Bachelor of Arts in American Studies
bring the American experience into your life: be challenged by independent and individual study
view the UW course description entries for American Studies
specific course of study requirements for the BA in American Studies
At the University of Wyoming you'll find the choices and benefits of a major university with a small college atmosphere. In our American Studies Program you'll find a low student-faculty ratio that allows you to get to know your instructor and your classmates while exploring the many cultures our country encompasses.
The interdisciplinary approach to our program brings you a wide variety of
course choices that cross department and college boundaries, letting you
choose from the best of many UW disciplines. These provide the basis for the
diverse scholarship practiced in a cultural and educational gathering place
like American Studies.
The University of Wyoming is the state's only four-year educational institution, and its six colleges boast an enrollment of approximately 8500 undergraduates and 2000 graduate students.
Laramie The setting for your studies is Laramie, a
Western community of nearly 30,000, located on the high plains in the
southeastern portion of the state. From here students have access to
National Forests, National Parks, the Wind River Indian reservation, as well
as lands administered by the BLM and other federal and state agencies. This
location offers the student unique opportunities for cultural research as
well as diverse recreational settings.
The Cooper House Home of the American Studies Program is
the Cooper House, a large private residence built in the 1920s. This
beautiful structure's unique styling and colorful history has earned it a
spot on the National Register for historic Places. Its comfortable, informal
atmosphere is well suited to the program's small classes and sense of
community. Students quickly feel at home and develop a great deal of pride
in their place of study.
Be Challenged by Independent and Individual Study
Select your own individual course of
study from among such topics as:
Nature and
culture in the U. S.
Multi-cultural America
Public culture in America
Explore American culture through field experience in some challenging locations:
Oregon Trail
New York City
Yellowstone National Park
Buffalo Bill Historical Center
View American culture from abroad through an American Studies international exchange (semester or year)
Enjoy Flexibility and Substance in Your Curriculum
If you're interested in a curriculum
that offers both flexibility and substance, take a look at UW's
interdisciplinary American Studies Program. A bachelor of arts in American
Studies requires a total of 45 hours in the following:
Five prerequisite courses provide you with a good
foundation: surveys of American literature and American history, plus
Introduction to American Studies —15 hours
Eight distributed courses in the major allow you to chart your own path
(upper level classes in the humanities, social sciences, and fine arts) —24
hours
Two senior-level American Studies courses allow you to examine your
perspectives in American culture. —6 hours.
In our UW program, we encourage you to interact with contemporary American
culture and explore current social issues. You can focus on different
regions of the country, as well as contemporary problems in our field
studies course: and you may have opportunities to become involved in
projects funded through a variety of Federal and state agencies.
summer internships Our undergraduates can be placed in
summer internships, some of which are accompanied by a substantial stipend.
Former students have constructed exhibits, given walking tours, worked on
briefing papers and reports, and conducted primary research in institutions
as varied as the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, the
Environmental Protection Agency in Denver, or the Public Information Office
in Yellowstone National Park.
international exchanges You may take advantage of
international exchanges that enhance a program of study without prolonging
the college years. All of these exchange programs are taught in English, and
all exchanges offer standard UW tuition and room and board costs.
American Studies Degree Opportunities
Like most degrees in the humanities or social sciences, American Studies
gives you a broad education, emphasizing the flexibility, adaptability, and
ease of expression (in both written and verbal form) that employers seek.
Unlike many other majors, American studies gives you the possibility of
showing how an academic knowledge of American culture translates into
specific projects or experiences from among the wide variety of cultures
that surround us.
This sort of composite portfolio is ideal for further education in law school or graduate school, for teaching at the primary or secondary levels, or for work in the public culture—in agencies like the U.S. Park Service or the U.S. Forest Service, in cultural institutions (museums, historic sites), or in public advocacy groups.
The interdisciplinary major in American studies emphasizes the integration of the humanities, fine arts and social sciences in the study of American experience, past and present.
Cultural Interaction The program places special emphasis on interaction with contemporary American culture through course work, field experiences and internships so that each student can apply academic knowledge to real life circumstances.
Many students choose among literature, history, geography or anthropology for their distributed course requirements, but major areas of course work may include political science, mass media, the fine arts, sociology or philosophy.
With the help of an American studies program adviser, each student plans an individualized course of study emphasizing as academic interest, a career goal and/or preparation for further education in law or graduate school.
Although the focus of the program is broad,
many students choose to emphasize nature and culture in the U.S., American
cultural diversity or preparation for a career in the public sector
(museums, historic sites, interpretive centers, etc.).
Writing Requirements
University Studies writing requirements can be satisfied with AMST 2010 (W2)
and AMST 4985 (W3).
Internships The program has an active program of paid
internships that can place students in work environments in Wyoming, other
parts of the U.S., or in selected foreign countries.
Exchanges The program has established semester or
academic year exchanges with universities in Great Britain, the Netherlands
and Denmark in order to encourage an international understanding of American
culture. The Elaine Kay Clatterbuck Fund supports majors who are spending
this valuable time abroad.
Financial Aid The William Robertson Coe Fellowship
supports undergraduate tuition. The Long-Findeisen Fund supports individual
research or exhibition projects. The Elaine K. Clatterbuck Fellowship
assists students engaged in an international exchange. The internship
program provides students with a stipend while engaged in a program-approved
internship. Students are encouraged to seek out additional financial
resources in consultation with the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Teacher Education Teacher certification in elementary or secondary (social studies) is available by arrangement with the College of Education. Students will be assigned an adviser from the College of Education, as well as from American studies.
Undergraduate Minor Students may minor in American
Studies through a program of 24 credits of study, some which may be matched
with major requirements in related disciplines and fields. Further
information may be found in The Minors Booklet, which is available in
the A&S Dean's Office (114 A&S Building).
