Certificate in American Studies
OVERVIEW
The Certificate in American Studies is a multi-disciplinary program offered at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar. It focuses on the American experience and its influence on politics. The program provides students with an understanding of the historic development of the American people and the evolution of American society. It explores political, cultural, economic, religious, and social themes across a variety of disciplines, as well as the activities of American institutions, at home and abroad.
The Certificate in American Studies is modeled on other regional studies programs offered by the School of Foreign Service in Doha and on the Washington campus of Georgetown University. Students take core courses in American Studies, focusing on Government, History, and Literature, which in different ways examine the thought, communications, and behavior that have shaped society in the United States. Students then select appropriate elective courses that match their specific interests of study. Finally, under the direction of a faculty member, each student writes a senior research thesis that organizes and focuses their studies.
PROGRAM GOALS
As an interdisciplinary program, American Studies:
- Enables students to make connections across diverse fields of inquiry.
- Facilitates the students’ ability to make cross-disciplinary connections and to consolidate their area of interest.
- Exposes students to theoretical, analytical, and methodological approaches from diverse perspectives, including cultural studies, history, the humanities, and the social sciences.
- HIST 180: Studies in US History until 1865, or HIST 181: Studies in US History since 1865
- GOVT 008: US Political Systems
- INAF 043 or ENGL 043: Gateway to American Studies or Gateway to American Literature
- Minimum of three elective courses of choice, which have been designated as applicable for the American, studies program.
- Completion of an original research thesis during the senior year.
- If a student receives advanced credit for American Government, American History and/or American Literature, the student will take upper-level American Studies electives in place of the core foundation courses, as approved by his or her primary academic advisor for the American Studies Program.
- Two American Studies certificate courses may be completed at academic institutions other than Georgetown University with prior approval.
- Eligible students are encouraged to take a Junior Year Abroad, which usually means one semester or two of their junior year on the Washington campus of Georgetown University.
- ECON 255: American Economy
- ENGL 380: Self & Society in American Literature
- ENGL 293: Cultural Politics of Migration
- GOVT 318: Media & Foreign Policy
- GOVT 364: Lobbying & Interests
- GOVT 351: Campaigns and Elections
- HIST 282/283: American Diplomatic History I and II
- HIST 469: America and the Muslim World.
REQUIREMENTS
Notes:
Most courses will be completed during junior and senior year. Courses for the certificate may also count towards a student's major program.
AMERICAN STUDIES SAMPLE ELECTIVES
SFS-Q offers a variety of courses that fulfill the requirements of the American Studies certificate. Below are some recently offered elective courses:
FINAL RESEARCH THESIS
In the senior year, each student pursuing the Certificate in American Studies writes a research thesis under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The thesis enhances and advances the student’s research interests and skills. Students can elect to revise and expand the thesis project previously undertaken as part of a seminar.
The completed thesis must be reviewed and approved by the American Studies faculty in order for the Certificate to be awarded. The student will give a formal seminar attended by all American Studies faculty in residence during the spring semester in which the thesis is completed.
HOW TO DECLARE
Interested students should contact their academic advisory dean and the director of the American Studies Program.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. When do I declare my intention to pursue a Certificate in American Studies?
A. Not later than the first three weeks of your senior year.
Q. What is the expected length for the American Studies thesis?
A. The expected length of the thesis is 25-30 double-spaced pages, including references and endnotes. The submitted thesis will receive a Pass/Fail grade and not a letter grade.
Q. What are the deadlines for completing the American Studies thesis?
A. Students are encouraged to formulate a topic before the beginning of their senior year. Within the first three weeks of the academic year, the student submits to the American Studies Certificate Director a completed and signed thesis declaration form. The student will be expected to submit the revised and final version of the thesis early on in the spring semester.
Q. Can I enroll in Honors and complete a certificate at the same time?
A. One cannot pursue Honors and a Certificate simultaneously, given the heavy workload. If the student insists to do both, he or she MUST complete the Certificate thesis in the junior year. The deadline for submitting the certificate thesis in its approved form would be the first day of classes in the student’s senior year.
