The American Studies major consists of a minimum of 10 courses (40 units). Students must complete five required courses: one introductory course in U.S. History; one introductory course in U.S. literature; one course on theory and methods (AMST 290); junior seminar (AMST 390) or approved 300-level AMST course; and the capstone senior seminar (AMST 490). In addition to these courses, students will take five electives. These will consist of two courses from each of the two thematic clusters ("cultural productions" and "historical perspectives"); and one additional elective.
REQUIRED COURSEWORK
Introduction to History
Choose one of the following:
| HIST 101 | United States Culture and Society I | 4 units |
| Or | |
| HIST 102 | United States Culture and Society II | 4 units |
American Literature Survey
Choose one of the following:
| ENGL 189 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
| Or | |
| ENGL 289 | The American Experience in Literature | 4 units |
Theory and Methodology
The majority of students will fulfill this requirement by completing both AMST 290 and AMST 490. In rare circumstances, a student may substitute a theory and methodology course from another department for AMST 290 in consultation with their advisor and with approval from the chair of AMST.
| AMST 290 | American Studies Theory and Methodology | 4 units |
| AMST 490 | Senior Seminar | 4 units |
Junior Seminar
In lieu of taking AMST 390, students may take a 300-level AMST course from the list of courses below:
| AMST 310 | The American South | 4 units |
| AMST 320 | Graphic Narratives: From Pulp Fiction to Comix Literature | 4 units |
| AMST 325/BLST 325 | Toni Morrison and African-American Self-Fashioning | 4 units |
| AMST 346/ENGL 346 | Beautiful Democracy: 19th Century African American Literature | 4 units |
| AMST 376/BLST 376 | Slavery, Freedom, and American Memory | 4 units |
Cultural Productions
Students must select two courses from the list below:
Historical Perspectives
Students must select two courses from the list below:
Additional Electives
Students must take one additional elective chosen either from the list of approved electives below, or one of the thematic clusters above.
| AMST 101 | United States Redux: Introduction to American Studies | 4 units |
| AMST 295 | Topics in American Studies | 4 units |
| AMST 296/DWA 287 | Transnational Liberation: Black Radical Thought in the Middle East and North Africa | 4 units |
| AMST 375/PSYC 375 | Sociopolitics of Race: Color-blind/Color-insight | 4 units |
| HIST 312 | Race, Rights, and Revolution in the Atlantic World | 4 units |
| HIST 395 | Special Topics in History | 4 units |
| LLAS 385/PSYC 385 | Chicanx in Contemporary United States Society | 4 units |
| POLS 208 | Movements for Social Justice | 4 units |
| RELS 245/BLST 245 | African American Religious Traditions | 4 units |
| RELS 347 | Religious Liberty and the Law | 4 units |
SECOND-STAGE WRITING REQUIREMENT
The majority of students majoring in American Studies will satisfy the second-stage writing requirement by successfully completing AMST 390 with a B- or better.
Alternatively, a student may complete the Second Stage Writing Requirement in American Studies by taking one of the following courses and receiving a grade of B- or better, determined by the instructor of record, on a 15-page final paper.
| AMST 310 | The American South | 4 units |
| AMST 320 | Graphic Narratives: From Pulp Fiction to Comix Literature | 4 units |
| AMST 325/BLST 325 | Toni Morrison and African-American Self-Fashioning | 4 units |
| AMST 346/ENGL 346 | Beautiful Democracy: 19th Century African American Literature | 4 units |
| AMST 376/BLST 376 | Slavery, Freedom, and American Memory | 4 units |
COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENT
Students fulfill the Senior Comprehensive Requirement by successful completion of a paper and a presentation on a topic in the student's area of emphasis, as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the senior seminar (AMST 490).
HONORS
Students meeting college requirements for honors may apply for admission to the program by submitting a written proposal for an honors thesis by October 1 of their senior year. Those accepted may register for honors independent study (AMST 499) during the fall or spring semester of the senior year; the thesis should be completed no later than the beginning of April of the senior year.
Honors coursework
In general it is expected that honors students will take both:
For further information see the Honors Program and the department chair.