School of Interdisciplinary Studies
American Studies (BA)
The program in American Studies focuses on the study of the cultures, institutions, legal system, political structure, and social processes of the United States. It emphasizes an interdisciplinary perspective. Students choose two broad areas or options to study.
American Studies graduates work in business, culture industries, government, legal fields, media, non-profit organizations, and sports industries. The BA 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 an academic 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 Requirements: 42 hours1
Communication (6 hours)
3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
3 hours Communication Elective (BIS 3320)2, 3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
6 semester credit hours Government (GOVT 2301 and GOVT 2302)
6 hours History (HIST 1301 and HIST 2301)
3 hours Social and Behavioral 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 hours (42 hours beyond the Core Curriculum)4
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 Century (at the lower division)2
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
And other courses on American history or American government approved by the academic advisor.
Major Related Courses (36 hours)
In addition to the core requirements, students will take 18 semester credit hours of coursework in each of two of the following disciplinary options, for a total of 36 hours:
African American Culture
American Body Politic
American Economic System
American Legal System
American Past and Present
America and the World Community
American Business and Technology
American Literature and Arts
Gender Studies
Issues in Media and Communication
Latino/Latina Culture
Popular Culture
III. Elective Requirements: 36 hours
Guided Elective (1 hour)
BIS 1100 Interdisciplinary Studies Freshman Seminar
Free Electives (35 hours)
Students must complete 51 hours of upper-division coursework to graduate. They must complete a minimum of 45 hours at UT Dallas. In the final semester, all the coursework should be taken at UT Dallas.
Honors in American Studies
GPA: 3.900 cumulative GPA, 3.900 GPA in courses described below, and a total of 27 or 30 upper-division UT Dallas 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 the Twenty-First Century (3 hours)
BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry (3 hours)
Two of HIST 3369, PSCI 3325, PSCI 3327 or other courses on American history or American government approved by the academic advisor (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 ISIS 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.