Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate Record 2012-2013 
    
Undergraduate Record 2012-2013 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

American Studies


Requirements for a Major in American Studies


Admission to the American Studies major is by application only. Applicants generally apply in the second semester of their second year. This is a competitive process that takes into account the student’s GPA, application essays, and other factors. More information about applying can be found on the program website: www.virginia.edu/americanstudies. Once accepted, the American Studies major requires a minimum of 10 courses (30 credits). No fewer than twenty-one credits must be unique to the American Studies major. These classes may include courses taken before the declaration of the major. In order to count towards the major, students must receive a grade of C or better in each class and must maintain a GPA of 2.0 in the major. In each of the concentrations, students must take at least two courses at the 3000-level or above. There is no minor in American Studies.

Course Distribution


Southern Studies


Students concentrating in Southern Studies must take at least two courses from the following list of core courses, from different departments: ARTH 2753 Arts and Cultures of the Slave South; ENAM 3880 Literature of the South; HIUS 3231 Rise and Fall of the Slave South; HIUS 3232 South in the 20th Century; MUSI 2120 History of Jazz. Core courses taken beyond the required two will count towards the total courses required. The remaining five electives must come from a list of approved courses maintained by the program and available on the program website.

Popular and Visual Culture


Students concentrating in Popular and Visual Culture must take at least two core courses. One must fulfill a Popular Culture requirement and one must fulfill the Visual Culture requirement. Each core course must be drawn from a different department. The core courses for Popular Culture are: ANTH 3155 Anthropology of Everyday American Life; MUSI 2070 Popular Musics; MUSI 2120 History of Jazz; MUSI 2110 Music in Everyday Life; HIUS 3161 Viewing America; PLAP 3140 Mass Media and American Politics; SOC 2470 American Society and Popular Culture. The core courses for Visual Culture are: AMST 2220 Race, Identity and American Visual Culture; ARTH 2753 Arts and Cultures of the Slave South; ARTH 2751 American Art; ARTH 2752 American Art II; ARTH 2471 Art Since 1945; DRAM 2810 Cinema as an Art Form; DRAM 3070 African American Theatre; MDST 4104 History of US Broadcasting. Core courses taken beyond the required two will count towards the total courses required. The remaining five electives must come from a list of approved courses maintained by the program and available on the program website.

Race and Ethnicity


Students concentrating in Race and Ethnicity must take at least two core courses. One must fulfill a comparative ethnicities requirement and one must focus on a single ethnic or racial formation. The core courses for the comparative ethnicities are: AMST 2220 Race, Identity and American Visual Culture; ANTH 2250 Nationalism, Racism, Multiculturalism; SOC 3410 Race and Ethnic Relations; PLAP 3700 Racial Politics. The courses focusing on a single ethnic or racial formation are: AAS 1010 or 1020 Intro to African American Studies; AMST 3180 Asian American Cultural History; AMST 2300 Intro to Latino/a Studies. Core courses taken beyond the required two will count towards the total courses required. The remaining five electives must come from an approved list of courses maintained by the program and available on the program website.

Student - Designed


Sometimes students come to American Studies with a particular interest not covered by the aforementioned concentrations, for example: gender and sexuality, transnationalism, or social justice. These majors can design their own concentration working closely with their advisor and the director of American Studies.

Distinguished Majors Program


Students with a 3.400 GPA in the College of Arts and Sciences and a 3.600 GPA in the major are eligible to pursue Distinction. DMPs take a semester-long independent study with a faculty advisor, with the goal of producing a thesis generally 35-50 pp. in length. Students interested in participating in the Distinguished Majors Program in American Studies should meet with the Distinguished Majors advisor in the second semester of the third year.

Requirements for a Minor in Asian Pacific American Studies


Students are required to complete a minimum of six courses (18 credits) for the Asian Pacific American Studies minor. Students must complete three required courses and three electives. No more than three courses (9 credits) can come from the same department. No courses taken for the minor may be double-counted towards another major. No more than one course taken outside of UVa (study abroad or transfer credits) can be counted towards the minor.

Required Courses


1. One survey course on Asian Pacific American Studies:


Elective Courses


Three additional courses from a pre-approved list, adjusted per semester depending upon availability. One of the three courses must be a 4000-level seminar course in AMST or related discipline. Eligible courses include:

Minor in U.S. Latina/o Studies


Requirements


Students are required to complete a minimum of six courses (18 credits) for the U.S. Latina/o Studies minor. Students most complete 2 required courses and 4 electives. No more than 3 courses (9 credits) can come from the same department. No courses taken for the minor may be double-counted towards another major. No more than one course taken outside of UVA (study abroad or transfer credits) can be counted towards the minor.

Required Courses


1. Students must take one of the following U.S. Latina/o studies general survey courses, or another course approved by the director:


2. Students must take one of the following survey courses on comparative race and ethnicity theory/history in the fields of Asian American or African American studies, or another course approved by the director: