School of Interdisciplinary Studies
American Studies (B.A.)
The program in American Studies has as its focus the 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.
American Studies graduates work in business, non-profit organizations, and media and culture industries. The B.A. in American Studies is also an excellent preparation for law school or graduate school. Each student designs his or her own program within specific guidelines and 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 may be obtained from the academic advisors in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies. Double majors including American Studies are encouraged.
Bachelor of Arts in American Studies
Degree Requirements (120 hours)
I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours
Communication (6 hours)
3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
3 hours Communication Elective (BIS 3320)2, 3
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
Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
3 hours Humanities (AMS 2341)2
Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
3 hours College Algebra (MATH 1306 or MATH 1314)2
3 hours Statistics (STAT 1342 or PSY 2317)
Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
II. Major Requirements: 54 hours4 (42 hours beyond the Core Curriculum)
Major Preparatory Courses (6 hours)
One of the following:
MATH 1306 College Algebra for the Non-Scientist2
One of the following:
PSY 2317 Statistics for Psychology2
or STAT 1342 Statistical Decision Making2
Major Core Courses (12 hours)
AMS 3302 American Cultures
or AMS 2341 American Studies for the Twenty-First Century2(at the lower division)
BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry2, 3
Two of the following courses:
HIST 3369 United States Foreign Relations
PSCI 3325 American Public Policy
PSCI 3327 American Foreign Policy
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:
The American Body Politic
Americans Past and Present
America and the World Community
American Business and Technology
American Literature and the Arts
Popular Culture
III. Elective Requirements: 36 hours
Advanced Electives (6 hours)
Guided Elective (1 hour)
Free Electives (29 hours)
Students must complete 51 hours of upper-division course work to graduate of which 21 upper level hours have to be taken at UTD.
Honors in American Studies
GPA: 3.900 cumulative GPA, 3.900 GPA in courses described below, and a total of 27 or 30 upper level UTD hours as described below. (The variation is determined by whether or not (AMS 3302) or (AMS 2341) is chosen). The total hours must be 30.
Required courses:
AMS 3302 American Cultures
or AMS 2341 American Studies for Twenty-First Century (3 hours)
BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry (3 hours)
Two of HIST 3369, PSCI 3325 or PSCI 3327 (6 hours)
Core Course of first chosen option area (3 hours)
Core Course of second chosen option area (3 hours)
One approved AMS course from option area 1 (3 hours)
One approved course from option area 2 (3 hours)
Options: (6 hours)
6 hours of Internship
3 hours of Internship and one approved three hour course from option area 1 or 2
Notation on Transcript: Honors in Major
1. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parentheses are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
2. A required Major course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement.
3. An additional IS course will be taken if BIS 3320 is used to satisfy the Core Curriculum Communication Elective requirement.
4. It will be 42 hours if MATH 1314, STAT 1342, BIS 3320 and AMS 2341 are taken as part of the students' core curriculum requirements.