Welcome to the American Studies concentration at York County Community College!
The American Studies concentration is a collection of courses that center around one particular theme: America. Through the curriculum, students explore American society and culture, and take classes in an array of disciplines: history, politics, philosophy, arts, literature, religion, and more. The curriculum is designed to give students a broad range of intellectual experiences, and to expose them to diverse theories and viewpoints.
Students in the American Studies concentration won’t just memorize facts; they’ll wrestle with large and complex questions: What does it mean to be an American? What are the dominant values and myths that Americans share? How have ideas about race, gender, religion, sexuality, ethnicity, and class shaped America, and how have those ideas evolved? The American Studies concentration, in other words, is about critical thinking—learning how to explore ideas rigorously, thoughtfully, and open-mindedly.