May 05, 2024  
2015-2016 General Catalog 
    
2015-2016 General Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

American Studies - BA, BS


College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of English

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  • For more information about American Studies, see the English Department website.
  • Following is a sample four-year plan. Please note that student-specific plans may differ.
  • Admitted students must meet with an academic advisor. Current students should also meet with their academic advisor and logon to DegreeWorks  to check student-specific program progress.

Bachelor of Science Degree

Students desiring a (BS) Bachelor of Science degree must complete all requirements listed in the sample four-year plan below:

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Students desiring a (BA) Bachelor of Arts degree must complete the language proficiency requirements in one of the following ways:     * (in addition to the (BS) Bachelor of Science degree requirements)

  • Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent)  OR
  • Demonstration of proficiency in American Sign Language by successful completion of American Sign Language IV (COMD 4920) and Socio-Cultural Aspects of Deafness (COMD 4780), and by passing an exit interview  OR
  • Demonstration of proficiency in two foreign languages by successful completion of the 1020 course level in one language and the 2010 course level in the second language (or its equivalent)  OR
  • Completion of an upper-division (3000-level or higher) foreign language grammar or literature course requiring the 2020 course level (or its equivalent) as a prerequisite. Conversation courses cannot be considered for satisfying this requirement.
     

For nonnative English-speaking students only, the following options are available:

  • Successful completion of the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) program for international students  OR
  • TOEFL, Michigan, or IELI placement scores high enough to meet the University admission criteria.

 

Minimum University Requirements

Total Credits 120

 

Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)

2.00 GPA
Credits of C- or better 100 Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above) 40
Total USU Credits 30 Upper-division USU Credits 20
USU Credits within the Major 10 Credits in Minor (if required) 12
Credits in Major see below Credits in American Institutions 3
General Education Requirements   see link University Studies Depth Requirements   see link
NOTES:  highest Math Requirement for this degree is Quantitative Literacy (QL)  course of student’s choice

 

Admissions Requirements for this Program

New freshmen Admitted to USU in Good Standing

 

Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU 2.50 GPA

First Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

ENGL 1010: Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose (CL1)   3     ENGL 2010: Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode (CL2)   3    
Quantitative Literacy (QL)   3   Breadth Requirement 3  
Breadth Requirement 3   Breadth Requirement 3  
Breadth Requirement 3   ENGL 2630: Survey of American Culture (BHU)   3    
Breadth Requirement 3   Elective Course 3  
TOTAL CREDITS: 15   TOTAL CREDITS: 15  

Comments

 

Comments

Second Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

Breadth Requirement 3   American Literature/Folklore Course 3  
American History/Goverment Course 3   American Arts/Media Course 3  
American Social Science Course 3   American Environmental Science Course 3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
TOTAL CREDITS: 15   TOTAL CREDITS: 15  

Comments

 

Comments

 

Third Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

American Focus Upper Division Course 3   American Focus Upper Division Course 3  
American Focus Upper Division Course 3   American Focus Upper Division Course 3  
Communications Intensive (CI)   3   Quantitative Intensive (QI)   3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course  3  
Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
TOTAL CREDITS: 15   TOTAL CREDITS: 15  

Comments

 

Comments

 

Fourth Year

 Fall Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

 

Spring Semester

Credits

General Education Info and Notes:

American Focus Upper Division Course 3   American Focus Upper Division Course  3  
American Studies Internship 3   ENGL 5430: Professional Writing Capstone (CI)   3  
Depth Social Sciences (DSS)   3   Depth Life and Physical Sciences (DSC)   3  
Upper Division Elective Course  3   Upper Division Elective Course 3  
Upper Division Elective Course 3   Elective Course 3  
TOTAL CREDITS: 15   TOTAL CREDITS: 15  

Comments

 

Comments

 

 

American Studies BS/BA


Minimum GPA for Admission: 2.50, major; 2.50, USU; 2.50, Career
Minimum GPA for Graduation: 2.50, major courses; 2.0, USU; 2.0, Career
Minimum Grade Accepted: C in major courses

To obtain a degree in American Studies, students must complete a total of 40 credits for major and 18 credits in a required minor.  These include 3 credits of a foundation course (ENGL 2630), 15 credits distributed across five disciplinary areas, 18 credits of upper-division courses, 1-3 credits of internship, and 3 credits for a capstone course (ENGL 5340).

The American Studies final course, a senior capstone, encourages graduating students to assess their coursework and set specific career goals, post-graduation.  Students will compile a professional portfolio of their work, research job opportunities, and write a resume and cover letter.  In doing so, this course will help them present their American Studies coursework and skill set in ways that will prepare them for the job market or for graduate study.

In addition to completing the required English and history classes, students must complete a required minor or equivalent (minimum of 18 hours).

Students cannot use the same class to meet more than one requirement in American Studies major.

Credits in Residence

Students must complete 21 credits of major-applicable coursework at Utah State University.

Course Requirements


A. Required Core Course (3 credits)


B. Foundation Requirements


1. Disciplinary Area Exploration (15 credits)

Choose five courses, one from each of the following disciplinary areas:  1) American History and Government, 2) American Literature and Folklore, 3) American Social Sciences, 4) American Environmental Studies, and 5) American Art, Media, and Communication Studies. Courses fulfilling the requirement in each discipline are listed below.

American History and Government:

American Arts, Media, and Communication Studies:

2. Upper Division Focus Requirements (18 credits)

Choose six additional courses from any of the disciplinary areas listed above, with strong encouragement to focus these courses in a single disciplinary area. Any of the courses listed above can satisfy this requirement, as long as they are at the 3000 level or higher.

At this level, American Studies students also have the option of choosing from the following additional courses if they would like to pursue a focus in writing. These courses all require approval from the director of American Studies to ensure an American-thematic focus:

3. Internship (1-3 credits)

All American Studies majors must complete an internship as part of their degree program.  When completing their internship, students must register for ENGL 4900: Internship/Cooperative Work Experience.

4. Capstone Seminar (required for all majors):

  • 3 Credits:
  •  

    Note:

    Courses cannot be double-counted. For instance, a student may use ENGL/HIST 3700 (Regional Folklore) to fulfill only one of the following requirements: the American History and Government disciplinary area course or the American Literature and Folklore disciplinary area course. This one course cannot fulfill the requirement for a course in both disciplinary areas.