BA in American Studies - Social and Literary Movements in Chicago United States | DePaul University

The Social and Literary Movements concentration examines two key domains: significant cultural works by prominent American novelists, philosophers, poets, political and religious figures, historians, artists, musicians, and intellectuals, alongside influential cultural trends that have molded the perspectives of educated Americans throughout history. The first domain prioritizes analyzing individual creative works—their structure, themes, historical influences, subsequent effects, and their deeper cultural and philosophical meanings. This study also investigates how each piece connects to wider cultural and societal patterns of its era. The second domain centers on widespread cultural currents that permeate educated society, encompassing both seminal texts and popular manifestations of these concepts, values, and perspectives. Here, the emphasis lies on how ideas spread and are embraced, the interplay between avant-garde movements and conventional belief systems, and the dynamics of cultural interchange.