Undergraduate Study
Planning Your Major in American Studies
Flexibility is our middle name! We offer 100-, 200- and 300-level courses in both semesters and double-coded summer school courses for those who want to dip their toe in the water and try American Studies or get the last 100- or 200-level points needed in order to graduate.
If you know from the start...
that you wish to major in American Studies – excellent choice – we recommend that you take full advantage of our 100-level papers as these provide a selective but comprehensive overview of key themes and problems in American culture.
To major in American Studies, we require that you be credited with AMST 215. This is our core paper for majors and provides students with a grounding in the subject which is pursued at greater intensity than is possible at 100 level. Students are introduced to a wide variety of key texts and to interdisciplinary methods.
For those not intending to go on and do a BA(Honours) or MA(Honours) degree, you may choose any 300-level courses in American Studies.
Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in
American Studies
Schedule 1
Schedule 2
Schedule 3
If you are in your second year of study...
and have decided to major in American Studies, no problem! You can take any of our 200-level courses provided you have at least a B average in four appropriate 100-level courses and provided you have the approval of the Programme Co-ordinator. You will need to be credited with AMST 215, our core paper for majors.
And even if you are enrolling for your third year of study...
It is possible to major in American Studies by taking AMST 215, the core paper for majors, and two 300-level courses in the same academic year. How? You need a B average in four appropriate 100-level courses to enrol in AMST 215 (if you don't have a 100-level AMST course) and a B average in appropriate Arts courses specifically at 200-level to enrol in our 300-level courses.
We recommend that you take at least one other 200-level course in American Studies, and why not make it your American Studies year and do some of our 100-level courses? This way, you will acquire a broader grounding in the subject from the many different perspectives we approach US society and culture.
So you want to do Honours in American Studies?
If you decide to proceed to postgraduate studies with us, we advise strongly that you enrol in AMST 327, our theories and methods course. This provides an invaluable grounding for our Honours courses. If you make your decision to go on to Honours towards the end of your final year of the BA, you have a second chance to enrol in our theories and methods course – as one of your four Honours courses.
Not all courses are on offer in any one year and some vary in which semester they are taught from one year to the next. So be sure to contact any of our staff, who are happy to explain our course requirements and help you plan your degree in American Studies.