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American Studies Program
American Studies Program
Last updated prior to August 1998
Knowledge and skill goals for this undergraduate degree program are recorded in
the most recent CU-Boulder catalog.
In some summaries of assessment activity, goals are referred to by number
(e.g., K-2 is knowledge goal 2).
American Studies faculty evaluate research papers and projects from
senior capstone courses AMST 4500/4950 and AMST 4960, the two terms of
required seminar work for majors. The evaluators for each course are faculty
other than the course instructors. Criteria for specific knowledge and
skill goals were developed by a faculty committee. While majors take a
variety of courses, the senior seminars are usually the only courses that
consist primarily ofAmerican Studies majors. Since outcomes assessments
focus on how well students have "learned" during their CU years, the faculty
believe reliance on these senior seminar papers remains a valid means of
assessment.
In general, the program's seniors successfully relate their research
topics to the broad patterns and themes in American cultural history and
their formal research papers are, on the whole, very well-written. (The
instructors pay special attention to students' communication skills, with
several private consultations between the instructor and each student during
which paper drafts are reviewed and suggestions made).
The early assessments indicated that additional training in interdisciplinary
focus and analytic and research skills would be helpful. As the program's
courses gave more emphasis to these abilities, the evaluators saw fewer
problems in these areas and now report, for example, that students in both
courses show solid interdisciplinary research skills and critical analysis,
with good use of primary materials and secondary sources. The 1996-97 assessment
illustrates these conclusions:
-
American Studies majors have a broad grasp of U.S. cultural history, of
the significant events, peoples, ideas, and products relevent to the field
and study of American Studies, and particularly of the methods and theories
necessary to understanding and articulating U.S. cultural history in written
form.
-
American Studies majors successfully encompass the methods and approaches
of diverse academic disciplines in their writing and critical thinking,
demonstrating that American Studies is among the most interdisciplinary
of fields.
-
American Studies majors attend to and indeed have an excellent understanding
of comparisons and contrasts between Western American and Non-Western themes
and areas. All American Studies majors must take at least one course in
non-Western areas, thus acquiring comparative knowledge of non-American
cultures.
-
American Studies majors demonstrate good research skills, good critical
thinking skills, and excellent writing skills. The argument of each paper
examined was clearly articulated and concluded, with sophisticated attention
to academic style. The students have a good understanding of how to develop
a cogent and grammatically correct paper: the papers were exceedingly well-written,
show excellent attention to writing flow and style, and generally end on
notes of inquiry, as if to suggest that we, the readers, will want to pursue
further study and analysis of the selected topic.
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