Major Requirements
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
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 200/POLS 200 | Democratic Socialism, American Style | 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 |
| BLST 110 | Introduction to Black Studies | 4 units |
| CTSJ 232 | Introduction to Cultural Studies | 4 units |
| HIST 312/BLST 312 | Race, Rights, and Revolution in the Atlantic World | 4 units |
| LLAS 385/PSYC 385 | Chicanx Identities and Social Institutions: Education, Health, Politics | 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 |