Dec 11, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

American Studies BA


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Do you want to help marginalized people reclaim their voice? Would you like the flexibility to study everything from history and economics to literary culture, popular culture and religion? Are you interested in improving your cultural fluency and understanding complex (and timely) topics like critical race theory? If you’re ready to think about American communities within a global context, then this might be the perfect program for you.

Visit the American Studies academic program page for more information about the academic experience, who you will learn from, opportunities outside of class and what you can do with this degree.

Visit the Africana and American Studies department page  for contact information, a brief overview of the department and the curricular options.

Admission Criteria


Current UB students seeking admission to the American Studies BA will be added to the major upon request by completing the College of Arts and Sciences Major/Minor Change Request Form.

Course Requirements


Eight AMS Electives (24 credits)


At least seven of which must be at the 300/400 level. These electives must include:

  • At least three courses focusing on gender, class, race, ethnicity, and/or indigenous studies
  • At least two courses focusing on American culture(s) before 1900
  • At least three courses focusing on cultures of the Atlantic World or the Americas beyond the United States

Any given course may fulfill more than one of the above categories. Related courses taken outside of the program may be applicable toward the major, when approved by the director of undergraduate studies.

Total Credits Required for Major: 36


Additional Degree Requirements Include:


  • Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements
  • Elective courses as needed to complete the 120 credit hour total

Total Credits Required for Graduation: 120


Total Credit Hours Required represents the minimum credits needed to complete this program, and may vary based on a number of circumstances. This should not be used for financial aid purposes.

Program Honors


Students in the American Studies honors program must satisfy the requirements outlined for majors, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.250 in courses within the major and complete AMS 364 . The senior research project must be awarded at least a B+ (3.330) to be accepted as an honors project. Students must also meet the remaining criteria outlined in the Academic Honors policy. Students who successfully complete the honors program and meet the criteria will have the appropriate notation on their official transcript.

Curricular Plan


A Curricular Plan provides a roadmap for completing this academic program and the UB Curriculum on time. Your actual plan may vary depending on point of entry to the university, course placement and/or waivers based on standardized test scores, earned alternative credit and/or college transfer credit.

First Year Fall


Total Credits: 15 or 16


First Year Spring


Total Credits: 15 or 16


Second Year Fall


  • Elective Credits: 3
  • AMS 300/400 level elective Credits: 3
  • Pathway Course Credits: 3
  • AMS 300/400 Level Elective Credits: 3
  • Scientific Literacy and Inquiry 1 Credits: 3
  • Scientific Literacy and Inquiry Lab Credits: 1

Total Credits: 16


Second Year Spring


  • AMS 300/400 Level Elective Credits: 3
  • Math and Quantitative Reasoning Credits: 4
  • AMS 300/400 Level Elective Credits: 3
  • Scientific Literacy and Inquiry 2 Credits: 3
  • AMS 300/400 Level Elective Credits: 3

Total Credits: 16


Third Year Fall


  • AMS 300/400 Level Elective Credits: 3
  • AMS 300/400 Level Elective Credits: 3
  • Pathway Course Credits: 3
  • Pathway Course Credits: 3
  • Communication Literacy 2 Credits: 3

Total Credits: 15


Third Year Spring


Total Credits: 13


Fourth Year Fall


Total Credits: 15


Fourth Year Spring


  • Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 3
  • Elective Credits: 2

Total Credits: 14


Total Credits Required: 120


Note: Some classes may count toward both a major and UB Curriculum requirement.

Learning Outcomes


Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge of:

  • Identify and evaluate different schools of thought and methodologies central to the field of American Studies.
  • Assessed annually in terms of American Studies Seminar for Majors (AMS 364)
  • Develop a critical understanding of the complexities of American culture.
  • The student should be able to demonstrate knowledge of: broad thematic periodizations and chronology (from the perspectives of identity; oppression and resistance; and democracy and social justice) of the socio-economic, political, and cultural history of the African, Asian and Latina/o diasporas in the Americas, and their role in the history of the Americas up to the present.
  • The student should be able to demonstrate knowledge of: major descriptive and analytical themes in the CURRENT socioeconomic, political, and cultural circumstances of the African, Asian and Latina/o diasporas in the Americas (including their relations with other racial minorities).
  • Analyze and critique texts (e.g. literary, historical, and legal) in a  multidisciplinary framework.
  • The student should be able to demonstrate knowledge of: major descriptive and analytical themes in the historical role of Native American women and the women of the African, Asian, and Latina/o diasporas in the Americas, and in their current socio-economic, political, and cultural circumstances.
  • Envision a society that incorporates the enlightened core values regarding race, class and gender in a modern multicultural  hemisphere and society.
  • Develop effective written communication skills to be able to effectively, clearly and coherently communicate intellectual thought.

 

(HEGIS: 03.13 AMERICAN STUDIES, CIP05.0102 American/United States Studies/Civilization)

 

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