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American Studies

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Engage in all aspects of the “American Experience”

The American Studies minor offers students the opportunity to engage in the intellectual, cultural, political, literary, and historical aspects of the United States from an inter- and multi-disciplinary perspective.

The program engages students in critical and constructive discourse and experiences in the cultures, values, institutions, government processes, historical accounts and narratives, and literary expressions of what it is to be “American.” This includes as a center-point the diverse views, experiences, histories, theories, and cultures of diverse peoples of the past and present.

About the Minor

The American Studies minor provides a broad-based education in American thought and culture from a variety of disciplines such as American history, Africana studies, political science, philosophy, humanities, religious studies, literature, and sociology, among others.

The minor emphasizes critical analysis and evaluation of the American experience by providing the groundwork for critical and constructive understanding of the development of and lived experience in American culture and society. Students can tailor the program, making it adaptable to the needs, abilities, preferences, and career and professional goals of the student.

Minor Requirements

Students must declare the minor through the myUCF Student Center in order to be awarded the minor upon graduation.

UCF Catalog: American Studies Minor

Always defer to the UCF Undergraduate Catalog for official requirements.

The American Studies minor requires 18 hours of coursework, divided among the following areas:

  • Three credit hours of American literature from the Department of English
  • Three credit hours of social science and social issues from Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Sociology
  • Three credit hours of history from the Department of History
  • A total of 6 hours in Humanities, Philosophy, Religion, and Culture, divided as follows:
    • Three credit hours of philosophy and religion from Anthropology and the Department of Philosophy
    • Three credit hours of art, humanities and culture from Africana studies, American history, anthropology, archaeology, art history, film, philosophy and theatre.
  • Three upper-division credit hours of restricted electives from the previous four categories or one of three lower-division courses in American music

Individualized Curriculum

Students may design an area of concentration of their choosing including coursework from two or more subject areas such as history, philosophy, religious studies, political science, anthropology, sociology, africana studies, and cultural studies.

For example, a student might concentrate attention on American social problems or cultural movements in the South and choose a combination of courses such as this:

  • Literature of the South (AML 4261)
  • Protest in American Politics (POS 3234)
  • History of the South since 1865 (AMH 3403)
  • American Philosophy (PHH 3700)
  • History of Latinos in the U.S. (AMH 3586)
  • Southern Politics (POS 3173)

Careers & Graduate Work

The American Studies minor can help students to prepare for diverse graduate work and careers including philosophy, humanities, political science, history, sociology, anthropology, law, social work, public relations, education, journalism, broadcasting, and government.

Courses