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 an advisor in your major program for further guidance.
| First Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 114 | Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice (A2) 1 | 3 |
| GE Area A 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area C | 3 | |
| GE Area D | 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 (E) | ||
| Values in American Life (C2, AERM) | ||
| Select One: | 3 | |
| GE Area A | 3 | |
| GE Area B: Quantitative Reasoning (B4) 3 | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| GE Area B: Physical Science (B1) and Laboratory Science (B3) 4 | 3-4 | |
| GE Area C | 3 | |
| GE Area D | 3 | |
| SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Two | 6 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| Major Elective (24 units total) – Take One 5 | 3 | |
| GE Area B: Life Science (B2) and Laboratory Science (B3) 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 | 3 | |
| GE Area UD-B: Upper-Division Physical and/or Life Sciences | 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 (UD-C, AERM) | ||
| American Images: Photography and Literature (UD-C) | ||
| AMST 410/HUM 450 | California Culture (Major Core, UD-C) | 3 |
| Major Elective (21 units total) – Take One 5 | 3 | |
| GE Area F ± | 3 | |
| GE Area UD-D: Upper-Division Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Seventh Semester | ||
| Select One Geography Course (Major Core) | 3 | |
| Future Environments (UD-D, ES, GP, SJ) | ||
| Urban Transportation | ||
| Justice and Belonging: Intersecting Geographies of Race and Ethnicity (AERM, SJ) | ||
| Geography of California (UD-D, 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
ENG 114 can only be taken if you complete Directed Self-Placement (DSP) and select ENG 114; if you choose ENG 104/ENG 105 through DSP you will satisfy A2 upon successful completion of ENG 105 in the second semester; multilingual students may be advised into alternative English courses.
- 2
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.
- 3
To determine the best B4 course option, students should complete the online advising activity at mathadvising.sfsu.edu. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 4
Consider taking a class combined with a laboratory or a separate lab to fulfill B3 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
- ±
Given catalog rights, fall 2023 transfer students do not need to complete an Area F course.