American Studies Minor
The five-course minor in American Studies invites students to explore how American societies, cultures, and institutions are created, expressed, and contested. Drawing on interdisciplinary approaches from the humanities and social sciences, our courses examine historical, literary, artistic, political, economic, legal, and social perspectives to illuminate the vast array of experiences and identities that shape life in the United States. Students also engage with global and comparative contexts, considering how American meanings and practices intersect with broader transnational dynamics.
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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| AMST 101I |  This Place Called "America" | 3 |
| One of the following options: | 3 | |
| Myth and History in American Memory | ||
| Introduction to the Cultures and Histories of Native North America | ||
| This Place Called "The South" | ||
| Approaches to Southern Studies: The Creative and Cultural Worlds of the American South | ||
| Difference and Power in American Culture(s) | ||
| Food and American Culture | ||
| America's Role in the Global Environment | ||
| Everyday Cultures: Folklore in America | ||
| Three additional elective courses selected from other AMST, FOLK, and CHER courses. 1 | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
American Studies (AMST), Folklore (FOLK), and Cherokee (CHER) course descriptions.
See program page here for special opportunities.
Department Programs
Majors
- American Studies Major, B.A.
- American Studies Major, B.A.–American Indian and Indigenous Studies Concentration
Minors
Graduate Programs
- Ph.D. in American Studies
- M.A. in Folklore
- Graduate Minor in American Studies
- Graduate Minor in Folklore
Courses
