AMSTU-BA - American Studies (BA)
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Program Overview
American Studies is an interdisciplinary undergraduate major that provides a rich and multifaceted understanding of American culture and society in all their complexity. Building on a foundation of core courses in history, politics, and society; literature, culture, and the arts; and race and ethnicity, students learn to analyze and interpret America’s past and present from multiple angles while also forging fresh and creative syntheses.
Beyond the core courses, students are expected to define and pursue their interests in interpreting essential dimensions of American life. Accordingly, each student designs a unique Thematic Concentration of at least five courses drawn from fields such as history, literature, art, communication, theater, political science, African American studies, feminist studies, economics, cultural and social anthropology, Asian American studies, religious studies, Chicana/o studies, law, sociology, education, Native American studies, music, and film. Whether defined broadly or narrowly, the thematic focus or concentration should examine its subject from the vantage of multiple disciplines. Examples of thematic concentrations can be found here.
Students will conclude the major by developing a capstone project either in the Senior Colloquium or, with program approval, by pursuing an honors research project during their senior year.
Because the American Studies major cultivates an extraordinary breadth of knowledge and awareness, as well as exceptionally deft critical thinking and innovative problem-solving skills, it serves as excellent preparation for a wide range of future pursuits, including further study in graduate or professional schools and careers in journalism, government, business, law, entertainment, public service, the arts, and other fields.
Students should be aware that not all courses are offered each year; students should consult Navigate Classes for scheduling information for the current academic year.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
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Majors must complete three courses in history, politics, and society, including at least two of the three courses from the American History survey sequence (i.e. 150A, 150B, 150C). Options for the third required history, politics, and society core course include — but are not limited to — courses listed here. Students should discuss alternatives with their program advisor.
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Note: For more course options, please refer to the American Studies website.
Majors must take at least three courses in literature, culture, and the arts, broadly understood. At least one of these courses should focus on American literature in the period before the Civil War, usually AMSTUD 150/ENGLISH 11B Introduction to English II: American Literature and Culture to 1855.
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Fulfilling the remaining two literature, culture, and the arts core courses include — but are not limited to — the following course options listed here. Students should discuss alternatives with their program advisor.
At least one literature, culture, and the arts core course must focus on art, drama, film, music, translation studies, or culture from a disciplinary or interpretive perspective outside of literary study.
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Note: For more course options, please refer to the American Studies website.
Majors must take at least one course that focuses on the study of race and/or ethnicity. (Note that this is in addition to courses taken under other requirement categories). Courses that fulfill this requirement might include: courses that explicitly foreground issues of race and/or ethnicity; courses that weave prominent consideration of race and/or ethnicity into intersectional conversations or other historical contexts; or courses that foreground the perspectives, histories, and/or cultural productions of historically minoritized racial and/or ethnic groups. Options for fulfilling the race and ethnicity core course include — but are not limited to — courses listed here. Students should discuss alternatives with their program advisor.
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Note: For more course options, please refer to the American Studies website.
Majors must design a Thematic Concentration of at least five courses with the help of faculty advisors. The courses, taken together, must give the student in-depth knowledge and understanding of a coherent topic in American culture, history, and society. Thematic Concentrations should be approved by the final study list deadline of autumn quarter of the junior year, if at all possible. (Examples of Thematic Concentrations are on the American Studies website: amstudies.stanford.edu)
All majors must take at least one upper-level seminar requiring a substantial research project within their Thematic Concentration.
To graduate, all majors must submit a representative writing sample to American Studies by spring of senior year (typically a paper from their upper-level seminar or an honors or capstone essay).
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In this 2-unit colloquium, taken in winter of senior year, majors develop a capstone project and presentation. In this, students may opt to build on an essay or project from their thematic concentration seminar or other course or, with approval, may develop another essay or project related to their thematic concentration. Students will present their capstone research in winter or spring of senior year.
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Qualified majors may apply to pursue an honors thesis in their senior year for 10-15 units total, including:
3 units from required pre-honors and honors workshops (AMSTUD 198, 199A, and 199B)
Plus 7-12 units of AMSTUD 250: Senior Research, divided across Senior year.
Honors students are exempt from the Senior Colloquium and may instead use two units of the required honors workshop units (e.g., from 199A and 199B) to replace the 2-unit Senior Colloquium.
The additional 8-13 thesis units do not count toward major course and unit minimums. Honors students present their projects, typically in spring of the senior year. (See details under Honors.)
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Students pursuing honors must enroll in the American Studies Pre-Honors Seminar, AMSTUD 198, in the spring quarter of their junior year, and in the American Studies Honors Seminar AMSTUD 199A and AMSTUD 199B, during autumn and winter quarters of their senior year, respectively. They must also enroll in AMSTUD 250 Senior Research during their senior year. The total units between AMSTUD 198, AMSTUD 199A and B, and AMSTUD 250 should equal 10-15. Two of these units can be applied to the 62-unit minimum, replacing AMSTUD 99: Senior Colloquium.
To graduate with honors, American Studies majors must complete a senior thesis and have an overall grade point average of at least 3.5 in the major or demonstrated academic competence.
Students applying must secure a thesis advisor, a Stanford faculty member willing and available to direct the thesis project through the ensuing year. A confirmed thesis advisor is required for final approval to pursue an honors project.
More information about American Studies honors is available on the website (https://amstudies.stanford.edu/degree-programs/honors).