Program Scope
American Studies is a cross-disciplinary program that offers students
an opportunity to create an individualized major. The purpose of the
major is to study the unity and diversity, the consensus and conflict,
the continuity and change, that characterize the many cultures and
social structures of past and present United States. Each student
creates a program, drawing upon courses from throughout the University,
designed to accomplish this attempt to understand the United States
as a whole.
Career Outlook
The major is appropriate for students who wish a strong liberal arts
experience that focuses on the United States, for those preparing
for teaching careers, as well as those seeking a wide ranging background
as preparation for later study of the law, public administration,
city planning, library and museum work, and specialized graduate study.
To Apply to the Program
To apply to the American Studies Program go to Enrollment Services
in the SFSU homepage.
If you have specific questions about the American Studies Program,
contact the American Studies Coordinator, Prof. Cristina Ruotolo (415)
338-3127, or by email at: ruotolo@sfsu.edu.
Bachelor of Arts in American Studies
The American Studies major is divided into two parts: a set of required core courses AND A SET OF ELECTIVE COURSES chosen from at least two disciplines related to a particular topic or theme in American Studies. Students entering this major should choose their theme or topic at least by the middle of the junior year in order to take advantage of courses in various departments appropriate to their topic. The program is directed by a coordinator and a council consisting of faculty from participating departments and students currently completing the major. Each student's program is developed in consultation with the coordinator and advisers, in accordance with the pattern below.
Required Courses:
AmSt 300/SS 410 Social Perspectives on American Culture (3)
AmSt 310/Hum 485 Arts and American Culture (3)
AmSt 400/Geog 551 American Regional Cultures (3)
AmSt 410/Hum 450 California Culture (3)
Special Study course or courses (up to six units) on a specific topic connected to prior course work, to be developed through consultation with the coordinator and faculty from the appropriate department (3-6 units)
Total required units...15-18
Elective Courses
Courses, by choice and advisement, on a topic or themes in American Studies, drawn from at least two disciplines. Up to six units may be in community college or lower division course work...(24 units)
Total for Major...39-42 units
Courses especially appropriate as electives for the American Studies major are offered by the following departments (not an exclusive list): Art, Asian American Studies, Black Studies, English, Film, Geography, History, Humanities, Journalism, La Raza Studies, Music, American Indian Studies, Political Science, Social Science, Urban Studies, Womens Studies.
Minor in American Studies
Required Courses
AmSt 300/SS 410 Social Perspectives on American Culture (3)
AmSt 310/Hum 485 Arts and American Culture (3)
AmSt 400/Geog 551 American Regional Cultures (3)
AmSt 410/Hum 450 California Culture (3)
Total Required units...12
Elective Courses
These courses, chosen upon advisement from throughout the appropriate departments and programs of the University, allow the student to explore a particular theme or topic in American Studies. Lists of appropriate courses are distributed by the program each semester (9 units).
Total units...21
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