American Studies: American Studies Option, B.A.

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This major is administered by the College of Letters and Science.

This major is a Multidisciplinary major.

Consists of a minimum of 37 credits. Note that prerequisites for some courses may increase the number of credits needed.

The American Studies Major satisfies the Interdisciplinary Studies GEP requirement. For more information, see the GEP section of the Catalog.

Foundation requirements, 15 credits.

Take 5 of these 6 courses:

ENGL 213 - American Literature I 3 cr.
ENGL 214 - American Literature II 3 cr.
HIST 176 - United States to 1877 3 cr.
HIST 177 - United States Since 1877 3 cr.
MUS 105 - Survey of Jazz History 3 cr.
POLI 101 - American Politics 3 cr.

Core requirements, 9 credits.

Take at least one course in each category.

Institutions

ECON 311 - Public Economics 3 cr.
ECON 315 - Business and Government 3 cr.
POLI 310 - American Presidency 3 cr.
POLI 320 - Legislative Process 3 cr.
POLI 391 - American Political Thought 3 cr.
SOC 300 - The American Community 2 or 3 cr.
SOC 327 - Social Inequality 3 cr.
ECON 328 - Poverty, Welfare, Social Insurance 3 cr.

Culture

ENGL 313 - American Novel 3 cr. (a) or (b)
ENGL 360 - Regional Literature (American) 3 cr.
HIST 386 - Colonial America 3 cr.
HIST 387 - Revolutionary America 3 cr.
HIST 388 - The Civil War Era 3 cr.
HIST 395 - Topics in United States History 3 cr. (may be repeated with appropriate American Studies subtitles for 9 credits maximum).

Electives, 9 credits

9 credits from the list below. You may NOT count courses already taken for the Core requirements above.

AMST 395 - Topics in American Studies 1-3 cr.
AMST 397 - Internship in American Studies 1-3 cr.
ANTH 339 - Native Cultures of North America 3 cr.
ART 390 - American Art I: Colonial through Mid-19th Century 3 cr.
ART 391 - American Art II: Late 19th and early 20th Century 3 cr.
DNCE 352 - Dance History 3 cr.
ECON 311 - Public Economics 3 cr.
ECON 315 - Business and Government 3 cr.
ECON 374 - Regional Economic Growth 3 cr.
ENGL 313 - American Novel 3 cr. (a) or (b)
ENGL 320 - American Realism and Naturalism 3 cr.
ENGL 329 - The American Renaissance 3 cr.
ENGL 360 - Regional Literature (American) 3 cr.
HIST 280 - American Environmental History 3 cr.
HIST 285 - Women in American History 3 cr.
HIST 288 - Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States 3 cr.
HIST 289 - African American History to 1877 3 cr.
HIST 290 - African American History since 1877 3 cr.
HIST 291 - Latino American History 3 cr.
HIST 292 - Native American History 3 cr.
HIST 295 - Topics in United States History 3 cr.
HIST 302 - War and Propaganda in the 20th Century 3 cr.
HIST 377 - U.S. Foreign Relations 1750-1914 3 cr.
HIST 378 - U.S. Foreign Relations 1914 to Present 3 cr.
HIST 380 - The Environmental Movement 3 cr.
HIST 384 - Women’s Rights and Feminism in the United States 3 cr.
HIST 386 - Colonial America 3 cr.
HIST 387 - Revolutionary America 3 cr.
HIST 388 - The Civil War Era 3 cr.
HIST 392 - Native American Forestry 3 cr.
HIST 393 - Wisconsin Indians 3 cr.
HIST 395 - Topics in United States History 3 cr. (may be repeated with appropriate American Studies subtitle for 9 credits maximum)
POLI 306 - Health Politics and Policies 3 cr.
POLI 307 - Politics and the Media 3 cr.
POLI 308 - Public Opinion 3 cr.
POLI 310 - American Presidency 3 cr.
POLI 315 - Minority Group Politics 3 cr.
POLI 316 - Parties and Elections 3 cr.
POLI 320 - Legislative Process 3 cr.
POLI 330 - Constitutional Law 3 cr.
POLI 331 - Constitutional Law: Special Topics 3 cr.
POLI 334 - Courts and Public Policy 3 cr.
POLI 341 - Urban Politics 3 cr.
POLI 383 - U.S. Foreign Policy 3 cr.
POLI 391 - American Political Thought 3 cr.
REL 302 - Religion and Cultural Conflict 3 cr.
REL 311 - American Religious History 3 cr.
SOC 300 - The American Community 2 or 3 cr.
SOC 327 - Social Inequality 3 cr.
ECON 328 - Poverty, Welfare, Social Insurance 3 cr.
SOC 364 - Social Services in Native American Communities 3 cr.
SOC 366 - Sociology of Aging 3 cr.
THEA 361 - Survey of Musical Theatre I 3 cr.
THEA 362 - Survey of Musical Theatre II 3 cr.

World Language Courses, 8 credits

Complete a two-semester sequence of university entry-level world language courses (101, 102). The requirement may be fulfilled through equivalent coursework or other language acquisition as demonstrated through a test-out policy (including Native American languages and American Sign Language). If your native language is not English and you can document formal high school or university study of your native language, you may use ENGL 101 and ENGL 202 , or ENGL 150 as a means of fulfilling this world language requirement. Please see the Department of World Languages and Literatures for details.

Electives

To meet the 40 credit upper-level requirement and the 120 credit minimum for graduation, you may select courses from any area that will add to your educational goals.

Communication in the Major

3 credits from:

AMST 300 - America in the Age of Information 3 cr. or
CIS 300 - America in the Age of Information 3 cr.
AMST 395 - Topics in American Studies 1-3 cr. (with appropriate subtitles)
ENGL 351 - Advanced Business Writing 3 cr.
MUS 329 - American Music 3 cr.

Capstone Experience

AMST 399 - Independent Study for Senior Experience 1 cr.