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 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 that 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 semester credit hours)1
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: George W. Fair, Karen J. Prager, Lawrence J. Redlinger, Erin A. Smith
Professor of Instruction: Tonja Wissinger
Associate Professors of Instruction: Kathleen Byrnes, Patricia A. Leek
Assistant Professors of Instruction: Michele McNeel, Syed Naqvi, Neall Pogue, Azadeh Stark, Larissa Werhnyak
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
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following:
MATH 1306 College Algebra for the Non-Scientist3
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses (see advisor)
Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses
Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following:
AMS 2300 American Popular Culture
AMS 2341 American Studies for the Twenty-First Century3
HUMA 1301 Exploration of the Humanities
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses (see advisor)
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following:
ARTS 1301 Exploration of the Arts
FILM 2332 Understanding Film
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts Core courses (see advisor)
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Choose two courses from 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
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses (see advisor)
Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
GOVT 2305 American National Government
GOVT 2306 State and Local Government
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses (see advisor)
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
Choose one course from the following:
GST 2300 Introduction to Gender Studies
PSY 2301 Introduction to Psychology
SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses.4 (see advisor)
Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Option Core courses.4
II. Major Requirements: 48 semester credit hours
Major Core Courses: 12 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum
AMS 3327 American Studies: Histories, Theories, Methodologies
AMS 2341 American Studies for the Twenty-First Century3, 5
or AMS 2300 American Popular Culture3, 5
AMS 3302 American Cultures
BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry
MATH 1306 College Algebra for the Non-Scientist3
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 two of the following subject options, for a total of 36 semester credit hours. Each subject field must be interdisciplinary in nature and must include at least one course providing a historical focus.
American Medicine and Healthcare
American Popular Culture
Communication in 21st Century America
Environment and Community
Law, Legality, and Culture
Race and Ethnicity in American Society
The U. S. and the World
Women and the Workplace
III. Elective Requirements: 30 semester credit hours
Required for all freshmen: 1 semester credit hour
UNIV 1010 Comets to the Core Pre-Assessment
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
Students must fulfill the requirements for the major and earn at least a 3.900 cumulative GPA as well as a 3.9 GPA in courses used to complete the major. Additionally, students must devote six semester hours to a capstone project approved by the program head. This might consist of an internship, thesis, portfolio project, or upper-level research seminar (or some combination thereof).
Notation on Transcript: Honors in Major
1. Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of UNIV 1010 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.
3. A required Major Course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Semester credit hours are counted in the Core Curriculum.
4. Students are strongly encouraged to take core courses that are closely related to their foundations, concentrations, and career goals.
5. If a student has taken one of these options to fulfill core requirements, the other option must be taken to fulfill major requirements.