Graduate Program
Graduate Advisor
Varies, contact department office.
Admission Information
Applicants to the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs in American Studies should hold a bachelor’s degree and/or a strong background in American Studies or a related field such as Anthropology, Art History, Economics, Education, English, Ethnic Studies, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, or Women Studies. In making their application, candidates are expected to submit a substantive letter of intent with a clear statement of their American Studies research interests and their goals in pursuing such investigations on at the master's- or doctoral-level. Only candidates who show purpose and promise, and whose research needs can be appropriately met, are admitted by a committee of the department faculty.
Application Deadlines
Annual: January 15.
NOTE: Early application is recommended. No new applications are accepted after January 15.
Degrees Offered
- Master of Arts in American Studies (M.A.)
- Doctor of Philosophy in American Studies (Ph.D.)
The Department of American Studies is committed to the interdisciplinary study of American culture and society as a whole. Besides general courses in American life and thought, six areas of study are offered: cultural studies (including folklore and material culture); Southwest studies; environmental and social justice; popular culture; gender studies; race, class and ethnicity. Students consult with department faculty to develop individual, interdepartmental programs of study in the humanities and social sciences that focus on these or other significant aspects of American society and thought.
Master of Arts in American Studies
Requirements
Taking into consideration the experience and purposes of each student, individualized programs are planned to focus in two major areas of interest with supplementary work in other areas.
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in American Studies is offered under Plan I (thesis), Plan II (non-thesis), and Plan III (coursework only) as described in The Graduate Program section of this Catalog. The master’s program, in any case, requires an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental grouping of courses for the study of American culture.
Plan I: completion of at least 27 credit hours of coursework in addition to at least six (6) thesis credit hours.
Plan II: completion of a minimum of 33 credit hours of graduate coursework culminating in a comprehensive examination.
Plan III: completion of a minimum of 33 credit hours of graduate coursework with no final examination or project.
All graduate students must take the following in their first three semesters in the program:
- AMST 500: American Culture Study Seminar (in the first fall semester)
- AMST 501: Theories and Methods in American Studies (in the first spring semester)
- AMST 502: Research Methods Practicum (in the second fall semester)
Students must also take at least four other American Studies seminars during the completion of M.A. coursework.
Doctor of Philosophy in American Studies
Requirements
General guidelines for completion of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in American Studies are set forth in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog. Taking into consideration the experience and purposes of each student, individualized programs are planned to emphasize three major areas of interest with supplementary work in other areas.
At least 48 credit hours of coursework, exclusive of dissertation, are required for the Ph.D. in American Studies:
- Required introductory graduate sequence: AMST 500, 501, 502 (9 credit hours);
- Seminars in American Studies (18 credit hours);
- Electives chosen from any department or program (15 credit hours);
- Independent study in preparation for comprehensive qualifying examination (6 credit hours).
Students that hold an M.A. degree may transfer up to 18 credit hours at the discretion of the American Studies department.
Foreign Language: In addition to the coursework requirements, students must fulfill the department's foreign language requirement either through the various options approved by the Graduate Studies office or through satisfactory completion of an alternative methodology option to be determined by the student in consultation with the student’s committee on studies and the chairperson of the department.
Comprehensive Qualifying Examination: The comprehensive qualifying examination is taken after completion of coursework. The primary purpose of this written exam is to determine the student's ability at synthesizing the subject matter and various methodologies covered during his or her time in the program. Detailed guidelines for the comprehensive examination are available at the American Studies department.
Dissertation: 18 credit hours of AMST 699 Dissertation are required. The dissertation concerns itself with at least three disciplines in a specific area of American life.
Graduate Minor in American Studies
The graduate minor in American Studies is only available to Master’s-level students. To complete the minor, students must earn 9 credit hours of 500-level courses (seminars) under Plan I. Under Plan II, students need 12 credit hours of 500-level courses. Under either plan, 1–3 credit hours of Independent Study with a faculty member in American Studies can count toward the minor. AMST 500 is a restricted course and does not apply to the minor.
American Studies graduate students who wish to pursue a minor in another department should do so in consultation with their academic advisor and should contact the other department for specific guidelines for the minor. Faculty members in American Studies may opt to waive their right to serve on a committee of studies outside American Studies. Plan I students may take no more than 9 credit hours of graduate coursework in any other single department, and Plan II students may take no more than 15 credit hours of graduate coursework in any other single department.
Courses in American Studies (AMST) are categorized in areas of interest. The category for each course appears in parenthesis at the end of the course description according to the following legend:
General (G); Cultural Studies (C); Environmental and Social Justice (ESJ); Gender Studies (GS); Popular Culture (PC); Race, Class and Ethnicity (RCE); and Southwest Studies (SS).
Courses
AMST 1110. Introduction to Environmental and Social Justice. (3)
AMST 1120. Introduction to Gender, Sexuality and U.S. Empire. (3)
AMST 1130. Introduction to American Popular Culture. (3)
AMST 1140. Introduction to Race, Class and Ethnicity. (3)
AMST 1150. Introduction to Southwest Studies. (3)
AMST 1996. Topics. (1-6, no limit Δ)
AMST 2110. American Life and Thought. (3)
AMST 2996. Topics. (1-6, no limit Δ)
AMST 303. Law, Violence, and Empire [Law in the Political Community]. (3)
AMST 309 / 509. Topics in Social Movements. (3, may be repeated four times Δ [3, may be repeated once Δ])
AMST 310 / 510. Topics in Cultural Studies. (3, may be repeated once Δ)
AMST 320. Topics in Environmental and Social Justice. (3, may be repeated four times Δ [3, may be repeated twice Δ])
AMST 321. Science, Nature and Anxiety in the Zombie Films of George Romero. (3)
AMST 330 / 530. Topics in Feminist, Queer and Transgender Studies [Topics in Gender Studies]. (3, may be repeated four times Δ)
AMST 331. Politics of Sex. (3)
AMST 340/540. Topics in Popular Visual Culture and Critique [Topics in Cultural Studies]. (3, may be repeated four times Δ)
AMST 341. Topics in Film. (3, may be repeated twice Δ)
AMST 346. Religion in New Mexico. (3)
AMST 350 / 550. Topics in Critical Race Studies [Topics in Feminist, Queer and Transgender Studies] [Topics in Race, Class, Ethnicity]. (3, may be repeated four times Δ [3, may be repeated once Δ])
AMST 351. Blacks in the Southwest. (3)
AMST 352. The U.S. War on Terror. (3)
AMST 357. Topics in African-American Studies. (3, may be repeated four times Δ [3, may be repeated once Δ])
AMST 360 / 560. Topics in Southwest Studies. (3, may be repeated four times Δ [3, may be repeated twice Δ])
AMST 370 / 570 [356/556]. Topics in Critical Indigenous Studies [Topics in Native American Studies]. (3, may be repeated fours times Δ)
AMST 380 / 580. Topics in Latinx Studies [Topics in Latino/a Studies]. (3, may be repeated four times Δ [3])
AMST 385. The Problem of America: Theories and Methods. (3)
AMST 485. Senior Seminar in American Studies [Senior Seminar in the Culture of the United States]. (3)
AMST 497. Individual Study. (1-3 to a maximum of 9 Δ)
AMST *498. Internship. (1-6)
AMST 499. Honors Thesis. (3)
AMST 500. American Culture Study Seminar. (3)
AMST 501. Theories and Methods in American Studies. (3)
AMST 502. Research Methods Practicum. (3, may be repeated once Δ)
AMST 509 / 309. Topics in Social Movements. (3, may be repeated four times Δ [3, may be repeated once Δ])
AMST 510 / 310. Topics in Cultural Studies. (3, may be repeated twice Δ)
AMST 517. Visual Culture. (3)
AMST 519. Topics in Cultural History. (3, may be repeated once Δ)
AMST 520. Topics in Environmental and Social Justice. (3, may be repeated twice Δ)
AMST 530 / 330. Topics in Feminist, Queer and Transgender Studies [Topics in Gender Studies]. (3, may be repeated four times Δ)
AMST 540/340. Topics in Popular Visual Culture and Critique . (3, may be repeated four times Δ)
AMST 550 / 350. Topics in Critical Race Studies [Topics in Feminist, Queer and Transgender Studies] [Topics in Race, Class, Ethnicity]. (3, may be repeated four times Δ [3, may be repeated once Δ])
AMST 560 / 360. Topics in Southwest Studies. (3, may be repeated four times Δ [3, may be repeated twice Δ])
AMST 570 / 370. Topics in Critical Indigenous Studies [Topics in Native American Studies]. (3, may be repeated four times Δ)
AMST 580 / 380. Topics in Latinx Studies [Topics in Latino/a Studies]. (3, may be repeated four times Δ [3])
AMST 597. Individual Study-Master's Degree. (1-3 to a maximum of 3 Δ)
AMST 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)
AMST 697. Individual Study. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
AMST 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)
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Office of the Registrar
MSC11 6325
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Fax: (505) 277-6809