American Studies Undergraduate Major (BA, BS, HBA, HBS)
This program is available at the following location:
- OSU-Cascades
The mission of the American Studies major at OSU-Cascades is to prepare students to spark new thinking and practices in a broad range of fields including business, teaching, fine arts, arts administration, law, medicine, public service, and graduate programs in the humanities or social sciences. We do this by teaching students to read closely, write precisely, and reflect deeply on issues of equity, environment, and cultural diversity. We teach them to think critically, globally, and democratically, conduct research, and navigate a complex and ever-evolving information society. Our emphasis on reading, writing, reflecting, thinking critically, conducting research, and cultivating information literacy aligns with the mission of the School of Writing, Literature, and Film. In American studies, we inculcate the values of critical thinking, search out and create new knowledge, while at the same time connecting the present and the future to the past, a past which informs our present and helps us think about the future.
Major Code: 865
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Articulate key concepts and events in American cultural history and their global impact.
- Demonstrate the ability to write clear analytical prose.
- Compare ideas and materials from different disciplinary perspectives.
- Develop research skills, including handling of primary and secondary sources, library use and online scholarly search tools.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core | ||
| AMS 350 | *AMERICAN CULTURE AND THE VIETNAM EXPERIENCE | 4 |
| AMS 406 | PROJECTS | 2 |
| AMS 450 | PRAGMATISM IN AMERICAN CULTURE | 4 |
| ART 386/ENG 386 | A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN ART AND LITERATURE: PART I | 4 |
| ART 387/ENG 387 | A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN ART AND LITERATURE: PART II | 4 |
| ART 388/ENG 388 | A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN ART AND LITERATURE: PART III | 4 |
| ENG 253 | *SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE: COLONIAL TO 1900 | 4 |
| or ENG 254 | *SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE: 1900 TO PRESENT | |
| ENG 445 | ^STUDIES IN NONFICTION | 4 |
| or ENG 485 | ^STUDIES IN AMERICAN LITERATURE | |
| ES 451 | +THEORIES OF RACE AND ETHNICITY | 4 |
| SSCI 211 | +CAREER EXPLORATION IN THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 2 |
| Select two courses from the following: | 8 | |
| +INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, EMPIRES, AND REVOLUTIONS: MAKING EARLY AMERICA | ||
| +*CIVIL WARS AND CIVIL RIGHTS: MAKING US CITIZENSHIP | ||
| +CONTESTING FREEDOMS: MAKING THE MODERN UNITED STATES | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 21 credits with your advisor from the following subjects: | 21 | |
AMS | ||
ANTH | ||
COMM | ||
ENG | ||
HST | ||
PS | ||
WR | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Remaining Core Ed, CLA Core, BA/BS and Electives 1 | 115 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
- 1
60 upper-division credits are required in the total of 180, inclusive of major, elective and Core Education credits
Major Code: 865
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
American Studies BA
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| HST 201 | +INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, EMPIRES, AND REVOLUTIONS: MAKING EARLY AMERICA or +*CIVIL WARS AND CIVIL RIGHTS: MAKING US CITIZENSHIP or +CONTESTING FREEDOMS: MAKING THE MODERN UNITED STATES | 4 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Language 111 | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| HST 201 | +INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, EMPIRES, AND REVOLUTIONS: MAKING EARLY AMERICA or +*CIVIL WARS AND CIVIL RIGHTS: MAKING US CITIZENSHIP or +CONTESTING FREEDOMS: MAKING THE MODERN UNITED STATES | 4 |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Language 112 | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Language 113 | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Language 211 | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| ENG 253 or ENG 254 | *SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE: COLONIAL TO 1900 or *SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE: 1900 TO PRESENT | 4 |
| SSCI 211 | +CAREER EXPLORATION IN THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 2 |
| Language 212 | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Language 213 | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| AMS 350 | *AMERICAN CULTURE AND THE VIETNAM EXPERIENCE | 4 |
| ENG 386/ART 386 | A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN ART AND LITERATURE: PART I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| AMS 450 | PRAGMATISM IN AMERICAN CULTURE | 4 |
| ENG 387/ART 387 | A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN ART AND LITERATURE: PART II | 4 |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 388/ART 388 | A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN ART AND LITERATURE: PART III | 4 |
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENG 445 or ENG 485 | ^STUDIES IN NONFICTION or ^STUDIES IN AMERICAN LITERATURE | 4 |
| ES 451 | +THEORIES OF RACE AND ETHNICITY | 4 |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| AMS 406 | PROJECTS | 2 |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
American Studies BS
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| HST 201 | +INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, EMPIRES, AND REVOLUTIONS: MAKING EARLY AMERICA or +*CIVIL WARS AND CIVIL RIGHTS: MAKING US CITIZENSHIP or +CONTESTING FREEDOMS: MAKING THE MODERN UNITED STATES | 4 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Quantitative Literacy & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| HST 201 | +INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, EMPIRES, AND REVOLUTIONS: MAKING EARLY AMERICA or +*CIVIL WARS AND CIVIL RIGHTS: MAKING US CITIZENSHIP or +CONTESTING FREEDOMS: MAKING THE MODERN UNITED STATES | 4 |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Scientific Inquiry & Analysis | 4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| BS Computer Science | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| ENG 253 or ENG 254 | *SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE: COLONIAL TO 1900 or *SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE: 1900 TO PRESENT | 4 |
| SSCI 211 | +CAREER EXPLORATION IN THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 2 |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3-4 | |
| BS Science | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3-4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| AMS 350 | *AMERICAN CULTURE AND THE VIETNAM EXPERIENCE | 4 |
| ENG 386/ART 386 | A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN ART AND LITERATURE: PART I | 4 |
| BS Math or Stats | 4 | |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| AMS 450 | PRAGMATISM IN AMERICAN CULTURE | 4 |
| ENG 387 or ART 387 | A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN ART AND LITERATURE: PART II or A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN ART AND LITERATURE: PART II | 4 |
| ES 451 | +THEORIES OF RACE AND ETHNICITY | 4 |
| BS Math or Stats | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 388 or ART 388 | A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN ART AND LITERATURE: PART III or A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN ART AND LITERATURE: PART III | 4 |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Option Course | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENG 445 or ENG 485 | ^STUDIES IN NONFICTION or ^STUDIES IN AMERICAN LITERATURE | 4 |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| CLA Core: Additional Course | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| AMS 406 | PROJECTS | 2 |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Upper-Division Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course