American Studies
The American Studies program is designed to meet the needs of students, including non-traditional majors and lifelong learners, who want to pursue a flexible, multi-disciplinary curriculum in American Studies. Students explore the experiences and values of the people of the United States as embodied in their history, literature, art, and other forms of cultural expression.
Program Focus Areas
All undergraduate students are required to choose one of three program focus areas:
- American Arts - Students explore the creative role of music, film, and popular culture in shaping American values, desires, tastes, and behavior. They are invited to examine the ways in which the visual arts have shaped, and are a product of, the social, economic, and political developments that have defined the American experience.
- American History - Students acquire a broad understanding of the interplay of culture, society, and political change in America's past, present, and future. This focus explores how present day problems are contingent on past actions and belief systems.
- American Literature - Students will read poetry and prose, fiction and dramatic works of representative American writers. They will acquire an understanding of critical approaches to the study of literature and of the relationship between culture and literary studies.
Five-year BA/MA Degree Option
The American Studies program offers the unique opportunity for qualified undergraduate students to enter the American Studies Master of Arts program after completing three years of undergraduate coursework. Students seeking to pursue this option should begin planning their coursework during their freshman year. To learn more about this program, please visit the American Studies Undergraduate Graduate page.
Office Location & Contact Information
Program Director: Dr. Susan Kollin
2-179 Wilson Hall
P.O. Box 170595
Bozeman, MT 59717
Email: amerstudies@montana.edu
Foreign Language Requirements
All students are required to take 6 credits of multi-ethnic and/or global studies coursework or at least one year of a foreign language.
All students, regardless of program focus area, must complete the following courses:
| Freshman Year | Credits |
|---|---|
| AMST 101D - Introduction to American Studies | 3 |
| NASX 105D - Introduction to Native American Studies or AMST 202RA - The Arts in America | 3 |
| 1 Year Foreign Language Courses or multi-ethnic, global studies, or WGSS coursework | 6 |
History Option- History Concentration Students must take all 3 | |
| HSTA 101IH - American History I or HSTA 102IH - American History II or HSTA 160D - Introduction to the American West | 4 |
| CORE Elective College Writing (W) and Quantitative Reasoning (Q) | 6 |
| Advisor Approved Electives Natural Sciences (IN or RN) and University Seminar (US) | 9 |
| Year Total: | 31 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits |
| LIT 214D - Regional Literature | 3 |
| PSCI 210IS - Introduction to American Government | 3 |
| AMST 201IH - American Identity, American Dreams | 3 |
Arts Option- Art Concentration Students must take both | |
| AMST 202RA - The Arts in America or MUSI 203IA - American Popular Music | 3 |
| CORE ElectiveContemporary Issues in Science (CS) and Diversity (D) | 6 |
| Advisor Approved ElectiveSocial Sciences (IS or RS) and Humanities (IH or RH) | 12 |
| Year Total: | 30 |
| Junior Year | Credits |
Literature Option - Literature Concentration Students must take 3 | |
| LIT 308 - Multicultural Literature or LIT 310 - American Literature to 1900 or LIT 311 - American Literature after 1900 or LIT 335 - Women and Literature or LIT 431RH - Studies in Major Author/s | 3 |
| Upper Division AMST Elective | 3 |
| CORE Elective Research & Creative Experience (RA, RH,RN,or RS) | 6 |
| Advisor Approved Elective | 18-24 |
| Year Total: | 30 |
| Senior Year | Credits |
| AMST 401R - Seminar in American Studies | 4 |
| CORE Elective | 3 |
| Advisor Approved Elective | 22 |
| Year Total: | 29 |
| Total Program Credits: | 120 |
Capstone Experience
All students in the major take a common 4-credit capstone course in their final year (AMST 401R Seminar in American Studies). Students will work together in small groups to design solutions to contemporary issues in American society. Each small-group project will result in a scholarly product (typically a paper or presentation) that will serve as a measurable indication of the extent to which students have mastered the critical thinking, reading, writing, and oral communication skills that are the principal learning objectives of the program.
American Studies Electives
This is not an exhaustive list. For more up to date classes please view the Schedule of Classes for the current semester.
| AMST 301 | Reproduction in America | 3 |
| AMST 490 | Undergraduate Research | 1-6 |
| AMST 492 | Independent Study | 1-6 |
| AMST 498 | Internship | 1-12 |
| ANTY 332 | Native North America | 3 |
| ANTY 351 | Archaeology of North America | 3 |
| ARTH 342 | Modern Art | 3 |
| ARTH 430 | 19th Century Art | 3 |
| ARTH 441 | Art Now | 3 |
| ARTH 451 | Contemporary Art | 3 |
| ECNS 372 | Economic History of US | 3 |
| GPHY 325 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| HSTA 311 | Early America | 3 |
| HSTA 315 | The Age of Jefferson and Jackson: The Early American Republic | 3 |
| HSTA 316 | American Civil War Era | 3 |
| HSTA 322 | Am History: WWII to Present | 3 |
| HSTA 320 | Birth of Modern US: 1865-1945 | 3 |
| HSTA 402 | Sex and Sexuality in America | 3 |
| HSTA 406 | McCarthy, Populism and Fear in US Politics | 3 |
| HSTA 407 | Gender in US & Canadian West | 3 |
| HSTA 408 | Gender in America | 3 |
| HSTA 409 | Food in America | 3 |
| HSTA 412IH | American Thought and Culture | 3 |
| HSTA 416 | Race and Class in America | 3 |
| HSTA 450 | History of American Indians | 3 |
| HSTA 460 | Montana and the West | 3 |
| HSTA 464 | History of the American West | 3 |
| HSTA 468 | History of Yellowstone | 3 |
| HSTA 470 | American Environmental History | 3 |
| HSTA 482 | Technology and the Fate of Humanity | 3 |
| HSTR 372 | The World at War | 3 |
| LIT 308 | Multicultural Literature | 3 |
| LIT 310 | American Literature to 1900 | 3 |
| LIT 311 | American Literature after 1900 | 3 |
| LIT 335 | Women and Literature | 3 |
| LIT 431RH | Studies in Major Author/s | 3 |
| MUSI 130IA | History of Jazz | 3 |
| NASX 304 | Native American Beliefs and Philosophy | 3 |
| NASX 310 | Native Cultures of North America | 3 |
| NASX 340IH | Native American Literature | 3 |
| NASX 360IH | Native Americans and Cinema | 3 |
| NASX 430 | American Indian Education | 3 |
| NASX 476 | American Indian Policy and Law | 3 |
| PHL 328 | Philosophy and Film | 3 |
| PHL 351 | Philosophy and Feminism | 3 |
| PHL 354 | Philosophy of Race | 3 |
| PHOT 401 | Contemporary Issues in Photography | 3 |
| PSCI 302 | Media and Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 347 | The U.S. Congress and the Legislative Process | 3 |
| PSCI 323 | Modern Political Thought | 3 |
| PSCI 341 | Political Parties and Elections | 3 |
| PSCI 346 | American Presidency | 3 |
| PSCI 446 | Congressional Campaign | 3 |
| PSCI 451 | State and Local Government Policy Making | 3 |
| PSCI 454 | Cinema and Political Theory | 3 |
| PSCI 471 | American Constitutional Law | 3 |
| PSYX 335 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
| PSYX 462 | Psychology of Prejudice | 3 |
| SOCI 308 | Becoming an Adult in America | 3 |
| SOCI 320 | Sociology of Religion | 3 |
| SOCI 325 | Social Stratification | 3 |
| SOCI 326 | Sociology of Gender | 3 |
| SOCI 333 | Sociology of Education | 3 |
| SOCI 340 | Social Movements | 3 |
| SOCI 344 | Sociology of Race & Ethnicity | 3 |
| SOCI 345 | Sociology of Organizations | 3 |
| SOCI 359 | Crime, Justice and Media | 3 |
| SOCI 425 | Victims and Society | 3 |
| SOCI 435 | Law and Society | 3 |
| SOCI 436 | Law and Inequality | 3 |
| SOCI 470 | Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 485 | Political Sociology | 3 |
| WGSS 378 | LGBTQ Studies | 3 |
| WGSS 454 | The Study of Men & Masculinity | 3 |
Montana State University offers the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in a unique Rocky Mountain setting that provides students with research opportunities at such sites as the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman and Yellowstone National Park. With a special focus on the American West, the program draws on a distinguished cohort of full-time and associated faculty with research and teaching expertise in the disciplines of Anthropology, Architectural History, Art History, English, History, Film and Photography, Native American Studies, Political Science, and Sociology. American Studies offers the following degrees:
The Five-Year BA/MA Option
The chart below outlines a generic plan of study for a student seeking to earn both their Bachelors and Masters in American Studies within a 5-year timeline. Students will need to complete a total of 150 credits.
| Freshman Year | Credits |
|---|---|
| AMST 101D - Introduction to American Studies | 3 |
| NASX 105D - Introduction to Native American Studies or AMST 202RA - The Arts in America | 3 |
| 1 year Foreign Language, Multi-Ethnic, Global Studies, or WGSS coursework | 6 |
| History Option - American History Focus Area (all 3 courses are required) | |
| HSTA 101IH - American History I or HSTA 102IH - American History II or HSTA 160D - Introduction to the American West | 4 |
| CORE Elective - College Writing (W) and Quantitative Reasoning (Q) | 6 |
| Advisor Approved Electives - Natural Sciences (IN or RN) and University Seminar (US) | 12 |
| Year Total: | 34 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits |
| LIT 214D - Regional Literature | 3 |
| PSCI 210IS - Introduction to American Government | 3 |
| AMST 201IH - American Identity, American Dreams | 3 |
| Arts Option - American Arts Focus Area (Both courses are required) | |
| AMST 202RA - The Arts in America or MUSI 203IA - American Popular Music | 3 |
| CORE Elective - Contemporary Issues in Science (CS) and Diversity (D) | 9 |
| Advisor Approved Elective - Social Science (IS or RS) and Humanities (IH or RH) | 18 - 20 |
| Year Total: | 39-41 |
| Junior Year | Credits |
| AMST 401R - Seminar in American Studies | 4 |
| Literature Option - American Literature Focus Area (3 courses are required) | |
| LIT 308 - Multicultural Literature or LIT 310 - American Literature to 1900 or LIT 311 - American Literature after 1900 or LIT 335 - Women and Literature or LIT 431RH - Studies in Major Author/s | 3 |
| CORE Elective - Research & Creative Experience (RA,RH,RN,or RS) | 12 |
| Advisor Approved Upper Division Elective | 20-21 |
| Year Total: | 39-40 |
| Year 1 | Credits |
| AMST 501 - Methods in American Studies | 3 |
| AMST 502 - Research in American Studies | 3 |
| 400 Level Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 6 |
| Independent Study or Internship | 5 |
| Year Total: | 20 |
| Year 2 | Credits |
| AMST 590 - Master's Thesis | 1-10 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Independent Study or Internship | 2 |
| Year Total: | 6-15 |
| Total Program Credits: | 138-150 |