orientation (1) Pre- and corequisite: AMST201. For AMST majors only. Orientation to the major in American Studies, emphasizing the creation of an electronic portfolio documenting written and multimedia projects, internships and service-learning experiences.

AMST 201 Introduction to American Studies (3) Introduction to American cultural studies--past and present--by examining the concept of "self" in American autobiographical writing and the concept of "society" in accounts of various communities.

AMST 205 Material Aspects of American Life (3) Historical survey of American material culture.  Ways of describing and interpreting accumulated material evidence (e.g., buildings, town plans) introduced by stressing relationship between artifact and culture.

AMST 211 Technology and American Culture (3) Historical and contemporary technological innovations in American society, with special emphasis on the humanities. Varied social and cultural responses to one contemporary technological issue e.g. (environmental pollution, genetic engineering, communications technology, and psychopharmacology).

AMST 260 American Culture in the Information Age (3) Credit will be granted for only one of the following: AMST260 or AMST298I. Formerly AMST298I. Examines the ways in which content and form of public information interact with the culture, families & individuals.

AMST 428 American Cultural Eras (3) Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs. Investigation of a decade, period, or generation as a case study in significant social change within an American context.  Case studies include "Antebellum America, 1840-1860," "American culture in the Great Depression."

AMST 432 Literature and American Society (3) Prerequisite: Prior course in AMST, SOCY, American literature, or American history. Examination of the relationship between literature and society: including literature as cultural communication and the institutional framework governing its production, distribution, conservation and evaluation.

Target Graduate Courses

AMST 418 Cultural Themes in America (3 credits) Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs.  Examination of structure and development of American culture through themes such as "growing up American," "culture and mental disorders," "race," "ethnicity," "regionalism," "landscape," and "humor."

AMST 428 American Cultural Eras (3 credits) Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs.  Investigation of a decade, period, or generation as a case study in significant social change within an American context. Case studies include "Antebellum America, 1840-1860," "American culture in the Great Depression."

AMST 432 Literature and American Society (3 credits) Prerequisite: Prior course in AMST, SOCY, American literature, or American history.  Examination of the relationship between literature and society: including literature as cultural communication and the institutional framework governing its production, distribution, conservation and evaluation.

AMST 638 Orientation Seminar: Material Aspects of American Civilization (3 credits) Class meets at the Smithsonian.