Bachelor of Arts in American Studies

Location(s): Glassboro Campus

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The American Studies major is a guided interdisciplinary program that offers students a rigorous and flexible major. The program in American Studies focuses upon concepts of citizenship and is ideal to pair with almost any pre-professional program that deals with the American people. Introduction to American Studies AMST 13301 acquaints students with basic interdisciplinary methodology and provides students with insight into popular culture and citizenship. Students will follow up this course with a rigorous methods course in Interdisciplinary Research and Writing AMST 13301 that prepares students for the upper level coursework.

In addition, you will study in the College of Communication and most of the departments in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences addressing issues in American society, culture, history, geography and popular culture. Students will also take an internship course to prepare themselves for their future careers.

The program will introduce you to the diversity of peoples who comprise America and to the United States’ relationship to the world. The highlight of every student’s career is the Senior Seminar in American Studies AMST 13402 , an intense, discussion-led, capstone experience.

The major offers you the flexibility to tailor your program to your personal interests and the time to further explore those courses that interest you or that best apply to your specific career goals by taking courses in several disciplines on American topics. Students are encouraged to specialize by taking several courses from various departments on a similar topic.

Except for free electives, no course can be taken as Pass/Fail and all courses must be completed with a C- or better. Students who are not transfers must take a Rowan Seminar.

Rowan Core: 9 s.h.

All first-time Freshmen must complete the University Rowan Core Literacies. There are six literacies:

Communicative Literacy (COML) - 9 s.h. Satisfied by taking the following three courses:
- COMP 01111 College Composition I
- COMP 01112 College Composition II
- CMS 04205 Public Speaking
- Note: Engineering Majors will take (11 s.h.)
Artistic Literacy (ARTL)
Global Literacy (GLBL)
Humanistic Literacy (HUML)
Quantitative Literacy (QNTL)
Scientific Literacy (SCIL)

Majors may suggest courses to fulfill the above literacies and will be applied elsewhere.

A complete listing of courses that fulfill the above literacies can be found here Undergraduate Program Requirements .

Rowan Experience

Students must satisfy all three Rowan Experience attributes. Credits attached to the courses in this section will apply elsewhere.

The attributes are as follows:

Broad-Based Literature Attribute (LIT)
Writing Intensive Attribute (WI)
Rowan Seminar Attribute*(RS)

Departments may recommend courses to fulfill these attributes. A complete listing of courses that satisfy these attributes can be found at Undergraduate Program Requirements .

*The Rowan Seminar requirement is waived for all students transferring 24 or more approved credits into Rowan University at the time of initial entry.

Program Requirements

Non-Program Courses: 15 s.h.

Courses in this section must be either Rowan Core courses, Rowan Experience courses, or required prerequisites (not included in the major). Choose five of the following courses:

ARHS 03310 - History of American Art Credits: 3 (Satisfies Artistic (ARTL) Literacy Requirement)
SOC 08120 - Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3 (Satisfies Humanistic Literacy (HUML) Requirement)
HIST 05150 - United States to 1865 Credits: 3 (Satisfies Humanistic Literacy (HUML) Requirement)
HIST 05151 - United States since 1865 Credits: 3 (Satisfies Humanistic Literacy (HUML) Requirement)
SOC 08221 - Social Problems Credits: 3 (Satisfies Global Literacy (GLBL) Requirement)
POSC 07110 - American Government Credits: 3
ENGL 02113 - Introduction to U.S. Literature Credits: 3 (Satisfies Humanistic Literacy (HUML) Requirement)
GEOG 16240 - US and Canada Credits: 3

Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR): 2-6 s.h.

One course must be an internship

HIST 05495 - Internship in History Credits: 3
HSRV 01311 - Field Experiences in Human Services I Credits: 3
CHSS 20399 - Internship In Applied Liberal Arts Credits: 2 to 6
ELEM 02448 - Clinical Practice II in Elementary Education Credits: 10

Required Courses: 9 s.h.

AMST 13101 - Introduction to American Studies Credits: 3
AMST 13301 - Interdisciplinary Research and Writing Credits: 3
AMST 13402 - Senior Seminar in American Studies - WI Credits: 3

Upper Level Courses: 12 s.h.

Choose four courses from the following bank of upper-level American Studies courses. Courses chosen here may not be used in other banks.

HIST 05322 - Civil War and Reconstruction Credits: 3
HIST 05334 - US Urban History Credits: 3
HIST 05371 - U.S. Legal and Constitutional History to 1870 Credits: 3
HIST 05372 - U.S. Legal and Constitutional History since 1870 Credits: 3
HIST 05373 - Civil Rights/Black Power Movements Credits: 3
HIST 05375 - The United States since 1945 Credits: 3
HIST 05376 - African American History to 1865 Credits: 3
HIST 05377 - African American History since 1865 Credits: 3
HIST 05407 - History of World War II Credits: 3
HIST 05429 - Topics in History Credits: 3
HIST 05438 - History of the Vietnam War Credits: 3
HIST 05471 - History of the American West Credits: 3
HIST 05495 - Internship in History Credits: 3
ENGL 02313 - US Literature I Credits: 3
ENGL 02315 - US Literature II Credits: 3
ENGL 02317 - Children’s Literature: Texts and Contexts Credits: 3
ENGL 02324 - American Realism and Naturalism Credits: 3
ENGL 02327 - Modern and Contemporary American Poetry Credits: 3
ENGL 02424 - American Drama Credits: 3
ENGL 02425 - Contemporary Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 05301 - American English Grammar Credits: 3
AFST 11104 - Introduction to Africana Studies Credits: 3
AFST 11304 - Africana Social Thought Credits: 3
ANTH 02310 - Native North America Credits: 3
ANTH 02350 - Comparative Cultures Credits: 3
CMS 04210 - Mass Media and Their Influences Credits: 3
CMS 04215 - Fiction to Film Credits: 3
CMS 04310 - Images of Gender in Popular Culture Credits: 3
CMS 04315 - Digital Media Processes Credits: 3
CMS 04320 - Communicating Gender Credits: 3
GEOG 16302 - Urban Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 16241 - Geography of New Jersey Credits: 3
GEOG 16303 - Political Geography Credits: 3
CHSS 20399 - Internship In Applied Liberal Arts Credits: 2 to 6
LAWJ 05312 - Criminal Procedure II Credits: 3
LAWJ 05315 - Criminal Justice and Social Conflict Credits: 3
LAWJ 05322 - Drugs and Crime in America Credits: 3
LAWJ 05346 - Women, Crime and Criminal Justice Credits: 3
LAWJ 05401 - Law and Human Rights Credits: 3
PHIL 09393 - Contemporary Moral Problems- WI Credits: 3
PHIL 09328 - Philosophy and Gender Credits: 3
POSC 07306 - The Presidency Credits: 3
POSC 07310 - American Constitutional Law Credits: 3
POSC 07311 - Women and American Politics Credits: 3
POSC 07320 - International Relations Credits: 3
POSC 07321 - Contemporary World Problems Credits: 3
POSC 07323 - The Politics of Poverty: Class, Gender, and Race in America Credits: 3
POSC 07340 - Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Credits: 3
POSC 07380 - Politics on Film Credits: 3
POSC 07400 - American Political Thought Credits: 3
EDPA 02490 - Public Service Internship Credits: 3 to 12
PSY 01310 - Psychology of Racism and Ethnocentrism: Causes, Development, Consequences, Solutions Credits: 3
SOC 08320 - Urban Sociology Credits: 3
SOC 08326 - Socialization of the Child Through Adolescence - WI Credits: 3
SOC 08327 - Comparative Education in Sociological Perspective Credits: 3
SOC 08330 - Social Stratification Credits: 3
SOC 08332 - Contemporary Sociological Theory Credits: 3
SOC 08336 - Sociology of Education Credits: 3
SOC 08362 - Sociology of Disability Credits: 3
SOC 08365 - Contemporary Jewish Life Credits: 3
SOC 08370 - Sociology of Women In Society Credits: 3
SOC 08431 - Social Psychology of City Life Credits: 3
SOC 08493 - Seminar on Gender Roles Credits: 3
THD 07301 - African, African-American Theatre: Intercultural Definitions Credits: 3
THD 07360 - Musical Theatre Credits: 3

Open Elective Courses: 6 s.h.

Take two from the bank of American Studies Electives. Courses chosen here may not be used in other banks.

HIST 05150 - United States to 1865 Credits: 3
HIST 05151 - United States since 1865 Credits: 3
HIST 05322 - Civil War and Reconstruction Credits: 3
HIST 05334 - US Urban History Credits: 3
HIST 05371 - U.S. Legal and Constitutional History to 1870 Credits: 3
HIST 05372 - U.S. Legal and Constitutional History since 1870 Credits: 3
HIST 05373 - Civil Rights/Black Power Movements Credits: 3
HIST 05375 - The United States since 1945 Credits: 3
HIST 05376 - African American History to 1865 Credits: 3
HIST 05377 - African American History since 1865 Credits: 3
HIST 05407 - History of World War II Credits: 3
HIST 05429 - Topics in History Credits: 3
HIST 05438 - History of the Vietnam War Credits: 3
HIST 05471 - History of the American West Credits: 3
HIST 05495 - Internship in History Credits: 3
ENGL 02113 - Introduction to U.S. Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 02200 - Gender, Sexuality, and Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 02205 - Young Adult Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 02313 - US Literature I Credits: 3
ENGL 02315 - US Literature II Credits: 3
ENGL 02317 - Children’s Literature: Texts and Contexts Credits: 3
ENGL 02324 - American Realism and Naturalism Credits: 3
ENGL 02327 - Modern and Contemporary American Poetry Credits: 3
ENGL 02424 - American Drama Credits: 3
ENGL 02425 - Contemporary Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 05301 - American English Grammar Credits: 3
AFST 11104 - Introduction to Africana Studies Credits: 3
AFST 11304 - Africana Social Thought Credits: 3
ANTH 02310 - Native North America Credits: 3
ANTH 02350 - Comparative Cultures Credits: 3
ARHS 03310 - History of American Art Credits: 3
CMS 04210 - Mass Media and Their Influences Credits: 3
CMS 04215 - Fiction to Film Credits: 3
CMS 04310 - Images of Gender in Popular Culture Credits: 3
CMS 04315 - Digital Media Processes Credits: 3
CMS 04320 - Communicating Gender Credits: 3
CMS 04330 - International Media Communication Credits: 3
GEOG 16240 - US and Canada Credits: 3
GEOG 16302 - Urban Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 16241 - Geography of New Jersey Credits: 3
GEOG 16303 - Political Geography Credits: 3
INTR 01130 - Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies Credits: 3
CHSS 20399 - Internship In Applied Liberal Arts Credits: 2 to 6
LAWJ 05202 - American Police Credits: 3
LAWJ 05205 - Minorities, Crime and Criminal Justice Credits: 3
LAWJ 05312 - Criminal Procedure II Credits: 3
LAWJ 05315 - Criminal Justice and Social Conflict Credits: 3
LAWJ 05322 - Drugs and Crime in America Credits: 3
LAWJ 05346 - Women, Crime and Criminal Justice Credits: 3
LAWJ 05401 - Law and Human Rights Credits: 3
PHIL 09241 - Social and Political Philosophy - WI Credits: 3
PHIL 09393 - Contemporary Moral Problems- WI Credits: 3
PHIL 09328 - Philosophy and Gender Credits: 3
POSC 07110 - American Government Credits: 3
POSC 07220 - State and Local Government Credits: 3
POSC 07230 - Comparative Political Systems Credits: 3
POSC 07306 - The Presidency Credits: 3
POSC 07310 - American Constitutional Law Credits: 3
POSC 07311 - Women and American Politics Credits: 3
POSC 07320 - International Relations Credits: 3
POSC 07321 - Contemporary World Problems Credits: 3
POSC 07323 - The Politics of Poverty: Class, Gender, and Race in America Credits: 3
POSC 07340 - Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Credits: 3
POSC 07380 - Politics on Film Credits: 3
POSC 07400 - American Political Thought Credits: 3
EDPA 02490 - Public Service Internship Credits: 3 to 12
PSY 01200 - Psychology of Women and Cultural Experience Credits: 3
PSY 01235 - African American Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 01310 - Psychology of Racism and Ethnocentrism: Causes, Development, Consequences, Solutions Credits: 3
RTF 03205 - TV History and Appreciation Credits: 3
RTF 03206 - TV History and Appreciation, 1960s-1970s Credits: 3
RTF 03280 - African American Film History Credits: 3
REL 10210 - Religion in America Credits: 3
HSRV 01100 - Introduction to Human Services Credits: 3
SOC 08120 - Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3
SOC 08220 - Sociology of the Family Credits: 3
SOC 08221 - Social Problems Credits: 3
SOC 08281 - Sexuality and Society Credits: 3
SOC 08230 - Sociology of Minority Groups Credits: 3
SOC 08320 - Urban Sociology Credits: 3
SOC 08326 - Socialization of the Child Through Adolescence - WI Credits: 3
SOC 08327 - Comparative Education in Sociological Perspective Credits: 3
SOC 08330 - Social Stratification Credits: 3
SOC 08331 - Classical Sociological Theory Credits: 3
SOC 08332 - Contemporary Sociological Theory Credits: 3
SOC 08336 - Sociology of Education Credits: 3
SOC 08362 - Sociology of Disability Credits: 3
SOC 08365 - Contemporary Jewish Life Credits: 3
SOC 08370 - Sociology of Women In Society Credits: 3
SOC 08431 - Social Psychology of City Life Credits: 3
SOC 08493 - Seminar on Gender Roles Credits: 3
THD 07301 - African, African-American Theatre: Intercultural Definitions Credits: 3
THD 07360 - Musical Theatre Credits: 3

Free Electives: 60 s.h.

Total Required Credits for the Program: 120 s.h.

Tiffany Tillman
Coordinator
Campbell Library, 5th Floor
samsel@rowan.edu