Programs of Study

UMass Lowell offers both a major and a minor in American Studies, as well as a combined BA/MA option in the Economic and Social Development of regions.


For the latest course information please visit the UMass Lowell on-line Academic Catalog.

The Major in American Studies

The major requires 36-45 credits. All students majoring in American Studies are required to take the following courses: 

• Values in American Culture
• U.S. History to 1877 and U.S. History since 1877
• History of American Literature I and History of American Literature II
• A course in research methods, either:
  • Introduction to Historical Methods
  • Introduction to Political Analysis
  • Research I: The Basics
  • Sociological Research I
  • Critical Methods of Literary Inquiry
• American Studies Seminar or Directed Study

Please see the on-line Undergraduate Catalog for course descriptions.

In addition, students select courses from the arts, humanities, and social sciences through which they analyze American culture, social structures and problems, and avenues of change. These courses are selected with guidance from the faculty in American Studies. Students are also encouraged to complete at least one internship/practicum in a professional area of interest.

Students have two options for organizing these courses: The Discipline-Based Option or the Thematic-Based Option.

Students following the Discipline-Based Option will choose two disciplines from which to take 12 credits at the 300 level or above (six credits from each discipline) and one interdisciplinary course at the 300 level.

Students choosing the Thematic-Based Option will identify a theme to explore and choose five courses from the list approved for each theme. Three of these courses must be at the 300 level or higher. Click on the themes below to see listings of approved courses:

• The City, the Environment and Technology in America
   
• Class, Gender and Ethnicity in America
  
  
• Popular Culture and the Arts in America
  
  
• Conflict and War in American Culture

All students are also encouraged to do a practicum. 

BA/MA Option in Economic and Social Development of Regions

The American Studies Program offers a five-year BA/MA option in conjunction with the graduate program in Economic and Social Development of Regions.  The option allows students to take select courses from the master's program graduate offerings while completing the American Studies major.  For more information please contact Marie Frank from American Studies.

The Minor in American Studies

• two 300-level courses
• Values in American Culture
• at least one interdisciplinary course at the 300 level