Why You Should Consider The American Studies Major | The Odyssey Online
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Why You Should Consider The American Studies Major

Jen Earthman
Feb 10, 2015
University of Virginia
18
Why You Should Consider The American Studies Major

A lot of the time when I tell people that I'm double majoring in Art History and American Studies, they don't really know what American Studies entails. 

American Studies is, obviously, the study of America, but from several different perspectives, including books, films, music, television and art. It's a very interdisciplinary major, which means you take classes in all different departments, ranging from drama to sociology. If you hate reading and discussion sections, it's definitely not for you,

The American Studies major requires 10 classes, and it has a lot of tie-ins with other majors. For example, two of my art history classes count towards the total ten: Art Since 1945 (one of my favorite classes ever) and Arts and Cultures of the Slave South. This also applies to English, history, and all other kinds of liberal arts majors. You have to take the intro, a Theories and Methods course, a 4000 level seminar, any other AMST class and then electives depending on your concentration. The focuses are southern studies, popular and visual culture, race and ethnicity or self-designed. 

I chose popular and visual culture, so I have to take two electives from a list of those courses. This semester I'm taking History of Popular Music and Spirituality in America. 

Whether you're interested in the major or not, sign up for a class if you need an extra one next fall. You won't be disappointed!

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