New major (fall 2026) vs. previous major

Old major

New major

Degree offered

Interdisciplinary BA in American Studies

Interdisciplinary BA in American Studies

Total courses

10 (30 credits)

10 (30 credits)

Prerequisite for declaring the major

Any college-level course about US history or culture

Any AMST-coded or AMST-cross-listed course at UVA

Required intro course for all majors

AMST 2001, “Intro to American Studies,” offered every fall

One of the following three courses:

Offered in the fall:

• AMST 2001, “Intro to American Studies” 

Offered in the spring:

• AMST 2002, “Foundations of American Studies”
• AMST 2003, “Global American Studies”

Seminar requirement

One 4000-level seminar

One 4000-level seminar

Required course for declared majors

AMST 3001, “Theories and Methods of American Studies”

None

Distribution requirements

One course each from three categories: “race & ethnicity,” “transnational/regional,” and “historical approaches” 

None

AMST-coded electives required

2

6

Non-AMST electives allowed from an approved list

5

2

Total AMST-coded credits required

15

24

Electives required at the 3000 level

4 

5

Concentrations

Not offered

Optional: 3 courses in one area, designed by a group of faculty

Distinguished major program

Independent study in the fall + AMST 4999 DMP seminar in the spring

Independent study in the fall + AMST 4999 DMP seminar in the spring