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 that 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)¹

I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours²

Communication: 6 semester credit hours

COMM 1311 Survey of Oral and Technology-based Communication

RHET 1302 Rhetoric

Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours

One of the following:

MATH 1306 College Algebra for the Non-Scientist

MATH 1314 College Algebra

Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours

Two of the following:

ISIS 2305 Humans: Our Place in Nature

ISIS 2308 Bones, Bodies, and Disease

ISNS 2359 Earthquakes and Volcanoes

ISNS 2367 The Oceans

ISNS 2368 Weather and Climate

Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences core courses

Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours

One of the following:

AMS 2300 American Popular Culture

AMS 2341 American Studies for the Twenty-First Century

HUMA 1301 Exploration of the Humanities

PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy

Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture core courses

Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours

One of the following:

AHST 2331 Understanding Art

ARTS 1301 Exploration of the Arts

DRAM 1310 Understanding Theater

FILM 2332 Understanding Film

Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts core courses

American History: 6 semester credit hours

Two of the following:

HIST 1301 U.S. History Survey to Civil War

HIST 1302 U.S. History Survey from Civil War

HIST 2301 History of Texas

Government / Political Science: 6 semester credit hours

GOVT 2305 American National Government

GOVT 2306 State and Local Government

Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours

One of the following:

CLDP 2314 Lifespan Development or PSY 2314 Lifespan Development

CRIM 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice

GST 2300 Introduction to Gender Studies

SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology

There are other core courses to choose from. Students are strongly encouraged to take a core course that is closely related to their options and career goals.

Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours

Students are strongly encouraged to take two Component Area Option courses that are closely related to their options and career goals.

II. Major Requirements: 48 semester credit hours

Major Core Courses: 12 semester credit hours

AMS 3302 American Cultures

or AMS 2341 American Studies for the Twenty-First Century

BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry

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: Two Options 36 semester credit hours

In addition to the major core courses, students will take 18 semester credit hours of coursework in each of two of the following disciplinary options, for a total of 36 semester credit 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: 30 semester credit hours

Required for all freshmen: 1 semester credit hour

UNIV 1010 Freshman Seminar

BIS 1100 Interdisciplinary Studies Freshman Seminar

Free Electives: 29 semester credit hours

Students must complete 51 semester credit hours of upper-division coursework to graduate. They must complete a minimum of 45 semester credit hours at UT Dallas. In the final semester, all the coursework should be taken at UT Dallas.

Honors in American Studies

GPA (grade point average): 3.900 cumulative GPA, 3.900 GPA in courses described below, and a total of 27 or 30 upper-division UT Dallas semester credit hours as described below. (The variation is determined by whether or not (AMS 3302) or (AMS 2341) is chosen). The total semester credit hours must be 30.

Required courses: 24 semester credit hours

AMS 3302 American Cultures (3 semester credit hours)

or AMS 2341 American Studies for the Twenty-First Century (3 semester credit hours)

BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry (3 semester credit hours)

Two of HIST 3369, PSCI 3325, PSCI 3327 or other courses on American history or American government approved by the academic advisor (6 semester credit hours)

Core Course of first chosen option area (3 semester credit hours)

Core Course of second chosen option area (3 semester credit hours)

One approved AMS course from option area 1 (3 semester credit hours)

One approved course from option area 2 (3 semester credit hours)

Prescribed courses: 6 semester credit hours

6 semester credit hours of Internship

or 3 semester credit hours of Internship and one approved three semester credit hour course from option area 1 or 2

Notation on Transcript: Honors in Major

1. Incoming freshmen must complete and pass UNIV 1010 Freshman Seminar and the corresponding school-related freshman seminar course. Students, including transfer students, who complete their core curriculum at UT Dallas must take UNIV 2020.

2. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.