Information Package
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Program of American Culture and Literature (English)

ACL255

INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL STUDIES 1

Course Code
ACL255
Semester
Third Term (Fall)
Theory+Practice
3 + 0
ECTS
6
Course TypeCompulsory Course
Course LevelBachelor's Degree
Year of Study2
SemesterThird Term (Fall)
ECTS6
Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students;

  1. Study culture systematically.
  2. Know the terms and concepts of cultural analysis.
  3. Apply Cultural Studies methodology.
  4. Analyze examples from American culture.
Mode of DeliveryFace to face
PrerequisitesNo
Recommended Optional Programme Components
Course DescriptionThis course introduces students to the systematic study of culture in all its complex forms and to the basic terminology and concepts used in cultural analysis, centering on signs and semiotics. By utilizing examples from American culture, the course acquaints the students with the methodology of Cultural Studies.
Course Contents
WEEK TOPICS
1st Week Introduction: What is culture? How do we study culture? What do we know about America & American culture?; Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Introduction: Understanding the Culture of the United States
2nd Week Chapter 2: Traditional American Values and Beliefs
3rd Week Chapter 3: The American Religious Heritage
4th Week Chapter 4: The Frontier Heritage
5th Week Chapter 5: The Heritage of Abundance
6th Week Chapter 6: The World of American Business
7th Week Midterm
8th Week Chapter 7: Government and Politics in the United States
9th Week Chapter 8: Ethnic and Racial Diversity in the United States
10th Week Chapter 9: Education in the United States
11th Week Chapter 10: How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time
12th Week Chapter 11: The American Family
13th Week Chapter 12: American Values at the Crossroads
14th Week Revision
Recommended or Required ReadingRequired Reading:
Kearney Datesman, Maryanne; Joann Crandall and Edward N. Kearney. American Ways: An Introduction to American Culture. 4th ed. New York: Pearson Education, 2014.

Recommended Reading:
Campbell, Neil, and Alasdair Kean. American Cultural Studies: An Introduction to American Culture. London: Routledge, 1997.
George, Diana, and John Trimtur, eds. Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and Writing. 3rd ed. NY: Longman, 1999.
Storey, John, ed. What is Cultural Studies?: A Reader. London: Hodder Arnold, 1996.
Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
  • Lecture
  • Discussion
  • Other
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Quantity Percentage (%)
Mid-term 1 40
Assignment 2 10
Quiz 5 10
Total(%) 60
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%) 60
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%) 40
Total(%) 100
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration (Hour) Total Workload (Hour)
Midterm exam 1 2 2
Preparation for Quiz 5 3 15
Individual or group work 14 6 84
Preparation for Final exam 1 10 10
Course hours 14 3 42
Preparation for Midterm exam 1 10 10
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam 1 2 2
Homework 2 3 6
Quiz 5 2 10
Total Work Load181
Total Work Load / 30 (h)6.03
ECTS Credit of the Course6
Language of InstructionEnglish
Work Placement(s)No

Programme Qualifications / Learning Outcomes

LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
K1 X X X X
K2 X X X X
K3 X X X X
K4 X X X X
K5 X X X X
K6 X X X X
K7
K8
K9
K10 X X X X
K11
K12 X X X X
K13
K14