American Studies (BA)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Offered by the Department of Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies , College of Arts and Sciences .

The American Studies program at American University examines American institutions, cultures, and society, while also inviting students to engage in community research and service in Washington DC and the metropolitan area.

American Studies at American University is interdisciplinary. That means our program gives students the freedom to take core classes in American Studies as well as electives in history, literature, cultural studies, politics, and the social sciences.

Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major requires a grade point average of 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale) in two courses related to the major.

University Requirements

120 credit hours with minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 2 )
Completion of all requirements for a major (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 9 )

AU Core Requirements

Completion of AU Core foundation requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.2-8.6 )
Completion of AU Core Habits of Mind requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.7 )
Completion of AU Core integrative course requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.8-8.11 )

For additional information, see AU Core Curriculum .

Major Requirements

39 credit hours with grades of C or better, including 21 credit hours at or above 300-level

Course Requirements

Foundation (3 credit hours)

AMST-200 American Dreams/American Lives (3)

Second Foundation (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

American Studies Concentration (12 credit hours)

Complete 12 credit hours, with at least 6 credit hours at or above 300-level, from the following:

Community-Based Learning Experience (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following with course type Community-Based Learning, or other courses approved by director:

AMST-340 Community Activism and Regional Studies (3) : The Latino Community of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area (3)
AMST-491 Internship in American Studies (1-6) (3 credits required)

Capstone (6 credit hours)

AMST-400 Interpreting American Culture (3)
3 credit hours CRGC senior capstone

Electives (12 credit hours)

12 credit hours, with 6 credit hours at or above 300-level, with no more than 6 credit hours in a single discipline, in the Humanities and Social Sciences focusing on Washington, DC, the United States, the Americas, or the Americas and the world

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Admission to a Combined Bachelor’s / Master’s Program and Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for more information.