：“英美国家概况”课程是为高等学校英语专业学生开设的专业知识必修课。按照教育部21世纪我国高等学校英语专业人才的培养目标和要求，在打好扎实的英语语言基本功和牢固掌握英语专业知识的前提下，要拓宽学生的人文学科知识，扩大知识面，对西方不同的政治、经济、文化、历史和科技教育等有较全面的了解，其中重点是对英国和美国国情的梳理和掌握。同时，注重培养学生独立思考、分析问题、解决问题的能力和创新能力，培养学生跨文化交际意识和能力，提高思想道德素质、文化素养，并对今后从事英美问题的研究打下坚实的基础。

Chapter One General Introduction
　1.1 Topography
　1.2 Rivers, Lakes and Coast
　1.3 Climate
　1.4 Natural Resources
　1.5 Population and Language
　1.6 The American Dream
　1.7 American Family Life
　1.8 Holidays and Festivals
Chapter Two A Brief History ( I )
　2.1 The Discovery of America
　2.2 Overview of Colonial America 1607-1754
　2.3 Mayflower Compact
　2.4 The American War of Independence
　2.5 The American Civil War
Chapter Three A Brief History ( II )
　3.1 World War I
　3.2 Prosperity and Depression
　3.3 The New Deal and World War 1T
　3.4 The Modern Era
Chapter Four Political System
　4.1 The Political Culture of America
　4.2 The 1787 Constitution
　4.3 The Federal Svstem
　4.4 The Party System
Chapter Five Economy
　5.1 The Economic System
　5.2 A Historical Overview
　5.3 Natural Resources
　5.4 Different Sectors
Chapter Six Literature
　6.1 Literature and American Revolution(1746-1815)
　6.2 American Romanticism (1815-1865)
　6.3 American Realism (1865-1914)
　6.4 Modern Period (1914-1945)
Chapter Seven Education
　7.1 School Grades
　7.2 Basic Curricular Structure
　7.3 College and University
Chapter Eight Foreign Policy
　8.1 The American Heritage in Decision of Foreign Policy ..
　8.2 The Foreign Policy in and out of the World War Time ..
　8.3 Three Dimensions of the US Foreign Policy
Chapter Nine Religion
　9.1 Protestants
　9.2 Catholics
　9.3 The Orthodox Church
　9.4 Judaism
　9.5 Religion and Politics
Chapter Ten News Media
　10.1 Different Forms of News Media
　10.2 Features of News Media
　10.3 New Trends
Bibliography