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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
Department of American Studies

Departmental Honors

Students on Summer 2020, Fall 2020, or Spring 2021 requirements AMST-HON

Working toward departmental honors in American Studies gives students the opportunity to conduct in-depth research and pursue their passion for a particular subject. Earning an honors degree demonstrates a student’s research skills and may provide a competitive edge in applications for graduate or professional schools.

Requirements

  1. Course Requirements. Honors candidates must earn 42 credit hours in American Studies, including the following:
    1. Honors Senior Seminar in American Studies. One (1) course:
      • AMST-A 451 Honors Senior Seminar in American Studies
    2. Honors Thesis in American Studies. One (1) course:
      • AMST-A 452 Honors Thesis in American Studies
    3. Foreign Language Competency. Demonstrate competency in a single foreign language equivalent to a third year of study. This may require an additional two semesters (6 cr.) of a foreign language beyond College requirements, including at least one course at the 300–499 level that covers a foreign language literature. The language chosen must pertain directly to American Studies and requires the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
  2. Major GPA. Honors candidates must have a GPA of 3.500 or higher in the American Studies major at the time of graduation.
  3. GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Students must have a College GPA of 3.300 or higher to qualify for admission to a Departmental Honors program and to receive Departmental Honors. Units may set a higher College GPA.
    2. Units establish additional criteria, including admissions procedures, academic performance standards, and whether there are required courses, papers, or projects.
    3. Students who wish to earn honors in two different units must complete a distinct body of work for each honors notation.

Exceptions to and substitutions for honors requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.