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.

Major Requirements

BIS 3320 The Nature of Intellectual Inquiry

AMS 3302 American Cultures

AMS 3327 American Studies: Histories, Theories, Methodologies

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

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 ad Ethnicity in American Society
  • The U.S. and the World
  • Women and the Workplace

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