Prerequisite
In order to declare the American Studies major, students should complete at least one American Studies (AMST) course at the Unviersity of Virginia with a grade of C or better.
Major Requirements
The American Studies major requires 10 courses (30 credits) completed with a grade of C or better.
- One introductory course in American Studies (3 credits)
- Eight electives in American Studies (24 credits)
- One 4000-level seminar in American Studies (3 credits)
One introductory course in American Studies (3 credits)
Majors begin by taking a 3-credit introductory course that introduces students to the field, its history, and the wide variety of potential areas of study within the major. This requirement ensures that students have a firm grounding in the field of American Studies and in the cultures and histories of the United States and the Americas. Students should take at least one of these courses no later than the semester after declaring their major.
They may fulfill this requirement with any of the following courses:
- AMST 2001 - Introduction to American Studies (3 credits)
- This large lecture course meets in the fall semester, co-taught by two faculty members. It introduces students to multiple methods of analysis (historical analysis, close reading, and fieldwork) and a variety of cultural and media forms.
- AMST 2002 - Foundations of American Studies (3 credits)
This smaller lecture course, which meets in the spring semester, introduces students to the methods and history of the field through a closer examination of writing and scholarship on a specific topic.
- AMST 2003 - Global American Studies (3 credits)
This course introduces the field and methods of American Studies by exploring the interactions between the United States and the rest of the world.
Eight elective courses (24 credits)
In consultation with their faculty advisor, students choose among a wide range of electives offered by the department, which allows them to more thoroughly explore past and present scholarly currents and an array of theoretical and methodological approaches within the field.
AMST-coded course requirement
- At least 6 of the 8 electives (18 of 24 credits) must be AMST courses (or their crosslisted equivalents)
This requirement helps build a sense of community among majors and exposes them to a wide range of American Studies theories, methods, approaches, and topics.
Outside electives
- Up to 2 non-AMST electives may be taken from a list of approved courses maintained by the department
To enable students to pursue their interests with subjects not offered within the department, students may take up to two courses (6 credits) from a list of courses from other programs that have been approved by the faculty of the department as aligning with the approaches and objectives of American Studies. Please consult the department’s website for the most up-to-date list of outside electives.
If a student believes that a specific course outside the department should count towards their American Studies major, but that course is not currently listed by the department as an outside elective, they may discuss the course with their major advisor. With the advisor’s approval, the student may submit the course to the DUP for consideration by the department.
3000-level course requirement
- At least 5 of the 8 electives (15 of 24 credits) must be at the 3000-level or above.
One seminar in American Studies (3 credits)
- Any AMST course at the 4000 level
To graduate with an American Studies major, students will have completed at least one 4000-level seminar in the department as a capstone experience, whose final product is either an independent research project or another output that requires comparable intellectual work. Independent study courses (AMST 4993) and the DMP seminar (AMST 4999) do not fulfill the seminar requirement.