Minor in American Studies

The American Studies minor builds on the tradition of an interdisciplinary field of study that promotes a broad humanistic understanding of American culture, past and present. By incorporating economics, history, literature, sociology, art history, anthropology, ethnic studies and public policy (among other areas), this minor encourages students and faculty within those fields to exchange ideas on scholarship as it relates to the American experience. In addition, the American Studies minor seeks to move beyond traditional limitations of American Studies, by allowing students to take relevant courses in engineering or the natural sciences. Inclusion of these courses is based on the rationale that cultural practices often stem from our understanding of and research in those sciences.

Minimum Requirements1

  • One of the following courses:
    • HIST 016 The Forging of the United States, 1607-1877
    • HIST 017 The Modern United States, 1877-Present
    • LIT 030 Introduction to American Literature I
    • LIT 031 Introduction to American Literature II
  • One upper division American history course
  • One upper division American literature course
  • One upper division non-HIST/LIT course on American topics (Please choose from the following or check with the SSHA Advising Office for other appropriate courses):
    • ANTH 146 Archaeology of Native California
    • ANTH 142 Archaeology of Colonialism
    • ARTS 120 American Music of the 20th Century
    • GASP 175 Race and Nationalism in American Art
    • NSED 120 Diversity in Education
    • POLI 102 Judicial Politics
    • POLI 110 Government Power and the Constitution
    • POLI 160 U.S. Foreign Policy
    • SOC 110 Social Movement, Protest and Collective Action
    • SOC 131 Urban Inequality
  • One of the following upper division courses in American ethnicity, race or gender:
    • ANTH 110 Migration, Diaspora, and Transnational Belonging
    • GASP 135 African American Music
    • HIST 124 African American History from Slavery to Civil Rights
    • HIST 133 Topics in the History of Migration and Immigration (only if focused on US topics)
    • LIT 120 Topics in Literature of Difference
    • LIT 169 U.S. Latino Literature
    • SCS 145 Second Language Learning and Bilingualism

1 All requirements are for informational purposes only. Please consult the current UC Merced catalog, or your advisor for official requirements.