American Studies, BA

Bachelor of Arts Degree Language Requirement

Bachelor of Arts Degree

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree signifies proficiency in one or more foreign languages. Specifically, the BA requirement may be completed in one of the following ways:

1. Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language by successful completion of one course at the 2020-level or higher (or its equivalent).
   Or
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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:

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

American Studies Major and Minor

Many key issues tied to the roots, development, and expression of American culture transcend the boundaries of traditional subject areas and are best explored from a variety of perspectives or disciplines. The American Studies major and minor provide students with the opportunity to integrate studies in various fields into a broader understanding of American culture and its antecedents. Although housed in the Department of English, the American Studies Program permits students to choose relevant courses for their cognate areas from a variety of participating departments throughout the University.

For admission and graduation, students must have and maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.75. All courses used to fulfill either the major or minor requirements must be taken on an A-B-C-D-F basis, and major or minor courses passed with less than a C grade must be repeated. However, up to 3 credits of internship credit, which is recorded as P/F, may be used to partially fulfill the major requirements. Transfer students are required to take at least 15 credits of major subject courses and 10 credits of minor subject courses in residence at USU.

American Studies BS/BA

Minimum GPA for Admission: 2.75, major; 2.75, USU; 2.75, Career
Minimum GPA for Graduation: 2.75, 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 51 credits, including 9 credits of core requirements that introduce foundations of American literature, region, and culture; 6 credits chosen from the 3000 or 4000 level that expose students to the diversity of American culture; and 12 credits of upper-division work (3000 or 4000 level) that allow students to approach American literature, history, and culture through various genres and historical periods.

In addition to completing the required English and history classes, students must complete 21 credits from two of the following seven cognate areas: creative writing, folklore, literature, history, nature and environment, political science, and sociology and anthropology. Students will be required to meet with either the director or the undergraduate advisor (contact HASS Advising, Taggart Student Center 302) to determine appropriate courses for the cognate areas.

The final course, a senior capstone, encourages graduating students to reflect on their overall coursework, synthesizing the perspectives they have gained about American culture in an extended research project reflecting their interdisciplinary academic experience.