American Studies MAJOR Requirements

Total Required Credit Hours: 43 credit hours

The American Studies major requires 43 credit hours as follows.   Credits from internships conducted during the summer and the academic year and transfer credits will be recognized in appropriate categories.

American Studies Core Courses:   (10 credit hours)

Students are required to take the following core courses in American Studies.   Core courses introduce students to the study of culture from an interdisciplinary perspective and provide opportunities for critical analysis and individual research from a cultural perspective.

•  AMS 101 Introduction to American Studies (3)
•  AMS 201 Approaches to American Culture (3)
•  AMS 401 Senior Capstone Experience (4)

American Studies Distribution Requirement: (12 credit hours)

Students are required to take a total of 12 credit hours of courses approved by the Director, including at least one of the following departmental sequences.   The purpose of the distribution requirement is to allow students to take survey-level introductions (100 or 200 level courses) in a particular discipline that will provide content background for their particular area of focus in American studies.   Students should consider their specific area of interest in selecting survey courses for the distribution requirement.

•  ENG 141, 142, 143 Life and Thought in American Literature (3)(any two of these three)
•  HST 111, 112   Survey of American History (3)
•  AMS/REL 241   Religions of the American Peoples (4) and

• AMS/REL 241/341 Protestantism and the Development of American Culture (4)

All courses satisfying the Miami Plan Foundation Requirement of US Cultures can be used to fulfill remaining 6 credit hours for the distribution requirement. (For a list of US Cultures courses see Recommended Courses.) Other survey courses that could fulfill the remaining 6 credit hours include the following:

COM 205   American Film as Communication
ENG 144   Major American Authors
ENG 232   American Women Writers
HST 201   Technology, History, and Society
HST 221   African American History
HST 222   US Diplomatic History Since 1914
HST 250   History and Popular Culture
POL 141   American Political System

American Studies Topics:   (6 credit hours)

Students are required to take 6 credit hours at the upper level.   They may choose from AMS 310 or other upper-level courses (300-400 level) offered in conjunction with other departments and approved by the program director. See Recommended Courses for more information.

AMS Culture Focus:   (15 credit hours)

Students are required to take 15 credit hours of courses with American content, which together comprise a coherent focus in American cultural studies.   The student should attempt to select courses from two or more disciplines.   The program director will work with students to develop and area of focus.   The program director sends out a mailing prior to advance registration each semester with a listing of appropriate courses to be offered the following term. See courses for more information.