BA American Studies

The program in American Studies has as its focus the cultures, institutions, arts, structure, and social processes of the United States. It emphasizes interdisciplinary work which integrates disciplinary perspectives. Students choose two broad areas within which to work.

Each student designs his or her own program, within specific guidelines, in consultation with a faculty advisor. The courses a student takes as part of the American Studies program may be given in any school within the university, but will include American Studies courses and appropriate Interdisciplinary Studies courses. A list of courses which apply to the American Studies degree and updated lists may be obtained in the Academic Advising offices. Double majors including American Studies are available.

Bachelor of Arts in American Studies Degree Requirements (120 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements¹: 42 hours
    A. Communication (6 hours)
        3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
        3 hours Communication Elective (BIS 3320)
    B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
        6 hours Government (GOVT 2301 and 2302)
        6 hours History (HIST 1301 and 2301)
        3 hours Social and Behavior Sciences Elective
    C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
        3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
        3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
    D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
        3 hours College Algebra (MATH 1300, 1306 or MATH 1314)
        3 hours Statistics (STAT 1342 or PSY 2317)
    E. Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)

¹ Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 48 hours
    Major Core Courses (12 hours)
        AMS 3302 American Cultures
        BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry²
        Two of the following courses:
            GOVT 3325 American Public Policy
            GOVT 3327 United States Foreign Policy
            HIST 3368 Slavery and Race Relations in the United States
            HIST 3369 United States Foreign Relations
    Major Related Courses (36 hours)
        In addition to the core requirements, students will take 18 semester credit hours of course
        work in each of two of the following disciplinary options, for a total of 36 hours:
          1.  The American Body Politic
          2.  Americans Past and Present
          3.  America and the World Community
          4.  American Business and Technology
          5.  American Literature and the Arts
          6.  Popular Culture

² A required Major course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. An additional IS course will be taken if BIS 3320 is used to satisfy the Core Curriculum Communication Elective requirement.

III. Elective Requirements: 30 hours
    Advanced Electives (6 hours)
    Free Electives (24 hours)
        Students must complete 51 hours of upper-division course work to graduate.

Minor in American Studies

The American Studies minor is 18 semester hours. AMS 3302 and BIS 3320 are required in addition to four other approved American Studies courses chosen from AMS 3300, AMS 3370, AMS 3374, AMS 4378, AMS 4379, AMS 4384 and ISGS 4338. Students pursuing a degree in American Studies may incorporate a minor from another discipline in their degree program.