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The Program in
American Studies

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Major & Minor

Explore and Discover. The Program in American Studies offers students a chance to explore the diverse cultures and histories of the United States from a variety of disciplines and perspectives. Through innovative course offerings, intentional and hands-on advising, and special events, this individualized program fosters a vibrant intellectual community among students and faculty that goes beyond the classroom.

Starting in Fall 2024, the major and minor in American Studies will transition to the major and minor in Culture, Advocacy & Leadership. Read more about this exciting change!

Major | Minor | Major/Minor Declaration

American Studies Major

The American studies major offers a broad grounding in the study of the United States, past and present, by integrating a rich array of materials, themes, and approaches from many fields.

The major encourages:

  • Rigorous interdisciplinary work
  • Investigation of the U.S. from international perspectives
  • Pursuit of individual intellectual interests and goals
  • Experiential learning through research, volunteer opportunities, and internships

Requirements

The major in American studies consists of 30 hours of course work:

  1. Core Requirements (9 credit hours)
  2. International Requirement (3 credit hours)
  3. Interdisciplinary Requirement (6 credit hours)
  4. Electives (12 credit hours)

Note: No course may be counted twice in calculating the 30 credit hours. No more than six credit hours at the 1000 level can count toward the major. Students seeking a second major may count a maximum of six credit hours of course work toward meeting requirements in both majors.

  1. Core Requirements (9 credit hours)
  • AMER 1002: Introduction to American Studies (3 credit hours)
  • AMER 4000: Research Methods Workshop (3 credit hours)
  • AMER 4960: Senior Project (3 credit hours)
  1. International Requirement (3 credit hours)

One of the following:

  • AMER 3200: Global Perspectives on the U.S. (3 credit hours)
  • With approval of the director of undergraduate studies, a 3-credit-hour course that explicitly addresses a global perspective on the United States

Examples of approved courses include:

  • ANTH 3161: Colonial Encounters in the Americas
  • ECON 4520: Seminar on Globalization
  • HIST 2535: Latin America and the United States
  • HIST 2700: The U.S. and the World
  • HIST 2710: The U.S. as a World Power
  • INDS 3831: Global Citizenship and Service
  • INDS 3832: Global Community Service
  • INDS 3833: Seminar in Global Citizenship and Service
  • JS 2450: The Jewish Diaspora
  • PSCI 2225: International Political Economy
  • PSCI 2236: The Politics of Global Inequality
  1. Interdisciplinary Requirement (6 credit hours)

Six credit hours from approved courses in at least two different interdisciplinary programs:

  1. Electives (12 credit hours)

Four courses pre-approved to form a study of concentration. See the list of approved elective courses.

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American Studies Minor

Like the major, the minor offers deep study of the United States by integrating a diversity of materials, themes, and approaches from many fields. It also encourages students to view the U.S. from international, cross-cultural, and comparativist perspectives. The program provides students with rigorous training in the methods of interdisciplinary work while also allowing them the flexibility to pursue their own intellectual interests and goals.

Requirements

The minor in American studies consists of 15 hours of course work.

  1. Core Requirements (6 credit hours)
  2. International Requirement (3 credit hours)
  3. Electives (6 credit hours)

 

  1. Core Requirements (6 credit hours)
  • AMER 1002: Introduction to American Studies (3 credit hours)
  • AMER 4000: Research Methods Workshop (3 credit hours)
  1. International Requirement (3 credit hours)

One of the following:

  • AMER 3200, Global Perspectives on the U.S. (3 credit hours)
  • A pre-approved course that explicitly addresses a global perspective on the U.S.; see sample courses above.
  1. Electives (6 credit hours)

Two pre-approved courses from the electives list to form a plan of concentration.

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Declaring Your Major or Minor

Complete two copies of the Major/Minor Declaration Form and take them to the American Studies office in Buttrick 132. The program administrator will sign off on your form and assign you an adviser.

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