In this course we will examine how American cultures and ideas have been expressed in architectural forms, paying particular attention to key themes, developments, and debates. The study of architecture brings together a number of academic disciplines – art, art history, geography, anthropology, archaeology, economics, sociology, engineering, and, of course, history, to name a few. We will examine the different ways researchers have approached the study of architecture, and how these approaches have changed over time. Furthermore, we will consider how the study of architecture and the built environment can be applied to enrich both historical analysis and the practice of public history. This course is not a strict survey of American architectural history, but a seminar in which we will undertake an initial summary survey before moving into deeper engagements around certain themes and building types.