Kennesaw State offering new Master of Arts in American Studies

KENNESAW, Ga. (Jun 10, 2009) — LeeAnn Lands named to lead innovative interdisciplinary program

Kennesaw State University and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences will start offering a new interdisciplinary Master of Arts in American Studies degree program this fall, the first of its kind at a University System of Georgia institution.

The new degree program provides an interdisciplinary study of American cultures in local, regional, national and transnational contexts, drawing from several disciplines, including history, sociology, foreign languages, communications, business, literature and art.

The program is designed for those seeking to advance in a range of careers — as human relations and diversity officers, museum professionals, journalists, teachers, counselors, education leaders, city planners and public servants.

LeeAnn Lands, associate professor of history and American studies and one of the architects of the new master's program, has been named interim director.

Lands represents KSU in Imagining America: Artists and Scholars in Public Life, a national consortium of colleges and universities committed to public scholarship in the arts, humanities, and design. She also sits on the Urban History Association Board of Directors, and is an arts and humanities councilor for the Council on Undergraduate Research. This November, University of Georgia Press will publish her book — "The Culture of Property: Race, Class and Housing in Atlanta 1880-1950."

The program consists of 36 credit-hours and a foreign language requirement. Courses will be taught by faculty from across KSU's humanities and other academic departments. Most classes will be offered in the evening to accommodate working professionals. Applications are now being accepted for the spring semester.