Degree Requirements

Requirements for the American Studies B.A. degree

Requirements for the American Studies B.A. degree

The course requirements listed below are for students who matriculated in or since Summer 2016.

Be sure to check the correct Bulletin for the year you began your studies, as requirements change.

To qualify for the major, you must complete at least 30 credit hours in American Studies, including the CASE Credit Hour and Residency Requirements and the following:

Core Courses

Complete both of the following requirements:

  • AMST-A 100 What is America? (3cr.) CASE A&H

Any three (3) courses from the following:

  • AMST-A 150 Introduction to Native American and Indigenous Studies (3 cr.) CASE S&H
  • AMST-A 200 Comparative American Identities (3 cr.) CASE A&H, CASE DUS
  • AMST-A 201 U.S. Movements and Institutions CASE S&H
  • AMST-A 202 U.S. Arts and Media (3 cr.) CASE A&H
  • AMST-A 275 Indigenous Worldviews in the Americas (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE GCC
  • AMST-A 298 Special Topics in Arts and Humanities for American Studies (3 cr.) CASE A&H
  • AMST-A 299 Special Topics in Social and Historical Studies for American Studies (3 cr.) CASE S&H
Advanced Courses

Complete at least 18 credit hours from the following:

  • AMST-A 300 The Image of America in the World (3 cr.) CASE S&H
  • AMST-A 350 Topics in Interdisciplinary American Studies (3 cr.)
  • AMST-A 351 American Studies in Transnational Contexts (3 cr.) CASE A&H
  • AMST-A 397 Foreign Studies in American Studies (1-6 cr.)
  • AMST-A 398 Advanced Topics in Arts and Humanities for American Studies (3 cr.) CASE A&H
  • AMST-A 399 Advanced Topics in Social and Historical Studies for American Studies (3 cr.) CASE S&H
  • AMST-A 450 Senior Seminar in American Studies (3 cr.) [Intensive Writing]
  • AMST-A 451 Honors Senior Seminar in American Studies (3 cr.)
  • AMST-X 370 Service Learning in American Studies (1-3 cr.)
  • AMST-X 390 Readings in American Studies (1-3 cr.)

You must also complete the B.A. degree requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.

AMST Major Requirements for students who matriculated in Summer 2013

15 credit hours must come from AMST core courses

  • AMST-A 100 What is America? (3 cr.) CASE A&H
  • AMST-A 200 Comparative American Identities (3 cr.) CASE A&H, CASE DUS
  • AMST-A 350 Topics in Interdisciplinary American Studies (3 cr.)
  • AMST-A 351 American Studies in Transnational Contexts (3 cr.) CASE A&H
  • AMST-A 450 Senior Seminar in American Studies (3 cr.) [Intensive Writing]

In consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies, students design an individual concentration (minimum of 15 credit hours) that provides focus and purpose to their remaining coursework in the major and that provides solid background for their senior seminar topic. The concentration will be built from elective courses offered through the Department of American Studies and from cross-listed course offerings in other programs, departments, and units. At least 9 credit hours counted toward the area of study must be at the 300 level or higher. Sample concentrations can be found here.

Students pursuing a B.A. in American Studies must meet the fundamental skills foreign language requirement of the College of Arts and Sciences by completing the study of a single foreign language through the second semester of the second year of college-level coursework.

Students who are double-majoring may cross-count one course.