WHAT IS AMERICAN STUDIES?
American Studies is an interdisciplinary field which explores American history, culture and society. Initially focused on the United States of America, the theoretical, chronological and geographical boundaries of American Studies have expanded significantly over recent decades. Even when limited to discussions of the United States, the discipline has expanded to examine its role within the wider world - from Cold War geopolitics and international trade routes to the global impact of American culture. Simply put, American Studies is pretty much whatever you make of it.
HOW DID THIS PROJECT START?
This project was started by James West in 2015.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO COLLECT LOTS OF MODULE HANDBOOKS?
Initially as a teaching tool and to develop ideas for new courses. However, it quickly became clear that this archive could be a useful pedagogical tool, particularly for early-career scholars.
WHERE DO GET THEM FROM?
All of the material in the ASCA is either publicly accessible online or has been shared by individuals.
THERE IS TOO MUCH MATERIAL - HOW CAN I NAVIGATE IT?
Start with the "INDEX" tab accessible through "THE ARCHIVE" - this will link you to an Excel Spreadsheet which has course information listed and searcheable by different options.
You can also browse module handbooks alphabetically or by institution.
You can also browse module handbooks alphabetically or by institution.
I'M INTERESTED IN MODULE HANDBOOKS FROM THE U.K, BUT I CAN'T FIND MANY - WHAT GIVES?
At many North American universities, module handbooks are easily accessible through online databases or departmental websites. By contrast, module handbooks in the UK are often very difficult to obtain. In partnering with the British Association of American Studies (BAAS) to crowdsource material, this project hopes to significantly expand the number of module handbooks available from UK HEIs.
WHY ARE MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF THE SAME COURSE LISTED?
University courses are regularly updated. It can be useful to track the evolution of an individual course over time - to see how new readings, sources or perpsectives are integrated into the overarching theme or focus of the module.
ARE THESE ALL OF THE AMERICAN STUDIES COURSES AVAILABLE AT DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES?
This archive is illustrative rather than exhaustive. If you are interesting in finding out the full provisions provided at any given institution, you should look at the course breakdowns on institutional websites.
THIS SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA - HOW CAN I HELP?
- DONATE - we are always looking to expand the ASCA!
- COMMUNICATE - tell people about the ASCA.
- ELEVATE - while of interest to a variety of people, this project is specifically aimed at helping early career researchers. The frequent lack of guidance on creating teaching content is just one of the many obstacles facing ECRs in academia today. If you are an established academic, think about how you can help elevate ECRs through sharing your time and teaching materials.
Copyright 2020 American Studies Course Archive