This course is designed to help students to widen the view of culture, extend train of thought, guide the students to a large amount of information on the basis of thinking, explore actively, and improve students’ Humanistic quality. With the understanding of American history, we can analyse American social and cultural aspects with objective, calm, rational attitudes. The contents includes the history of United States, the development of city, religions and festivals,  educational system, and the country of immigration. The focus is on understanding the cultural background of the United States' development from a barbaric continent to the world's premier superpower, thus throwing light on the internal causes and essence of its development and strength.
        本课程旨在帮助学生开阔文化视野，拓展思路，引导学生在掌握大量信息的基础上勤于思考，积极探讨，提高学生的人文精神素质。在理解美国历史发展，演变的基础上，以客观、冷静、理性的态度深入剖析美国社会与文化的方方面面。内容包括美国的历史变迁、城市发展、宗教和节日、教育制度、移民国家与多元文化、美国的法律社会与法制体系、美国社会的热点问题以及我对美国人的看法等若干个专题。重点在于了解美国由一个蛮荒的大陆发展成为世界上首屈一指的超级大国的文化背景，了解其发展及强盛的内因和本质。
       本课程以教师自制教材为主，补充电影报刊及网络资源等多媒体材料，然后以讨论并解决问题的方式让学生对美国的社会历史、生活习俗和风土人情等有一个直观的印象。
课程考核：
       As for the evaluation of the course, students’ usual performance consisting of practical performance, class speech and homework will account for 40% of the total score while the final exam will account for the remaining 60%.
      本课程的考核以总评形式进行，平时成绩占总评成绩的40%，期末卷面成绩占60%。平时成绩由实践成绩+课堂发言+课后作业组成。期末考试以闭卷笔试方式进行，考核内容为本课程所有涉及内容，试卷成绩计入总评成绩60%。