The American Studies minor leads to a better understanding of American experience through multidisciplinary study of culture and society. Students will examine major texts, theories and concepts related to the subject.

Courses must be taken from at least three departments, and topics can include American history, politics, race relations, diversity, cultural identity, gender and sexuality, social movements, religion, women’s and gender studies, music, consumer culture, jobs and work, immigration and ethnicity, slavery and literature.

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Erika Doss

Erika Doss ’78 brings family legacy of education to a new generation of students

Family ties brought Erika Doss ’78 to Ripon College, but she stayed for the inviting, friendly environment on campus, forming some of her closest adult […]

Katie Warczak '16

Research opportunities furthered career focus for Katie Warczak ’16

Various areas of study, small class sizes and the equestrian team drew Katie Warczak ’16 to Ripon College. “Being able to challenge myself academically as […]

Lamont Colucci

Lamont Colucci addresses U.S. grand strategy in published articles

“American Doctrine: The Foundation of Grand Strategy,” an article by Lamont Colucci, associate professor of politics and government, has been published by Sage Journals. The […]

Faculty

Jacqueline Clark

Clark, Jacqueline

Professor of Sociology

Sarah Frohardt-Lane

Frohardt-Lane, Sarah

Associate Professor of History, Chair of History Department, Director of Environmental Studies

Henrik Schatzinger

Schatzinger, Henrik

Professor of Political Science, Chair of Political Science Department

Mary Unger

Unger, Mary

Associate Professor of English and Chair of the English Department, Coordinator of the Women's and Gender Studies Program

Advising

Ripon College faculty and professional staff are dedicated to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be and however often they may change along the way. It’s part of our value statement to you.

As a student at Ripon, you will be assigned a faculty adviser based on your area(s) of interest. You will meet with your faculty adviser throughout your time as a student to discuss your current aspirations, plan your course schedule and plot a future trajectory. We also work collaboratively with Ripon College Career and Professional Development to help match your interests and skills to concrete goals and construct a plan for professional success offering personalized career counseling, off-campus learning opportunities and an online job board with potential to connect with local, national and international employers. Our collaboration with Student Support Services provides tutoring and additional academic and skill development, as well as tools to help with note-taking, exam preparation, goal-setting and time management. Likewise, Mentors in the Franzen Center provide in-depth, one-on-one or group mentoring for students about class projects and college-level writing, and can share problem-solving strategies to overcome academic obstacles.

Advising at Ripon

Career Tracks

A minor in American Studies prepares students to pursue a wide range of career paths, including politics, journalism, law, education and business. The American Studies minor gives each student the opportunity to hone research, writing, critical-thinking and communication skills while developing an understanding of American experiences.

Unique Opportunities

Students who minor in American Studies delve into the study of U.S. culture from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. The program is structured to build students’ skills in at least three disciplines; it also presents an opportunity for each student to explore areas of particular interest with a wide range of courses that students can take to fulfill the minor. This multidisciplinary approach prepares students for a broad range of career paths after Ripon.