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2023-2024 General Catalog 
    
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American Studies - BA, BS


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For more information about American Studies, see the American Studies 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 log on to Degree Works  to check student-specific program progress.

 

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: The highest math requirement for this degree is a Quantitative Literacy (QL)  course of the 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    
Any Quantitative Literacy (QL)  course, but STAT 1040  or STAT 1045  are recommended. 3   ENGL 2630 - Introduction to American Studies (BHU)   3    
Breadth Requirement 3   Breadth Requirement 3  
Breadth Requirement 3   Breadth Requirement 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  
ENGL 2640 - Race and Ethnicity in the United States (BHU)   3     American Arts/Media/Communication Course 3  
American History/Government Course 3   American Environmental Studies Course 3  
American Social Sciences 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 Studies Capstone Course (CI)   
ENGL 4900 - Internship/Cooperative Work Experience   1-15   3 credits required Communications Intensive (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 BA/BS

Minimum GPA for Admission: 2.50, major; 2.50, USU; 2.50, overall

Minimum GPA for Graduation: 2.50, major courses; 2.0, USU; 2.0, overall

Minimum Grade Accepted: C in major courses (courses may not be taken on a pass/fail basis, except ENGL 4900 )

To obtain a degree in American Studies, students must complete a total of 42 credits for the major. These include 6 credits of required core courses (ENGL 2630  and ENGL 2640 ), 15 credits distributed across five disciplinary areas, 15 credits of upper-division courses, 3 credits of internship, and 3 credits for a capstone course ( TCR 4250 ). 

The American Studies final course, a senior capstone ( TCR 4250 ), encourages graduating students to assess their coursework and set specific career goals. 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.

Students cannot use the same class to meet more than one requirement in the 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


C. Foundation Requirements


Double-counting: Courses cannot be double-counted. One course cannot be used to fulfill more than one Required Core, Disciplinary Area Exploration, or Upper-Division Focus Requirement.

Note: Some classes listed do not specifically note American content in the class title and the content must be approved by the program advisor for the class to be used toward the requirements. Please see advisor for courses that fall under this category.

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 Literature and Folklore:

American Social Sciences:

American Arts, Media and Communication Studies:

2. Upper-Division Focus Requirements (15 credits)


Choose five 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:

3. Internship (3 credits)


4. Capstone Course (3 credits)


American Studies majors must take an approved three credit upper-division American Studies capstone course. The director of the American Studies program will provide a list of approved capstone courses each semester.

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