News Releases

USM Course About Shopping More Than a Trip to the Mall

November 20, 2007

Thirty-six first-year students at the University of Southern Maine may never think about holiday shopping in the same way after taking the class, “Shopping: American Consumerism.” This course offers students a scholarly look at the social and economic forces that combined to lead Americans into becoming the consumers they are today. Writing assignments challenge students’ assumptions about what they buy and why.  For example, the field assignment, “Decoding the Mall,” requires students to visit the Maine Mall to do research rather than shop.  Students are instructed to observe the mall, shoppers, and employees in the same way anthropologists observe different cultures, and then write a critical analysis of their observations within the framework of class readings and discussions.

During the semester students learn the history of the free enterprise system, and about newer scientific research that influences store design and advertising campaigns. The course examines consumerism through the lenses of gender, class, and debt. Students meet as a group at weekly team-taught seminars and then in small discussion groups led by Professor of Economics Michael Hillard, Professor of English Jane Kuenz, or Assistant Professor of Philosophy Jason Read, who each teach from the perspective of their particular discipline.

Hillard, a veteran professor at USM, usually taught smaller, upper-level classes where he mentored economics majors.  The opportunity to meet and mentor students who are beginning their college experience and may not have declared a major is new and enjoyable to him.  These students tell him this class, while challenging, is among the most interesting they are taking.  Hillard says that the team-teaching model also made him a better scholar by exposing him to current academic scholarship in the fields of the other professors teaching the course.

“Shopping: American Consumerism” is one of eight Entry Year Experience courses offered this fall that are part of the General Education initiative to redesign core classes required for graduation from USM. Reading rigorous texts and the small discussion groups expose students to an educational experience usually found at a small private liberal arts college, not a large, public university where core classes often have large numbers of students enrolled in each section.  Designed by Professor Ardis Cameron, who teaches in USM’s graduate program American and New England Studies, and Assistant Professor of Philosophy Jason Read, this course offers students a challenging, team-taught, “college boot-camp” experience, preparing them to successfully complete their college degrees.

Hillard is available for interviews about shopping, consumerism, and how USM’s Entry Year Experience classes and the General Education initiative benefit both students and faculty.  For help arranging interviews, please call Judie Alessi O’Malley or Bob Caswell at 207-780-4200.  They also can be reached at home, 207-839-6402 (O’Malley) or 207-839-2026 (Caswell).

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