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Comparative American Studies (CAST) is a new curricular program at Oberlin College dedicated to the interdisciplinary and comparative study of race, ethnicity, class, gender and sexuality in American society and culture. We aim to build upon, extend, and integrate insights and theories developed in recent years by scholars in a number of different fields, including American Studies, African American Studies, Asian American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Studies, Latina/o Studies, Native American Studies, and Gender and Women's Studies. The CAST program is a work in progress, organized to promote collaboration by faculty and students trained in a range of specialties. They are eager to share knowledge across disciplinary boundaries and to deploy new methodologies in pursuit of a greater understanding of the American experience as a multicultural, multivalent social formation. Major. Students wishing to declare a Comparative American Studies major should select a faculty advisor who is a member of the CAST Program Committee or consult with the Chair of the Program Committee. In consultation with the advisor, students should propose a program of study for review by the Chair of the Program Committee. The CAST major consists of a minimum of 30 credits of course work, including the following required courses: CAST 100: Introduction to Comparative American Studies; CAST 300: Theories and Methods of Comparative Analysis; and one 400-level capstone seminar. In addition, CAST majors are required to examine in depth (i.e., six or more credit hours at the 200- or 300-level per field of study) at least two different fields of study--African American Studies, Asian American Studies, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Studies, Gender and Women's Studies, Latina/o Studies. The courses available for this purpose are listed below under "CAST courses in Various Disciplines." We anticipate that some students will want to carry the comparative approach throughout their major, while others will prefer to focus on one field of study after meeting the program's distribution requirements. Students may petition to have courses not previously identified by the program to count for their program of study. Minor. Students wishing to minor in CAST must have their proposals approved by the Chair of the CAST Program Committee. The CAST minor consists of CAST 100, CAST 300, and at least nine other credit hours earned in courses that count toward the CAST major. The Comparative American Studies Committee. Members for the 2003-2004 academic year are: Ms. John, Sociology Mr. Kornblith, History Ms. Kozol, Gender and Women's Studies Mr. Maeda, History Mr. Millette, African American Studies Mr. Mitchell, History Mr. Norris, Sociology, Director Honors. Entrance to the Honors Program is by invitation of the CAST faculty in the second semester of the junior year. Students wishing to be considered for Honors are encouraged to indicate their interest and discuss details of the program with the Chair of the CAST Program Committee early in their junior year. An Honors Project normally consists of a written thesis grounded in original research or creative work. The thesis is submitted in the spring semester of the senior year and followed by a senior oral examination. Winter Term. When faculty members with appointments in the CAST program are on duty during Winter Term, they sponsor CAST-related Winter Term projects. Many faculty in other departments may also be asked to sponsor CAST-related Winter Term projects.
100. Introduction to Comparative American Studies 3 hours 1.5HU, 1.5SS, CD First and Second Semester. The course will introduce students to the complexity of American social and cultural formations, with particular emphases on sexuality, race, ethnicity, class and gender, and to various methodologies of comparative analysis. Enrollment Limit: 20. Staff 300. Theories and Methods of Comparative Analysis 4 hours 2HU, 2SS, CD, WR First and Second Semester. The comparative analysis of social entities often reveals differences, the reasons for which are not immediately clear and involve theoretical considerations. This course focuses on different methods of comparative analysis, theories of social and cultural formation, and the process of theory construction. Enrollment Limit: 20. Staff 401. Capstone Seminar on Identity 4 hours 4SS, CD, WR First Semester. Topic to be determined. Enrollment Limit: 12. Staff 402. Capstone Seminar on Community 4 hours 4SS, CD, WR Second Semester. Topic to be determined. Enrollment Limit: 12. Staff
Cross-Referenced Courses In addition to course offerings in the Comparative American Studies program, the following courses may be taken to fulfill the Comparative American Studies major requirement. Other courses not designated as counting towards the CAS major may be considered for that purpose upon application to the Director of CAS. African American Studies (AAST) 202 African American History Since 1865 203 African History from Earliest Times to the 19th Century 204 African History from the 19th Century to the Present 208 Slavery and Freedom in the Western Hemisphere 215 African American Women's History 219 The Freedom Movement: Civil Rights and Black Power 248 Resistance and Voice 261 "Framing Blackness": African Americans and Film in the United States 264 African-American Drama 321 Black Feminist Thought: An Historical Perspective 346 Contemporary African American Literature: 1960-Present 347 Going Away and Coming Home: Caribbean Literature Anthropology (ANTH) 288 Immigrant America: Then and Now English (ENGL) 223 Sign, Self and Text in 19th Century American Fiction 255 In Search of America: The Concept of Nature in Early American Literature 260 Approaches to African-American Humor & Irony 337 Asian-American Literature 346 History and Myth in Afro-American Fiction 360 Representing Blackness, Whiteness, and Citizenship in American Fiction 384 Slave Narrative & Novel Gender and Women Studies (GAWS) 241 Living with the Bomb History (HIST) 260 Asian American History 265 American Sexualities 266 Women and Social Movements in the United States 267 Gender, Ethnicity, and Race in 19th Century America 268 Oberlin History as American History 270 Latina/Latino Survey 323 Liberty and Power, Democracy and Slavery in Jacksonian America 325 Native American History, ca. 1450-1900 327 Borderlands 328 American Mixed Blood 330 Unbearable Whiteness: The Social Construction of a Racial Category 331 Colloquium in Asian American History 390 Slavery, Antislavery and Emancipation in American History Politics (POLT) 213 The Political Economy of Gender in Advanced Capitalism 218 Marxist Analysis of Society and Politics 219 Work, Workers and Trade Unions 238 Western Marxism and Critical Theory 315 The Future of Organized Labor Religion (RELG) 284 The History of the African-American Religious Experience 384 The Black Theology Movement Sociology (SOCI) 235 Gender Stratification 236 Sexualities and Society 277 Race and Ethnic Relations 326 The American Family: Comfort, Conflict, and Criticism 377 Advanced Topics in Race and Ethnic Relations 378 Sociology of the African-American Community 407 Racial and Ethnic Identities in the 21st Century 443 Generation X: Relationship, Work, Culture & Communication Hispanic Studies (SPAN) 312 Folklore and Culture of Latin America 457 Caribbean Culture and Literatures |
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