Frequently Asked Questions
- DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
- How many credit hours are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree?
- Does American Studies offer an Honors Program?
- Is there a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA)?
- What are the core courses?
- How do I choose my concentration?
- What concentration courses are offered by American Studies?
- How do I meet with the Chair?
- How do I apply?
- WHY A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN AMERICAN STUDIES?
- UNDERGRADUATE MINOR IN AMERICAN STUDIES
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Q: How many credit hours are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree?
- American Studies require students to complete 30 credit hours.
- 15 credit hours of concentration courses
- 15 credit hours of electives
- 6 credit hours of language instruction beyond the standard College requirement of a four-semester sequence, including at least one class at the 300 level or above that studies a foreign language literature.
- The College of Arts and Sciences require students to complete 122 credit hours to graduate.
Q: Does American Studies offer an Honors Program?
Yes, in addition to the other major requirements, students must also complete:
- A451 Honors Seminar (3 cr.)
- A452 Honors Thesis (3 cr.)
Q: Is there a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA)?
- Based on earned Indiana University credits, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 must be maintained for continuation towards an American Studies degree
- Honors Degree
- Minimum GPA of 3.500 in the major
- Minimum GPA of 3.300 overall in the College
Q: What are the core courses?
- AMST A100 What is America? (3 cr.) A&H
- AMST A200 Comparative American Identities (3 cr.) A&H
- AMST A350Topics in Interdisciplinary American Studies(3 cr.)
- AMST A351 American Studies in Transnational Contexts (3 cr.) A&H
- AMST A450 Senior Seminar (3 cr.)
Q: How do I choose my concentration?
- Meet with the Director after looking over the list of concentration courses and surveying course offerings for current and future semesters at the following Web site http://registrar.indiana.edu/scheofclass.shtml
Q: What concentration courses are offered by American Studies?
- AMST A201 U.S. Movements and Institutions (3 cr.) A&H
- AMST A202 U.S. Arts and Media (3 cr.) A&H
- AMST A298 Special Topics in Arts & Humanities for American Studies (3 cr.) A&H
- AMST A299 Special Topics in Social & Historical for American Studies (3 cr.) S&H
- AMST A398 Advanced Topics in Arts & Humanities for American Studies (3 cr.) A&H
- AMST A399 Advanced Topics in Social & Historical for American Studies (3 cr.) S&H
- AMST A401 Readings in American Studies (3 cr.)
- AMST A402 Service Learning (3 cr.)
Q: How do I meet with the Chair?
- Contact amst @ indiana.edu (Paula Cotner), Secretary to the Chair, or call 855-7718.
Q: How do I apply?
- Visit the following Web site http://admit.indiana.edu/apply/ for an on-line application or to download a paper application. Specify on the application that American studies is your area of interest.
- Application fee of $50 ($60 for international students)
- Students will be admitted to the University Division.
WHY A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN AMERICAN STUDIES?
Q: As a graduate, what skills can I expect to gain?
- Clear & logical thinking
- Critical evaluation
- Cultural Awareness
- Literacy & Expression
- Negotiating
- Organizing
- Planning
- Research
- Working to meet deadlines
In addition graduates will:
- be able to set the history, politics, and culture of the United States in a global and comparative context;
- understand a broad range of basic historical facts about the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Central and South America; and
- be able to think logically and analytically, to make detailed observations, and to formulate interdisciplinary interpretations of the literature, art, music, and mass culture of the United States, Canada, and the Americas.
Q: Who employs graduates with an American Studies degree?
- Public Administration
- Education
- Finance
- Business & Research
- Manufacturing
- Community, social & Personal Service
- Transport
- Hotels & Restaurants
- Retail
Q: What types of jobs may be useful with an American Studies degree?
- Administration in Local or Central Government
- Advertising Copywriter
- Archivist
- Charities Administrator
- Computer Analyst/Programmer
- Higher Education Teaching & Research
- Information Management/Science
- Insurance Underwriter
- Journalist
- Librarian
- Marketing Manager
- Personnel Manager
- Solicitor
- Teaching in Schools & Colleges of Further Education
Q: How will a degree in American Studies prepare me for graduate school?
- Graduates will know how to collect, document, maintain, manage evidence, and how to organize and compose interpretive and research essays.
- Graduates will have developed oral and written communications skills.
- Graduates will be familiar with fundamental principles of American Studies as an interdisciplinary field.
UNDERGRADUATE MINOR IN AMERICAN STUDIES
Q: How many credit hours are required for a minor in American Studies?
- 15 credit hours of required courses
- AMST A100 What is America? (3 cr.) A&H
- AMST A200 Comparative American Identities (3 cr.) A&H OR
- AMST A201 Movements & Institutions (3 cr.) A&H OR
- AMST A202 U.S. Arts & Media (3 cr.) A&H
- Two 200 level (or higher) courses
- Two 300 level (or higher) courses
- Refer to the cross-listed courses page for approved cross-listed courses that may fulfill American Studies distribution credit.
Q: How do I apply for a minor in American Studies?
- Contact amst @ indiana.edu (Paula Cotner), or call 855-7718
