Students will design preliminary examinations in American Studies to train them as scholar/teachers able to present their ideas as part of a course design and/or as the beginnings of a scholarly project. The examinations will allow students to:
- gain a broad overview of three fields of study enabling them to teach introductory courses in one or more University departments or interdisciplinary programs,
- provide an understanding of the state of scholarship allowing the location of both potential models for their own work as well as possible dissertation topics,
- prepare a syllabus to show mastery of teaching and present a pre-proposal for a dissertation.
The exams will last for two hours and the student will be examined by three current or former members of the Brown faculty
Schedule to Preliminary Exams
Year 1:
Students will work with the DGS to consider their courses in light of possible fields and dissertation topics. The DGS will help students prepare a summer reading list.
Summer:
Students will work, independently, to conceive of three fields and a series of questions in which they are interested.
Year 2:
First Semester: Students will begin reading courses with potential preliminary exam advisors to locate beginning books and questions; in AMCV2520, students will workshop their field questions and beginning books, as well as draft a syllabus
Second Semester: Students will present to the Department of American Studies for review by February 28, the following:
- Three field essays laying out important questions
- Three sets of 5-10 beginning books
- Three signed cover sheets
- One overview essay explaining how the fields fit together and how they help prepare them for teaching and research
Year 3:
First Semester:
- One month before the exam, students send the committee a copy of their syllabus.
- One week before the exam, students send the committee their dissertation pre-proposal.
- By October 30, students will take their preliminary examinations.