Master of Arts in American Studies announced for Fall 2009

KENNESAW, Ga. (Dec 3, 2008) — Beginning Fall semester 2009, Kennesaw State University will offer a new Master of Arts in American Studies. The new degree‚ approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia at its Nov. 10 meeting‚ brings to 21 the number of master’s−level programs offered at Kennesaw State. KSU is the only university in the USG to offer such a degree.

The Masters of Arts in American Studies –– drawing from disciplines that include history‚ sociology‚ foreign languages‚ communications‚ business‚ literature and art –– is designed to attract professionals working in local cultural sites such as museums‚ national parks and public history venues and in non−profit and corporate organizations whose programs reach diverse audiences in the U.S. and abroad. The degree also targets high school teachers who want to focus their graduate studies in the humanities rather than on pedagogy‚ as well as students from abroad interested in studying American culture.

Sarah Robbins, Faculty Executive Assistant to the President and a lead designer of the new Master's program, said "As a field today‚ American Studies combines a focus on globalization with practical work in a local‚ domestic context".

Some highlights of the new program include:

• 36 credit−hours and a foreign language requirement
• Most classes offered in the evening to accommodate working professionals
• Combines the history of U.S. social movements‚ ethnic groups and various historical periods with "place−based" studies of cities‚ towns and suburbs‚ regions and America in a global context
• Aims to expanding students' understanding of "America" as reaching beyond the United States to include the entire hemisphere
• Examines cultural phenomena‚ such as social groups‚ enterprise and labor‚ and cultural products such as film‚ literature and popular culture
• Students will also be required to apply their learning working in a practicum in local communities