Bachelor of Arts in American Studies Roadmap
120 Total Units Required
Minimum Number of Units in the Major: 39
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult your Degree Planner and an advisor for further guidance.
To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.
| First Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GE Area 1A: English Composition 1 | 3 | |
| GE Area 1: English Communication | 3 | |
| GE Area 3A: Arts | 3 | |
| GE Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences 2 | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Select One (Major Core): | 3 | |
| Self, Place, and Knowing: Introduction to Interdisciplinary Inquiry | ||
| Values in American Life (GE 3B, AERM) | ||
| Select One: | 3 | |
| GE Area 1: English Communication | 3 | |
| GE Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning 3 | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| GE Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences 4 | 3-4 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Three | 9 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| Major Elective (21 units total) 5 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences 4 | 3-4 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Three | 9 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| HUM 300GW | Reading and Writing Across Creative Forms - GWAR (Major Core) | 3 |
| 400-level History course (Major Core) | 3 | |
| GE Area 5UD or 2UD: Upper-Division Sciences or Upper-Division Mathematical Concepts | 3 | |
| U.S. and California Government | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| Select One (Major Core): | 3 | |
| The Arts and American Culture (GE 3UD, AERM) | ||
| American Images: Photography and Literature (GE 3UD) | ||
| AMST 410/HUM 450/ENG 450 | California Culture (Major Core, GE 3UD) | 3 |
| Major Elective (21 units total) 5 | 3 | |
| GE Area 6: Ethnic Studies | 3 | |
| GE Area 4UD: Upper-Division Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Seventh Semester | ||
| Select One Geography Course (Major Core) | 3 | |
| Future Environments (GE 4UD, ES, GP, SJ) | ||
| Urban Transportation | ||
| Justice and Belonging: Intersecting Geographies of Race and Ethnicity (AERM, SJ) | ||
| Geography of California (GE 4UD, AERM, ES, SJ) | ||
| Major Elective (21 units total) – Take Two 5 | 6 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Two | 6 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Eighth Semester | ||
| Major Elective (21 units total) – Take Three 5 | 9 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Two | 6 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Total Units | 120-122 | |
- 1
Students should use their Pathway/Category to determine the appropriate GE 1A course option. For directions on how to view your Pathway/Category, visit how to find your pathway. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 2
First-time freshmen must take one lower-division Area 4 course that meets US History (USH).
- 3
Students should use their Pathway/Category to determine the appropriate GE 2 course option. For directions on how to view your Pathway/Category, visit how to find your pathway. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 4
Consider taking a class combined with a laboratory or a separate lab to fulfill 5C if not already satisfied.
- 5
Elective Courses (21 units)
Courses, by choice and advisement, on a topic or theme in American Studies, drawn from at least two disciplines. See coordinator and website for recommended elective pathways. Up to 6 units may be in community college or lower-division coursework. For students with GPA 3.0 or higher, electives can include a senior course on advisement: Independent Study (699) on a specific topic connected to prior course work, to be developed through consultation with the coordinator and faculty from the appropriate department (3-6 units).Courses especially appropriate as electives for the American Studies major are offered by the following departments:
- Africana Studies
- American Indian Studies
- Asian American Studies
- Cinema
- English
- Geography
- History
- Humanities
- Journalism
- Latina/Latino Studies
- Music
- Political Science
- Race and Resistance Studies
- Social Science
- Urban Studies and Planning
- Women and Gender Studies