Requirements
Students will usually declare their major in their sophomore year. Students are expected to develop an individual plan of study by the end of their sophomore year. Several clusters of courses in the fields of film, the environment, family, race and ethnicity, journalism, and law are available to satisfy elective requirements. Seniors wishing to earn departmental honors must write a thesis in a full-year course, AMST 99d, taken with one of the faculty members in the department. Special opportunities can be provided for supervised fieldwork and internships. Many majors study abroad in their junior year to gain a cross-cultural perspective.
Requirements for Major
A. AMST 10a (Foundations of American Civilization). Normally students will take 10a in their sophomore year and no later than the spring term of their junior year.
B. AMST 100a (Classic Texts in American Culture to 1900). Normally, students will take 100a in their sophomore year and no later than in their junior year.
C. AMST 100b (Twentieth Century American Culture). After completing 100a, with a minimal grade of C-, students must take 100b, normally in their junior or senior year.
D. Six (6) semester courses in American studies, chosen either from within the department or from other departments, with departmental approval.
E. To be eligible for departmental honors, seniors must enroll in AMST 99d (Senior Research) and participate in a year long honors colloquium. AMST 99d does not satisfy other departmental requirements.
F. Not more than two courses satisfying a second major may be offered to complete the American Studies major.
G. No course, whether required or elective, for which a student receives a grade below C- may be counted toward the major.