BA in American Studies
Shorelight - American University, United States
First Year Course Fee
USD 54,354
Course Accredited By
MSCHE
The American Studies program at American University examines American institutions, cultures, and society, while also inviting students to engage in community research and service in Washington DC and the metropolitan area.
- American Studies at American University is interdisciplinary. That means our program gives students the freedom to take core classes in American Studies as well as electives in history, literature, cultural studies, politics, and the social sciences.
- The American Studies program draws on the resources of its extraordinary location in Washington, DC. With spectacles of nationalism at every turn, the city exemplifies a spirit and tradition of American exceptionalism. At the same time, the presence of foreign embassies and vibrant transnational communities evokes themes of migration, mixture, and cultural hybridity. Living and learning in a global city, students in the program explore the diverse forms in which national and transnational identities are presented in the culturally and socially dynamic settings that surround the university. Faculty take students on study-tours of Washington, D.C. and adjacent sites, and in many American Studies course, students become actively involved in community service organizations, recognizing that the nation's capital is also a city marked by poverty, inequality, and stratification along lines of race, class, gender, and sexuality.
Enrollment Cycles
- July 2023
- December 2023
- March 2024
- Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)
- Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms B-/8
- Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms B-/8
- Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms B-/8
Bachelor's Degree
- Undergraduate PS AAP 2 Terms Second Class Honours, Lower C Satisfactory, 55%
- Undergraduate PS AAPA 2 Terms Second Class Honours, Lower C Satisfactory, 55%
- Undergraduate PS EAP 3 Terms Second Class Honours, Lower C Satisfactory, 55%
English Requirements Certificate
IELTS
- PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
- PSE (1 Term) 5
- EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
- AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
- SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6
TOEFL
- PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
- PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
- EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
- AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
- SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20
Duolingo
- PSE (2 Terms) 70
- PSE (1 Term) 80
- EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
- AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
- SE (1 Term) NA
Uganda
- Advanced Certificate of Education with a minimum of 2 Principal Passing grades of D or higher and at least 1 subsidiary pass in a college preparatory subject. In addition, Uganda Certificate of
- Education with a C (7) average or higher or General Certificate of Education Level (O Level) Examination Certificate with 5 academic subjects passed is required
- Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms B5 and C's (2)
- Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms B5 C's (2)
- Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms B5 C's (2)
- Bachelor's degree, including Bachelor of Medicine or Bachelor of Surgery; Postgraduate and professional diploma or certificate
- Undergraduate PS AAP 2 Terms 70, Class 2 Honors Upper
- Undergraduate PS AAPA 2 Terms 70, Class 2 Honors Upper
- Undergraduate PS EAP 3 Terms 70, Class 2 Honors Upper
English Requirements Certificate
IELTS
- PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
- PSE (1 Term) 5
- EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
- AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
- SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6
TOEFL
- PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
- PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
- EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
- AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
- SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20
Duolingo
- PSE (2 Terms) 70
- PSE (1 Term) 80
- EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
- AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
- SE (1 Term) NA
TANZANIA
- Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)
- Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms D/4
- Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms D/4
- Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms D/4
English Requirements Certificate
IELTS
- PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
- PSE (1 Term) 5
- EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
- AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
- SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6
TOEFL
- PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
- PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
- EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
- AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
- SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20
Duolingo
- PSE (2 Terms) 70
- PSE (1 Term) 80
- EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
- AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
- SE (1 Term) NA
United Kingdom
- Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms GCE
- Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms GCE
- Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms GCE
- Bachelor's degree; Diploma in Technology or Technological Engineering or Arts and Design
- Undergraduate PS AAP 2 Terms 60, Second Class (lower division)
- Undergraduate PS AAPA 2 Terms 60, Second Class (lower division)
- Undergraduate PS EAP 3 Terms 60, Second Class (lower division)
English Requirements Certificate
IELTS
- PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
- PSE (1 Term) 5
- EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
- AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
- SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6
TOEFL
- PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
- PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
- EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
- AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
- SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20
Duolingo
- PSE (2 Terms) 70
- PSE (1 Term) 80
- EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
- AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
SE (1 Term) NA
GCSE/IGCSE/GCE O-LEVEL
- 5 College Preparatory subjects passed; Students must also meet the GCE A/AS Level requirement after completing IGCSEs
- Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms C or 4
- Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms C or 4
- 5 College Preparatory subjects must be passed; Students must also meet the GCE A/AS Level requirement after completing IGCSEs
- Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms C or 4
English Requirements Certificate
IELTS
- PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
- PSE (1 Term) 5
- EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
- AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6
TOEFL
- PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
- PSE (1 Term) 60 - 67
- EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
- AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
- SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20
Duolingo
- PSE (2 Terms) 70
- PSE (1 Term) 80
- EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
- AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
- AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
SE (1 Term) NA
Admission to the Program
- Formal admission to the major requires a grade point average of 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale) in two courses related to the major.
University Requirements
- 120 credit hours with minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 2)
- Completion of all requirements for a major (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 9)
AU Core Requirements
- Completion of AU Core foundation requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.2-8.6)
- Completion of AU Core Habits of Mind requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.7)
- Completion of AU Core integrative course requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.8-8.11)
- For additional information, see AU Core Curriculum.
Major Requirements
- 39 credit hours with grades of C or better, including 21 credit hours at or above 300-level
- Course Requirements
Foundation (3 credit hours)
- AMST-200 American Dreams/American Lives (3)
Second Foundation (3 credit hours)
- Complete 3 credit hours from the following:
- AMST-140 Washington, D.C.: Life inside a Monument (3)
- AMST-240 Poverty and Culture FA4 (3)
American Studies Concentration (12 credit hours)
Complete 12 credit hours, with at least 6 credit hours at or above 300-level, from the following:
- AMST-220 Topics in American Popular Culture (3)
- AMST-225 Topics in American Studies (3)
- AMST-296 Selected Topics: Non-Recurring (1-6)AMST-320 American Cultural History (3)
- AMST-330 Contemporary American Culture (3)
- AMST-340 Community Activism and Regional Studies (3)
- AMST-396 Selected Topics: Non-Recurring (1-6)
Community-Based Learning Experience (3 credit hours)
Complete 3 credit hours from the following with course type Community-Based Learning, or other courses approved by director:
- AMST-340 Community Activism and Regional Studies (3) : The Latino Community of the
- Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area (3)
- AMST-491 Internship in American Studies (1-6) (3 credits required)
Capstone (6 credit hours)
- AMST-400 Interpreting American Culture (3)
- 3 credit hours CRGC senior capstone
Electives (12 credit hours)
- 12 credit hours, with 6 credit hours at or above 300-level, with no more than 6 credit hours in a single discipline, in the Humanities and Social Sciences focusing on Washington, DC, the United States, the Americas, or the Americas and the world
- Tuition 54,354
- Housing 21,250
- Dining 6,320
- Other 2,000
- Program Cost Per Semester Academic Accelerator
- Fall 2021 $27,177
- Spring 2022 $27,177
- Summer 2022 $26,421
- Academic Accelerator Program, Advanced (2 semesters)
- Fall 2021 N/A
- Spring 2022 $27,177
- Summer 2022 $26,421
- Housing Option Description Cost Per Semester
- Off Campus Two-Bedroom Apartment (Double Room)
- The Off Campus Two-Bedroom Apartment (Double Room) option, offers a shared bedroom with one other person in a fully furnished off-campus apartment. Each apartment has two bedrooms, so common areas such as the bathroom, dining room and kitchen are shared with three other roommates.
- Fall 2021 $10,034
- Spring 2022 $10,034
- Summer 2022 $6,562
- Off Campus One-Bedroom Apartment (Double Room)
- The Off Campus One-Bedroom Apartment (Double Room) option, offers a shared bedroom with one other person in a fully furnished off-campus apartment. Each apartment has one bedroom, so common areas such as the bathroom, dining room and kitchen are shared with just one roommate.
- Fall 2021 $10,611
- Spring 2022 $10,611
- Summer 2022 $6,939
- On Campus Double Room
- The On Campus Double Room option is a shared room with two twin beds and a shared, common hall bathroom, in one of American University's on campus residence halls.
- Fall 2021 $5,048
- Spring 2022 $5,048
- Summer 2022 $4,720