American Studies Minor

“What is America?” and “What does it mean to be American?” The American studies area encourages students to ask these questions for themselves and to develop well-researched answers rather than to accept conventional definitions. The undergraduate program in American studies offers its majors and minors the opportunity to explore American traditions, institutions, literature, and arts and exposes students to a diversity of American experiences and perspectives. Students may petition the director of undergraduate studies to have courses not listed approved to fulfill major or minor requirements; such courses will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Requirements

In addition to the program requirements listed below, students must:

  • take at least nine hours of their minor "core" requirements at UNC–Chapel Hill
  • earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the minor core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for minor or specific courses.

For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.

The undergraduate minor in American studies consists of five courses in American studies. 

Core Requirements
AMST 101IDEAs in Action General Education logo This Place Called "America"3
One of the following options:3
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Myth and History in American Memory
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Introduction to the Cultures and Histories of Native North America
IDEAs in Action General Education logo This Place Called "The South"
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Difference and Power in American Culture(s)
IDEAs in Action General Education logo America's Role in the Global Environment
IDEAs in Action General Education logo Everyday Cultures: Folklore in America
Three additional elective courses chosen from the following lists:9
AMST courses numbered 102 or higher 1
FOLK courses numbered 200 or higher 2
CHER courses numbered 101 or higher
Total Hours15
1

Not including AMST 396, AMST 691H, AMST 692H.

2

Not including FOLK 496, FOLK 691H, FOLK 692H.

American Studies (AMST), Folklore (FOLK), and Cherokee (CHER) course descriptions

See program page here for special opportunities.

Department of American Studies

Visit Program Website

204 Greenlaw Hall, CB# 3520

(919) 962-5481

Chair

Patricia Sawin

sawin@unc.edu

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Tim Marr

amstdus@unc.edu