Major	Minor
Undergraduate Studies in American Culture Studies is an interdisciplinary program dedicated to the holistic study of America culture, society and institutions, American culture studies offers students an individually tailored program that focuses on the American experience. Courses help students to develop the skills appropriate for the study and appreciation of American culture in all of its diversity. The program enables students to integrate the substance of other disciplines into coherent patterns reflecting the complexity of American life and our national heritage. The goal of BGSU’s American Culture Studies Program is to help students understand and appreciate the interrelationship of all aspects of American culture. American Culture Studies graduates find a variety of fields and employment venues that rely upon knowledge of American culture as well as the analytical and communication skills that our program helps students to develop. American Culture Studies graduates find employment in the interrelated fields of journalism, editing, publishing, and public relations. They are attractive candidates for jobs in non-profit and community service organizations, government agencies (at the national, state, and local levels), libraries, and historical and cultural museums. As part of their studies, our students develop skills that are useful in such fields as urban and regional planning, environmental analysis, cultural and historical preservation, and archival management. For students considering careers in law, business, ministry, or other related fields, American culture studies offers a broad interdisciplinary background supplemented by specialized courses to enhance entry into these fields. Students planning on graduate studies will find American Culture Studies to provide preparation for entry into graduate programs in American studies, cultural studies, literature, history, anthropology, folklore, art history, women’s studies, ethnic studies, and other culturally oriented courses of study.

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The American Culture Studies major requires a minimum of 36 credit hours. These include the FOUNDATIONAL CORE, consisting of the two basic introductory classes in our program, "Introduction to American Culture Studies" (ACS 200) and "Cultural Pluralism in the United States" (ACS 250), a two-course sequence in American history and a class in American literature; an UPPER DIVISION CORE, consisting of two upper-division American Culture Studies courses and a cognate disciplinary concentration of three upper-division courses in a related academic field (to be chosen by the student in consultation with the American Culture Studies undergraduate advisor), and a SENIOR CAPSTONE SEQUENCE, consisting of a course in qualitative research methods to be taken by the student in the Fall semester of his or her Senior year followed by the Senior capstone tutorial, an independent research project undertaken under the supervision of an American culture studies faculty member, to be taken in the Spring semester of the student’s Senior year. Students majoring in American Culture Studies can participate in a number of professional-development opportunities offered through the program. These include opportunities for internships at area museums, magazines and journals, non-profit organizations, and other institutions. In cooperation with the Institute for the Study of Culture and Society, the American Culture Studies Program brings a number of nationally prominent speakers to campus each year and sponsors national and regional conferences, all of which are open and available to our students. The program requires a minimum of 36 hours, including the following: Foundational Core Introduction to American Culture Studies: ACS 200 (3 hours). This course is offered on a regular basis, usually every Fall/Spring/Summer semester. American Cultural Diversity class: Either ACS 250 or 252 (3 hours). ACS 250 is offered on a regular basis, usually every Fall/Spring/Summer semester; ACS 252 is offered only in the Fall semester, as part of the Geojourneys course package. American History sequence: HIST 205 and HIST 206 (6 hours). These courses are offered on a regular basis, usually every Fall/Spring/Summer semester. The two courses will normally be taken in sequence, first HIST 205, then HIST 206. American Literature survey: Either ENG 268 or 310 (3 hours). Prerequisite, English 201. These courses are offered on an irregular basis, with one of them normally offered each Fall/Spring/Summer semester. Upper Division Core Advanced upper division courses: Two classes of ACS 300/400 level coursework, i.e., ACS 300, 338, 400 (6 hours). These courses are offered on an irregular basis; however, one upper-division ACS course is usually offered each Fall/Spring semester. Topics for ACS 300 and ACS 400 will vary from semester to semester. These courses will normally be taken following successful completion of the foundational sequence of ACS 200; ACS 250 or 252; History 205 and 206; and ENG 268 or 310. Cognate disciplinary concentration: Three classes of upper division coursework (300/400 level courses) in one of the following disciplines: English, Ethnic Studies, Film Studies, History, Political Science, Popular Culture, Sociology, or Women’s Studies (9 hours). The courses for the cognate disciplinary concentration will be chosen by the student in consultation with the ACS undergraduate advisor. Senior Capstone Sequence Qualitative Methods: ACS 405 (3 hours). This course is offered in the Fall semester each year, and should be taken during the Fall semester of the student’s Senior year. This course is preparatory for ACS 499. Senior Capstone Tutorial Project: ACS 499 (3 hours). This course is offered in the Spring semester each year, and should be taken during the Spring semester of the student’s Senior year, following successful completion of ACS 405. The student prepares their senior capstone project under the supervision of an ACS joint-appointment or affiliated faculty member. A list of ACS faculty members is available at the ACS Program website.

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The minor requires a minimum of 21 hours, including the following: Foundational Core Introduction to American Culture Studies: ACS 200 (3 hours). This course is offered on a regular basis, usually every Fall/Spring/Summer semester. American Cultural Diversity class: Either ACS 250 or 252 (3 hours). ACS 250 is offered on a regular basis, usually every Fall/Spring/Summer semester; ACS 252 is offered only in the Summer semester. American History sequence: HIST 205 and HIST 206 (6 hours). These courses are offered on a regular basis, usually every Fall/Spring/Summer semester. The two courses will normally be taken in sequence, first HIST 205, then HIST 206. American Literature survey: Either ENG 268 or 310 (3 hours). Prerequisite, English 201. These courses are offered on an irregular basis, with one of them normally offered each Fall/Spring/Summer semester. Upper Division Core Advanced upper division courses: Two classes of ACS 300/400 level coursework, i.e., ACS 300, 338, 400 (6 hours). These courses are offered on an irregular basis; however, one upper-division ACS course is usually offered each Fall/Spring semester. Topics for ACS 300 and ACS 400 will vary from semester to semester. These courses will normally be taken following successful completion of the foundational sequence of ACS 200; ACS 250 or 252; History 205 and 206; and ENG 268 or 310.