American Studies 100: Introduction to American Studies; History 221: United States History I; History 222: United States History II; and either American Studies 400: Readings in American Studies or one of the courses in the Research in American Studies category.

A student must take at least five additional courses (20 semester hours) drawn from at least three of the following areas: Human Diversity in American Culture, Americans and Their Natural Environment, American Culture Studies, Individualism and Community, or The United States in Cross-Cultural Perspective. Two of these courses (eight semester hours) must be at the 300 level or above. Successful defense of the senior thesis serves as the comprehensive examination in American Studies.