Campuses:
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Twin Cities Campus
American Studies B.A.American Studies
College of Liberal Arts
American Studies is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of American Society. The program provides a broad, interdisciplinary approach to the study of critical issues to American society, with an emphasis on deep historical, cultural, and political understandings. Faculty in the program come from a range of fields and have varied expertise.
Students majoring in American Studies undertake a unique, interdisciplinary study of American society, gaining critical perspectives on past and contemporary issues and topics. They typically pursue their own interests within the very broad range of educational opportunities in the program. Courses offered by the department explore a wide range of topics, including popular culture, politics, migration, religion, history, race, gender, and sexuality, as well as important issues such as America's changing place in the world, foreign policy, the events of 9/11, and economic crises and inequality.
Majoring in American Studies provides an opportunity for students to pursue particular interests while gaining broad training in a variety of topics and interdisciplinary scholarship. The program of study provides opportunities for the development of writing, critical and creative thinking, and research skills, which culminate in the Senior Project. The Senior Seminar is a year-long course of study limited to graduating seniors in American Studies, giving a chance for undergraduates to work closely with the faculty member in developing and undertaking a major research project which serves as the capstone for the undergraduate program. This unique process allows students to use their skills and knowledge to conduct original research or creative work, which reflects their interests and expertise on a particular topic.
In addition, the Department of American Studies cooperates with the Departments of African-American and African Studies, American Indian Studies, Chicano & Latino Studies, and Asian American Studies, which makes it possible for students to concentrate their studies in one of those cultural areas.
American Studies provides a unique preparation for students interested in an interdisciplinary approach to a particular aspect of American society, while preparing them for careers or further graduate training. The program encourages service learning, internships, and partners with the Minnesota Historical Society to place undergraduates into working on and researching public history. Graduates are well prepared for work in the public and private sector, as well as nonprofit and non-governmental organizations. Current alumni work in a range of fields including education, non-profits, research, historical preservation, journalism, mass media, law, and medicine.
Transfer students interested in American Studies should contact the Department of American Studies to discuss previous coursework, transfer credits, and likely course of study at Minnesota. Students wishing to double major or minor should also contact the department about developing a course of study and graduation plan.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the
liberal education requirements.
Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
Students are required to complete 4 semester(s) of
any second language.
with a grade of C-, or better, or S, or demonstrate proficiency in the language(s) as defined by the department
or college.
CLA BA degrees require 4 semesters or the equivalent of a second language.
CLA degrees require students to complete 48 credits of upper division coursework taken at the 3xxx, 4xxx, or 5xxx level. Because of its interdisciplinary nature, this program is not held to the CLA requirement of 18 upper division credits outside the major.
All incoming CLA freshmen must complete the First Year Experience course sequence.
Students may earn a BA or a minor in American studies, but not both.
Preparatory Courses
Take 2 or more course(s) totaling 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
AMST 1012 - Migrants, Refugees, Citizens, and Exiles: The U.S. on an Immigrant Planet
[CIV]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 1401 - Comparative Genders and Sexualities
[DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 1511 - Americans Abroad: Rethinking Travel, Culture, & Empire
[GP, HIS]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 1905 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 1xxx
·
AMST 2011 - The United States since September 11
[CIV, HIS]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 2021 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 2031 - Chasing the American Dream: Economic Opportunity & Inequality in the U.S.
[DSJ, HIS]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 2xxx
·
AMST 1011 {Inactive}
[CIV]
(3.0 cr)
or
RELS 1011 {Inactive}
[CIV]
(3.0 cr)
Major Courses
Other courses may be approved by the director of undergraduate studies.
Take 7 or more course(s) totaling 21 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
AMST 3113W - Global Minnesota: Diversity in the 21st Century
[DSJ, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 3114 - America in International Perspective
[DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 3117 {Inactive}
[SOCS, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 3252W {Inactive}
[HIS, CIV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 3253W - American Popular Culture and Politics: 1940 to the Present
[HIS, CIV, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
AMST 3713 {Inactive}
[HIS, DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 3920 - Topics in American Studies
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 3993 - Directed Studies
(1.0-9.0 cr)
·
AMST 3xxx
·
AMST 4301 - Workers and Consumers in the Global Economy
[DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 4xxx
·
AMST 3001 - Contemporary Perspectives on Asian America
[DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
or
AAS 3001 - Contemporary Perspectives on Asian America
[DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 3003 - Public History
(3.0 cr)
or
AMIN 3001 - Public History
(3.0 cr)
or
HIST 3001 - Public History
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 3752 {Inactive}
[DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
or
CHIC 3752 {Inactive}
[DSJ]
(3.0 cr)
Proseminar Sequence
The senior project requirement is fulfilled by completing an original research project within a two semester proseminar led by an American Studies faculty member. The second semester is writing intensive and concludes with a public presentation. Students who chose to complete a senior project in another major still have to complete the AMST Proseminar Sequence.
Take exactly 2 course(s) totaling exactly 6 credit(s) from the following:
·
AMST 4961 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 4962W - Proseminar in American Studies
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
Upper Division Writing Intensive within the major
Students are required to take one upper division writing intensive course within the major. If that requirement has not been satisfied within the core major requirements, students must choose one course from the following list. Some of these courses may also fulfill other major requirements.
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
·
AMST 3113W - Global Minnesota: Diversity in the 21st Century
[DSJ, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 3252W {Inactive}
[HIS, CIV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
·
AMST 3253W - American Popular Culture and Politics: 1940 to the Present
[HIS, CIV, WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
AMST 4962W - Proseminar in American Studies
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
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Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -9.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AAS 3001/AmSt 3001 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AAS 3001/AmSt 3001 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3001/AmSt 3003/Hist 3001 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3001/AmSt 3003/Hist 3001 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmIn 3001/AmSt 3003/Hist 3001 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmSt 4101/GLBT 4101 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | AmSt 4101/GLBT 4101 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | OPT No Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | OPT No Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |