Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Humanities, American Studies Concentration, BA

The American Studies concentration of the Humanities BA provides a San José State home for the study of U.S. cultures. Our courses, research, and events emphasize the cultural, political, and social aspects of the United States, past and present. In addition to our core faculty, we draw our instructors from departments throughout the university in order to integrate disciplines and themes.

Program Learning Outcomes

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements	41
Major Preparation	0-12
Major Core Requirements	33
Concentration Electives	12-16
University Electives	18-34
Total	120

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

Major-Specific Graduation Requirements

Students in this major should consult their advisor regarding the American Institutions requirement. Depending on sequence(s) a student chooses, 0-30 units of GE/AI can be met in the major.

University Requirements

Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Note Abbreviations ).

Core Lower Division General Education (30 units)

Of the 39 units required by the university, 9 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3, B4, or F must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with a major advisor for details.

Note: Students who have completed the ADT Transfer degree (under SB 1440) for this major will have completed all lower division GE requirements and should follow the 60 unit guarantee roadmap. Meet with an advisor prior to registering for your first semester for the 60 unit roadmap or specific questions.

Upper Division General Education

Of the 9 units required by the university, 9 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with a major advisor for details.

American Institutions

The 6 units of American Institutions (US123) requirement may be satisfied in the major (if identified below) or by transfer from a community college or university. Other courses meet the American Institutions requirement, but may not include additional GE areas.

Consult major advisor for department recommended coursework to meet GE requirement.

Physical Education (2 units)

All SJSU undergraduate students, regardless of major, have an opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in physical activities. To accommodate students’ needs and interests, the university offers a diverse selection of activity courses .

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (3 units)

At SJSU, students must pass a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course with a grade of C or better (C- not accepted) to meet graduation requirements. Exceptions to the GWAR may be found in the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) section.

This requirement is fulfilled in this major with:

HUM 100W - Writing in the Humanities & Interdisciplinary Arts
3 unit(s) (WID)

Recommended Major Preparation (0-12 units)

Recommended that native students complete one of the sequences below, in consultation with Advisor. Any student who completes the American Institutions requirement will have met this area.

Complete One Sequence From:

Major Requirements (45 units)

Core Courses (15 units)

HUM 80 - Reading the World 3 unit(s) (A3)
HUM 95 - Introduction to Digital Humanities 3 unit(s)
HUM 101 - Human Life: Let’s Think About It 3 unit(s)
HUM 160 - Special Topics in Humanities 3 unit(s)
HUM 190 - Senior Seminar in Humanities 3 unit(s)

Comparative Courses (9 units)

Complete three courses:

AMS 129 - The U.S. in a Global Context 3 unit(s)
AMS 159 - Nature and World Cultures 3 unit(s) (V)
CA 173 - Thinking About Contemporary World Arts 3 unit(s) (V)
HUM 119 - Myths, Heroes, and Global Cultures 3 unit(s)
HUM 128 - Perspectives on the Twentieth Century: The West in a Global Context 3 unit(s) (V)
RELS 120 - Censors and Icons: Arts and Religion 3 unit(s)
RELS 131 - Gender, Sexuality, and Religion 3 unit(s)

Additional Major Courses (9 units)

Choose three in addition to any American Studies course chosen above.

AMS 129 - The U.S. in a Global Context 3 unit(s)
AMS 139 - Animals and Society 3 unit(s) (R)
AMS 160 - Special Topics in Humanities 3 unit(s)
AMS 169 - The American Dream 3 unit(s) (S)
AMS 179 - Issues in US Popular Culture 3 unit(s)
CA 172 - The Arts in U.S. Society 3 unit(s) (S)
RELS 162 - Religion and Political Controversy in the US 3 unit(s) (S)

Major Electives (12-16 units)

Choose Four Courses From The Following Lists In One Of Three Ways: Topical, Time Period, Or Courses Chosen Evenly Across Multiple Disciplines. Consult American Studies Advisor For More Information And Options.

Values and Ideas:

AAS 185 - Ethnic Studies Methodologies 3 unit(s)
JS 132 - Race, Gender, Inequality and the Law 3 unit(s) (S)
HIST 173 - New World Encounters, 1400-1750 4 unit(s)
PHIL 112 - American Philosophy 3 unit(s)
POLS 121C - Constitutional Law: Civil Rights 4 unit(s)
POLS 163 - American Political Thought 3 unit(s)
RELS 162 - Religion and Political Controversy in the US 3 unit(s) (S)
RELS 191 - Religion in America 3 unit(s) (S)

Arts & Popular Culture:

AFAM 102 - Black Music 3 unit(s)
AFAM 161 - Black Representations in Media and New Technology 3 unit(s)
ARTH 182A - Art of the Americas 3 unit(s)
ARTH 182B - American Art 3 unit(s)
COMM 169I - The Media: Response and Criticism 4 unit(s)
ENGL 162 - Indigenous American Literatures 4 unit(s)
ENGL 163 - Asian American Literatures 4 unit(s)
ENGL 168 - The American Novel 4 unit(s)
MUSC 120 - Worlds of Jazz 3 unit(s) (S)
TA 103 - Musical Theatre 3 unit(s)

Economics, History, Politics and Society:

AFAM 159 - The Racial Wealth Gap in America 3 unit(s) (S)
ENVS 135 - U.S. Environmental Policy 3 unit(s)
GEOG 140 - The United States 3 unit(s) (S)
HIST 173 - New World Encounters, 1400-1750 4 unit(s)
HIST 174 - Colonial & Revolutionary America 4 unit(s)
HIST 175 - Inventing America, 1800-1860 4 unit(s)
HIST 176 - The Civil War and Reconstruction 4 unit(s)
HIST 177 - Industrial America, 1877-1920 4 unit(s)
HIST 178 - Crash, Depression and War, 1920-1950 4 unit(s)
HIST 179 - Cold War America, 1950-Present 4 unit(s)
HIST 181 - Advanced Topics in American History 4 unit(s)
POLS 154 - U.S. Foreign Policy: Formulation and Administration 4 unit(s)

Gender, Family and Sexuality:

AFAM 125 - Black Kinship in the US - Black Families Past and Present 3 unit(s)
AFAM 152 - Black Feminisms 3 unit(s) (S)
HIST 188 - History of Women in the United States 3 unit(s) (S)
LING 129 - Culture, Language and Ethnicity in the U.S. 3 unit(s) (S)
CCS 160 - Gender and Sexuality in the Chicana/o Community 3 unit(s) (S)
SOCI 172 - Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender Studies 3 unit(s)
WGSS 160 - Queering Gender, Race, and Class 3 unit(s)

Race, Ethnicity and Immigration:

AAS 125 - Filipino Experience in the United States 3 unit(s)
AAS 175 - Asian American Communities 3 unit(s) (S)
AFAM 112 - Black Immigrant Communities 3 unit(s)
ANTH 164 - North America before 1492 3 unit(s)
COMM 172F - Multicultural Communication in the United States 4 unit(s)
ENGL 165 - Black American Literatures 4 unit(s)
ENGL 169 - Ethnicity in American Literature 3 unit(s) (S)
CCS 130 - Chicanas and Chicanos in American Society 3 unit(s) (S)
CCS 175 - Human Migrations: Global Reach 3 unit(s)
SOCI 160 - Immigration and Identity 3 unit(s)
SOCI 162 - Race and Ethnic Relations 3 unit(s) (S)

University Electives (18-34 units)

The Department highly recommends majors complete the following:

One year of college level foreign language or equivalent related to chosen area 0-10 unit(s)