American Studies
The minor in American studies is based on the desirability of fostering an understanding of the whole of American civilization through study in a variety of fields and topics. Students will select courses in three groups – multicultural studies, ideas and the arts, and history and politics – and from diverse fields including literature, history, the fine arts, philosophy and the social sciences. The American studies program is a flexible one that students can relate to their own individual interests and needs while exploring the interrelationships among diverse aspects of American culture and its changing ideas and values.
The minor program in American studies is open to all undergraduate students at JMU. The requirement is the successful completion of 24 hours. Three of the 24 hours must consist of GAMST 200, Introduction to American Studies (previously AMST 250). No more than nine of the 24 hours may come from 100- or 200-level courses. Students must take two courses from each of the groups listed and one elective course chosen from any of the groups. See the program coordinator for additional courses that may be substituted.
| Core Requirements | Credit Hours |
| GAMST 200. Introduction to American Studies | 3 |
| Elective: One course from any of the groups below | 3 |
| Multicultural Studies (Choose two from the courses below): | 6 |
| ANTH 265. People and Cultures in Latin America and the Caribbean | |
| ANTH 312. The Native Americans | |
| GENG 260. Survey of African American Literature | |
| HIST 320. Women in United States History | |
| HIST 355 or HIST 356. Afro-American History | |
| REL 330. African and African-American Religion | |
| SOCI 336. Race and Ethnicity | |
| Ideas and the Arts (Choose two from the courses below): | 6 |
| ARTH 480. American Art to 1870 or | |
| ARTH 482. American Art from 1870 | |
| ARTH 484. Art of the Americas | |
| GENG 247. Survey of American Literature: From the Beginning to the | |
| Civil War | |
| or GENG 248. Survey of American Literature: From the Civil War to the | |
| Modern Period | |
| GMUS 203. Music in America | |
| PHIL 370. American Philosophy | |
| POSC 330. American Political Thought | |
| SMAD 372. Media History | |
| THEA 485. American Theatre | |
| History and Politics (Choose two from the courses below): | 6 |
| GHIST 225. United States History | |
| GPOSC 225. U.S. Government | |
| HIST 310. American Business History | |
| POSC 369. Political Parties and Elections | |
| or POSC 385. The U.S. Congress | |
| SCOM 346. Free Speech in America | |
| 24 | |
Program director may approve course substitutions, including AMST 490.
