Bachelor of Arts in American Studies The Bachelor of Arts in American Studies requires 120 hours, of which 51 hours must be upper-division courses. You must complete a minimum of 45 hours at UT Dallas to earn a degree. You may add a second major or degree, and up to two minors, if desired, while pursuing an American Studies degree. Internships are encouraged. The Bachelor of Arts in American Studies is composed of the Texas Common Core Curriculum, American Studies major core courses, two option areas and electives.

Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours

  • 6 hours Communication
  • 3 hours Mathematics*
  • 6 hours Life and Physical Science
  • 3 hours Language, Philosophy and Culture
  • 3 hours Creative Arts
  • 6 hours American History
  • 6 hours Government / Political Science
  • 3 hours Social and Behavioral Science
  • 6 hour Component Area Option
For more information, see the catalog. *MATH 1306 College Algebra for non-science major or MATH 1314 College Algebra is required.

Major Requirements: 48 semester credit hours

Major Core Courses (12 semester credit hours)

AMS 3327 American Studies: Histories, Theories, Methodologies

AMS 2300 American Popular Culture or AMS 2341 American Studies for the Twenty-First Century

AMS 3302 American Cultures

BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry

MATH 1306 College Algebra for the Non-Scientist or MATH 1314 College Algebra

Or other courses on American history or American government approved by the academic advisor.

Prior to 2019 Catalog:

AMS 3302 American Cultures or AMS 2341 American Studies for the Twenty-First Century, BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry, MATH 1306 College Algebra for the Non-Scientist or MATH 1314 College Algebra and choose two courses from the following: HIST 3369 United States Foreign Relations, PSCI 3325 American Public Policy, PSCI 3327 American Foreign Policy

Major Related Courses (Two Options 36 semesters credit hours)

Students will take 18 semester credit hours of course work in two of the following disciplinary options:
  • American Medicine and Healthcare
  • American Popular Culture
  • Communication in 21st Century America
  • Environment and Community
  • Law, Legality, and Culture
  • Race and Ethnicity in American Society
  • The U.S. and the World
  • Women and the Workplace
Prior to 2019 Catalog:

African American Culture, American Body Politic, American Economic System, American Legal System, America: Past and Present, America and the World Community, American Business and Technology, American Literature and Arts, Gender Studies, Issues in Media and Communication, Latino/Latina Culture, Popular Culture

Elective Requirements: 30 semester credit hours

Required for all freshmen: 1 semester credit hour

UNIV 1010 Freshman Seminar

BIS 1100 Interdisciplinary Studies Freshman Seminar

Free Electives: 29 semester credit hours

Students must complete 51 semester credit hours of upper-division coursework to graduate. They must complete a minimum of 45 semester credit hours at UT Dallas. In the final semester, all the coursework should be taken at UT Dallas.

Honors in American Studies

Students must fulfill the requirements for the major and earn at least a 3.900 cumulative GPA as well as a 3.9 GPA in courses used to complete the major.  Additionally, students must devote six semester hours to a capstone project approved by the program head. This might consist of an internship, thesis, portfolio project, or upper-level research seminar (or some combination thereof).

Course Details

How to Apply

  • Apply to UT Dallas (select School of Interdisciplinary Studies; major American Studies - BA on ApplyTexas)
  • Learn more about UT Dallas admission requirements
 

1. Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of UNIV 1010 and the corresponding school-related freshman seminar course. Students, including transfer students, who complete their core curriculum at UT Dallas must take UNIV 2020.

2. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.

3. A required major course that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Semester credit hours are counted in the Core Curriculum.

4. If a student has taken one of these options to fulfill core requirements, the other option must be taken to fulfill major requirements.