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The American Studies Major

Note: The information on this page is for students who declared a major in American Studies after June 1, 2007. For students who declared a major in American Studies prior to June 1, 2007, please see Major Requirements (Pre 6/1/07).

Professor R. Gordon Kelly is the Director of Undergraduate Studies

The Office of Undergraduate Studies

Note: The following information is for students who declared a major in American Studies after June 1, 2007. For students who declared a major in American Studies prior to June 1, 2007, please see Major Requirements (Pre 6/1/07).

Description & Requirements

The American Studies major is a 42 credit-hour interdisciplinary opportunity that provides the undergraduate with a solid foundation in the methods, topics and issues applicable to the investigation of American society. The major also provides flexibility by enabling undergraduates to pursue a supporting area such as English, history, sociology, social justice, Afro-American studies, women's studies, media studies, and comparative culture studies.

Requirements for the major:

The American Studies major requires a minimum of forty-two hours of coursework (14 courses), with a grade of C or higher in all courses, distributed as follows:

1) Foundation Courses: Twelve hours (four courses) at the 200-level.

Course requirements in this area are intended to provide a foundation in American Studies and the study of American culture and society in other disciplines. Courses taken for CORE may be double-counted towards the major.

• AMST 201 Introduction to American Studies
• AMST 200-level course (e.g. AMST 203, 204, 205, 207, etc.)
• Two courses, designated Americanist Foundation, from an approved list

2) Advanced Requirements: eighteen hours (six courses) at the 300/400-level in American Studies.

Course requirements in this area are intended to offer students the opportunity to explore selected topics in American Studies in greater depth and to apply what they have learned in their foundation courses.

• Amst 340 Introduction to History, Theory and Methods in American Studies
• Four 400-level AMST courses, of which one may be AMST 386 (Internship) or AMST 398 (Independent Study) or AMST 399 (Community-based American Studies) or AMST 388 (Honors Thesis)
• AMST 450 Seminar in American Studies. Students admitted to the departmental Honors program take AMST 388 (Honors Thesis) in lieu of AMST 450

3) Twelve hours (four courses) at the 300/400 level, taken outside of American Studies:

a) in an approved Focus Area; or

(b) from an approved Minor or Certificate program. Students with a second major may count twelve hours of upper-level credit in the second major toward the Focus Area requirement. The courses taken to fulfill this requirement reinforce the essential interdisciplinary nature of American Studies, offering students a range of options to connect their departmental coursework with related disciplines or fields. All courses fulfilling this requirement must be taken outside the Department of American Studies. Note: Students should not pursue a focus in a department or program that offers a relevant minor or certificate. An American Studies advisor must approve in advance courses offered to fulfill the Focus/Minor/Certificate requirement. Lists of approved Focus Areas, Minors, and Certificates can be obtained from the departmental office or found elsewhere on this Web site.

 

For further information, contact:

Professor R. Gordon Kelly
Director of Undergraduate Studies
1105 Holzapfel Hall
301-405-1354 (main office) or 301-405-1356 (direct)
rgkelly@umd.edu

Revised 8/16/09

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