American Studies
The Department of American Studies values offers courses that examine the history, literature, politics, art, and other forms of cultural expression in the United States.
For questions about specific courses, contact the department.
For questions about specific courses, contact the department.
Courses
Course Number
AMST0100W001Format
In-PersonPoints
0 ptsFall 2023
Times/Location
Mo 17:25-19:25Fr 16:10-19:25Section/Call Number
001/20708Enrollment
0 of 28Instructor
Jessica LeeElizabeth HutchinsonThis course offers an overview of classic and contemporary examples of feminist ethnography. Over
the course of the semester, we will trace the development of, and debates around, feminist
ethnography from the 1970s to the contemporary period, highlighting the key questions and
dominant paradigms of the field. We will examine how feminist approaches shape the questions we
ask, how we present our research and the ethics of research. We will explore how to incorporate
collaborative and activist methods and analysis in our scholarly projects, asking: How can feminist
ethnography intensify efforts towards social justice in the current political and economic climate?
How do feminist ethnographers link their findings to broader publics through activism, advocacy, and
public policy?
Course Number
AMST3200X001Points
4 ptsFall 2023
Times/Location
Th 12:10-14:00Section/Call Number
001/00818Enrollment
6 of 16Instructor
Lisa JahnIntroduction to the theoretical approaches of American Studies, as well as the methods and materials used in the interdisciplinary study of American society. Through close reading of a variety of texts (e.g. novels, films, essays), we will analyze the creation, maintenance, and transmission of cultural meaning within American society.
Course Number
AMST3401X001Points
4 ptsFall 2023
Times/Location
We 14:10-16:00Section/Call Number
001/00004Enrollment
8 of 12Instructor
Jennie KassanoffCourse Number
AMST3920W001Format
In-PersonPoints
1 ptsFall 2023
Times/Location
Mo 18:10-20:00Section/Call Number
001/11937Enrollment
7 of 15Instructor
Hilary-Anne HallettPlease refer to the Center for American Studies website for course descriptions for each section. americanstudies.columbia.edu
Course Number
AMST3930W001Format
In-PersonPoints
4 ptsFall 2023
Times/Location
Tu 10:10-12:00Section/Call Number
001/11940Enrollment
10 of 18Instructor
James Stephen ShapiroPlease refer to the Center for American Studies website for course descriptions for each section. americanstudies.columbia.edu
Course Number
AMST3930W002Format
In-PersonPoints
4 ptsFall 2023
Times/Location
Tu 12:10-14:00Section/Call Number
002/11948Enrollment
13 of 18Instructor
Mark LillaPlease refer to the Center for American Studies website for course descriptions for each section. americanstudies.columbia.edu
Course Number
AMST3930W003Format
In-PersonPoints
4 ptsFall 2023
Times/Location
We 10:10-12:00Section/Call Number
003/11960Enrollment
19 of 18Instructor
Roosevelt MontasPlease refer to the Center for American Studies website for course descriptions for each section. americanstudies.columbia.edu
Course Number
AMST3930W004Format
In-PersonPoints
4 ptsFall 2023
Times/Location
We 14:10-16:00Section/Call Number
004/11962Enrollment
13 of 18Instructor
Hilary-Anne HallettPlease refer to the Center for American Studies website for course descriptions for each section. americanstudies.columbia.edu
Course Number
AMST3930W005Format
In-PersonPoints
4 ptsFall 2023
Times/Location
Th 14:10-16:00Section/Call Number
005/11963Enrollment
15 of 18Instructor
Michael HindusPlease refer to the Center for American Studies website for course descriptions for each section. americanstudies.columbia.edu
Course Number
AMST3930W006Format
In-PersonPoints
4 ptsFall 2023
Times/Location
Tu 14:10-16:00Section/Call Number
006/12009Enrollment
13 of 18Instructor
Casey BlakePlease refer to the Center for American Studies website for course descriptions for each section. americanstudies.columbia.edu
Course Number
AMST3930W007Format
In-PersonPoints
4 ptsFall 2023
Times/Location
We 14:10-16:00Section/Call Number
007/12015Enrollment
13 of 18Instructor
John McWhorterThe course seeks to combine literary and historical approaches to investigate one of the most rapidly growing, increasingly influential, and, increasingly, critically recognized forms of American popular literature: the graphic novel. A historical overview of the medium’s development, complete with analysis of relevant broader institutional and cultural factors illuminating the development of American media culture more generally, will be complemented by study of a series of recent works illuminating the medium’s explosive maturation. Authors read include Eisner, Crumb, Spiegelman, Bechdel, Thompson, and Hernandez.
Course Number
AMST3933W001Format
In-PersonPoints
4 ptsFall 2023
Times/Location
Mo 12:10-14:00Section/Call Number
001/11968Enrollment
15 of 18Instructor
Jeremy DauberPaul LevitzIndigenous people are often imagined in the distant past, or as living anachronisms in relation to contemporary life. Working against these assumptions, this course examines how Native peoples have survived colonialism, focusing on economic aspects of colonialism in North America, while looking to Australia and Hawai‘i. We will look at the long history of Native land struggles, and links between colonial economies and ecological destruction. Themes guiding our inquiry include: the development of wage labor, property law and economic production on Native lands, histories of political and economic dependency, "development" as defined and practiced over Native communities, and Native people's own economic choices. Our inquiry will be oriented towards deepening our ability to critically analyze the colonial situation we live in, and to see Indigenous survivals despite ongoing assaults against life and territory.
Course Number
AMST4110W001Points
4 ptsFall 2023
Times/Location
Tu 12:10-14:00Section/Call Number
001/00202Enrollment
16 of 16Instructor
Manu KarukaLatina/o/x populations constitute over 19% of the U.S. population as of 2020, one of the fastest
growing groups in the U.S. with a long and rich history in the U.S while maintaining transnational ties.
In this course students are invited to critically analyze the social histories of and contemporary
experiences of a diverse range of Latino/a/x populations from across the Americas. Over the course of
the semester, we will discuss how Latino/a/x populations come to reside in and transform New York
City, how Latina/o/x populations contend with everyday life and, how they shape and reshape the
communities they resettle in. Although the focus is on New York City, we will also examine the
movement of peoples from the Caribbean and Latin America. Topics include histories of migration,
labor recruitment, citizenship, coloniality and racialization, neoliberalism and the rise of
financialization in NYC, environmental racism, community formation and Latino/a/x political
activism. We will critically examine a variety of text and genres ranging from anthropological,
historical, poetry, documentary, films, media, and art to shift away from homogeneous categorization
of Latino/a/x populations to understanding populations as dynamic and complex. Students are
invited to bring their stories to class as this is a collaborative learning environment.