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Majors & Minors

American Studies Major | American Studies Minor

General Distribution Requirements

AMST 209, AMST 112, AMST 200, AMST 219, AMST 222, AMST 224, AMST 225, AMST 229, AMST 231, AMST 232, AMST 336, AMST 241, AMST 253, AMST 256, AMST 268, AMST 270, AMST 271, AMST 275, AMST 284, AMST 288, AMST 315, AMST 380, and AMST 445 count toward the general distribution requirement in humanities. AMST 101, AMST 203, AMST 205, AMST 237, AMST 240, AMST 250, AMST 251, AMST 260, AMST 281, AMST 300, AMST 301, AMST 341 and AMST 355 count toward the social science general distribution requirement. AMST 263 counts toward the fine arts requirement. Any topics courses offered (at any level) require approval by the department to qualify for either distribution. Courses approved for the American Studies major offered through other departments meet the general distribution requirements of that department.

General Education Requirements

Courses that meet the general education requirements in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism and U.S identities and differences will be posted on the Registrar's web page in advance of registration for each semester.

Additional information regarding the general distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be found in the graduation requirements section of this catalog.

Courses Approved for American Studies Majors or Minors

In addition to courses offered directly through the American Studies department, certain courses in other departments are approved for use on the American Studies major and minor plans. Approval is based on specific syllabi and faculty; please consult with the department chair with questions about approval. Consult the department for approved courses from previous years.

Honors Program

The American Studies department participates in the Honors Program. Eligibility requirements, application procedures and specific project expectations for the department are available from either the department office or the Academic Programs and Advising Office.

Topics Courses

AMST 194, AMST 294, AMST 394, AMST 494 

Topics courses are occasional, often experimental courses, offered by instructors at their own initiative or in response to student requests. Recent topics courses include: White Christian Right, James Baldwin and the Black Religious Imagination, and others to be announced at registration.

Independent Study

The department offers independent study options in the form of tutorials, independent projects, internships, and preceptorships. For more information contact the department and review the Curriculum section of the catalog.

American Studies Major

Major Requirements

The American Studies major consists of ten (10) courses which includes three (3) core courses (described below), seven (7) electives, and an
internship.

Required Core Courses

  • Methods Course: AMST 200 - Critical Methods for American Studies Research (Spring semester only)
  • Junior Seminar in Community Engagement: Themes vary for this AMST 300-level seminar. The seminar may require an additional community-based learning component (Fall semester only)
  • Senior Capstone: AMST 400 - Senior Seminar. Capstones are eligible for inclusion in the digital open-access undergraduate journal Tapestries (Fall semester only).

Content Courses

  • In addition to the three (3) required courses, the major plan will include seven (7) electives. These courses may include cross-listed courses, or a maximum of four credits earned from a Study Away/Study Abroad program.

Internship

  • In addition to the ten (10) courses, the American Studies major also requires at least two (2) credits in an off-campus internship. Internship placements must be meaningful, relevant and connected in some way to coursework in the major, with a faculty sponsor from American Studies. Both graded and pass-fail internships are acceptable.

Other Elements of the Major

  1. Majors are encouraged to take at least one international and/or diasporic course.
  2. Majors are encouraged to enroll in study abroad (in an international course of study) or study away programs (in a U.S.-based urban studies program).
  3. Majors are encouraged to have the equivalent of two years of work in a language other than English. Note: Native American languages would fulfill this requirement.
  4. Majors are encouraged to take an internship, decided upon in consultation with the department chair.
  5. Majors who meet college criteria are encouraged to conduct an honors project in conjunction with their senior capstone.

American Studies Minor

Minor Requirements

The minor in American Studies will require taking any five (5) courses in American Studies (including cross-listed courses). Minors can be declared at any time.