American Studies program requirements
What the American Studies Major and Minor require, as the 2026-2027 Arts & Science Calendar states it, and every course they name.
American Studies Major
- Arts program
- 7.0 credits
- Open enrolment
- ASMAJ0135
Enrolment
This is an open enrolment program. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the program. The full enrolment requirements are on the Calendar's page for this program.
Completion requirements
7.0 credits specified as follows:
1AMS200H1, AMS201H1, AMS300H1 (total of 1.5 credit).
21.0 credit from the gateway courses in American Studies (AMS100H1), English (ENG250H1 and ENG270H1), History (HIS271Y1), Geography (GGR240H1 and GGR254H1), or Political Science (POL347H1 and POL386H1), or Cinema Studies (CIN270Y1).
3Three of the following selections:
1.0 credit from the Politics and Economics disciplinary/thematic cluster
1.0 credit from the Society disciplinary/thematic cluster
1.0 credit from the Culture disciplinary/thematic cluster
1.0 credit from the History disciplinary/thematic cluster
40.5 credit in Breadth Requirement Category 5: The Physical or Mathematical Universe, or another 0.5 credit approved by the CSUS Program Director, to fulfill the Quantitative Reasoning competency requirement of the program.
5Additional AMS/USA courses or courses from the American Studies Program disciplinary/thematic clusters to a total of 7.0 credits, including requirement #4 above.
6At least 2.0 credits of the student’s 7.0 credits must be at the 300-level or above.
7At least 1.5 credits of the student’s program must be in American Studies (AMS prefix courses), at the 300-level or above, with at least 0.5 credits of these at the 400-level.
Recommended Sequence of Courses:
First Year:
Students are encouraged to take any pre-requisites for the gateway course required, and/or enroll directly in AMS100H1, AMS200H1, and/or AMS201H1 as a first-year student. Of the required gateway courses, POL347H1 and POL386H1 have pre-requisites of a course that deals substantially with politics; students interested in these courses, therefore, should confer with the instructor as to whether their course work includes a pre-requisite for these courses. Other recommended courses at the first year level include: HIS106Y1.
Second Year:
AMS200H1 and AMS201H1
HIS271Y1 (or) ENG250H1 AND ENG270H1 (or) GGR240H1 AND GGR254H1 (or) POL347H1 AND POL386H1 (or) CIN270Y1
Second, Third, and Fourth Years:
AMS300H1 plus other eligible courses, to a total of 7.0 credits.
At least 2.0 of these courses must be at the 300-level or above.
At least 1.5 of these courses must be in American Studies (AMS prefix courses) at the 300- or 400-level. Courses must be chosen in a way that satisfies the disciplinary/thematic variety described above.
*NOTE 1: Other 300+ level courses with 50% or more American content may be allowed; students should seek early approval of program credit for such courses from the CSUS Director.
Disciplinary/Thematic Cluster 1: Politics and Economics
ECO306H1/ POL315H1/ POL326H1/ POL327H1/ POL341H1/ POL347H1/ POL386H1/ POL427H1/ POL433H1
Disciplinary/Thematic Cluster 2: Society
ANT210H1/ CAR421H1/ EAS315H1/ EAS388H1/ GGR240H1/ GGR254H1/ GGR336H1/ GGR339H1/ GGR359H1/ INS302H1/ INS341H1/ JGU346H1/ MUN200H1/ SOC306H1/ SOC373H1/ SOC460H1/ WGS420H1
Disciplinary/Thematic Cluster 3: Culture
AMS320H1/ CAR324H1/ CDN368H1/ CIN211H1/ CIN230H1/ CIN270Y1/ CIN310Y1/ CIN334H1/ CIN335H1/ CIN374Y1/ ENG250H1/ ENG270H1/ ENG360H1/ ENG363H1/ ENG365H1/ ENG368H1/ FAH251H1/ FAH452H1/ JLN427H1/ MUS306H1/ RLG242H1/ SLA312H1/ SPA387H1
Disciplinary/Thematic Cluster 4: History
CAR332Y0/ CDN340H1/ CLT420H1/ EAS450H1/ HIS106Y1/ HIS221H1/ HIS222H1/ HIS271Y1/ HIS285H1/ HIS293H1/ HIS305H1/ HIS318H1/ HIS345H1/ HIS359H1/ HIS374H1/ HIS377H1/ HIS378H1/ HIS379H1/ HIS396H1/ HIS400H1/ HIS401H1/ HIS404H1/ HIS411H1/ HIS413H1/ HIS464H1/ HIS479H1/ HIS484H1/ HIS487H1/ HIS497H1/ JIH366H1
*NOTE: This list of eligible courses is not exhaustive and some courses may not be offered every year. Please visit the CSUS website for more information.
Courses these requirements name
- AMS200H1Introduction to American Studies
- AMS201H1Myths and Realities of US Governance
- AMS300H1Research Theory and Methods: The Logic of Social Inquiry
- AMS100H1Global Capitalism
- ENG250H1Introduction to American Literature
- ENG270H1Introduction to Colonial and Postcolonial Writing
- HIS271Y1American History Since 1607 last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
- GGR240H1Geographies of Colonialism in North America
- GGR254H1Geography USA
- POL347H1U.S. Government and Politics: Constitutional Structure and Development
- POL386H1U.S. Government and Politics
- CIN270Y1American Popular Film Since 1970
- HIS106Y1The African Diaspora in the Americas, 1492-1804
- ECO306H1American Economic History
- POL315H1American Civil Liberties
- POL326H1The Politics of U.S. Foreign Policy
- POL327H1U.S. Foreign Policy in a Complex World
- POL341H1International Law: Operation of the International Legal Order
- POL427H1American Political Development
- POL433H1Topics in United States Government and Politics
- ANT210H1Anthropologists and Indigenous Peoples in North America
- CAR421H1Global Perspectives on the Haitian Revolution
- EAS315H1The "Yellow Peril": Past & Present
- EAS388H1Asian/North American Feminist Issues
- GGR336H1Urban Historical Geography of North America
- GGR339H1Urban Political Geographies
- GGR359H1Comparative Urban Policy
- INS302H1Indigenous Representation in the Mass Media and Society
- INS341H1North American Indigenous Theatre
- JGU346H1The Urban Planning Process
- MUN200H1Understanding Global Controversies
- SOC306H1Economic Sociology
- SOC373H1Deconstructing 'Muslim American' - Race, Nationalism, and Religion last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
- SOC460H1Global Inequalities and Contentious Politics last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
- WGS420H1Asian/North American Feminist Issues
- AMS320H1Tearing Down Monuments: Controversies in Public Memory
- CAR324H1Capitalism and Crisis in the Caribbean
- CDN368H1Canada's Borders
- CIN211H1Science Fiction Film
- CIN230H1The Business of Film
- CIN310Y1Avant-Garde and Experimental Film
- CIN334H1The Origins of the Animation Industry, 1900-1950: A Technosocial History
- CIN335H1Animation after 1950
- CIN374Y1American Filmmaking in the Studio Era
- ENG360H1Early American Literature
- ENG363H1American Literature to 1900
- ENG365H1Contemporary American Fiction
- ENG368H1Asian North American Literature
- FAH251H1Black Art in North America
- FAH452H1Contemporary Indigenous Art in Canada and the United States
- JLN427H1Advanced Topics: The Hispanic Caribbean last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
- MUS306H1Popular Music in North America
- RLG242H1Bible in America
- SLA312H1Nabokov
- SPA387H1Latin American Performative Expression
- CAR332Y0Puerto Rican Culture and Environment
- CDN340H1The History of Canada-U.S. Relations
- CLT420H1Ireland, Race and Empires
- EAS450H1History of the USA in the Pacific, the 19th century
- HIS221H1African American History to 1865
- HIS222H1African American History from 1865 to the Present
- HIS285H1History of Chinese Diasporas in the Americas
- HIS293H1The Making of the Atlantic World, 1480-1804
- HIS305H1Death and Life in Plantation America
- HIS318H1Histories of the "Wild" West
- HIS345H1History and Film
- HIS359H1Regional Politics and Radical Movements in the 20th Century Caribbean
- HIS374H1Mass Incarceration in the United States
- HIS377H1The United States in the World
- HIS378H1America in the 1960s
- HIS379H1Vietnam at War
- HIS396H1The Progressive Era and Rise of Big Business in America
- HIS400H1The American War in Vietnam
- HIS401H1The Cold War through its Archives
- HIS404H1Advanced Topics in U.S. History
- HIS411H1Great Trials in History last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
- HIS413H1Slave Emancipation in the Atlantic World
- HIS464H1Religion and Violence in Comparative Perspective
- HIS479H1US Foreign Policy Since World War II
- HIS484H1The Car in North American History
- HIS487H1Animal and Human Rights in Anglo-American Culture
- HIS497H1Animal Politics and Science
- JIH366H1Indigenous Histories of the Great Lakes, 1815 to the Present
American Studies Minor
- Arts program
- 4.0 credits
- Open enrolment
- ASMIN0135
Enrolment
This is an open enrolment program. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the program. The full enrolment requirements are on the Calendar's page for this program.
Completion requirements
(4.0 credits, including 1.0 credit at the 300+ level in at least two American Studies Program disciplinary/thematic clusters, categorized as follows: a) Politics and Economics b) Society (e.g. Indigenous Studies, Anthropology, East Asian Studies, Geography) c) Culture (e.g. Cinema Studies, English, Music, Religion) d) History)
Second year:
1AMS200H1 and AMS201H1
21.0 credit from the gateway courses in American Studies (AMS100H1), English (ENG250H1 and ENG270H1), History (HIS271Y1), Geography (GGR240H1 and GGR254H1), Political Science (POL347H1 and POL386H1), or Cinema Studies (CIN270Y1).
Second, third, and fourth years:
32.5 credits from AMS courses (excluding AMS200H1) or from the eligible courses listed below. These credits must include 1.0 credit at the 300+ level from AMS courses.
*NOTE 1: Other 300+ level courses with American content may be allowed; students should seek early approval of program credit for such courses.
Disciplinary/Thematic Cluster 1: Politics and Economics
ECO306H1/ POL315H1/ POL326H1/ POL327H1/ POL341H1/ POL347H1/ POL386H1/ POL427H1/ POL433H1
Disciplinary/Thematic Cluster 2: Society
ANT210H1/ CAR421H1/ EAS315H1/ EAS388H1/ GGR240H1/ GGR254H1/ GGR336H1/ GGR339H1/ GGR359H1/ INS302H1/ INS341H1/ JGU356H1/ MUN200H1/ SOC306H1/ SOC373H1/ SOC460H1/ WGS420H1
Disciplinary/Thematic Cluster 3: Culture
AMS320H1/ CAR324H1/ CDN368H1/ CIN211H1/ CIN230H1/ CIN270Y1/ CIN310Y1/ CIN334H1/ CIN335H1/ CIN374Y1/ ENG250H1/ ENG270H1/ ENG360H1/ ENG363H1/ ENG365H1/ ENG368H1/ FAH251H1/ FAH452H1/ JLN427H1/ MUS306H1/ RLG242H1/ SLA312H1/ SPA387H1
Disciplinary/Thematic Cluster 4: History
CAR332Y0/ CDN340H1/ CLT420H1/ EAS450H1/ HIS106Y1/ HIS221H1/ HIS222H1/ HIS271Y1/ HIS285H1/ HIS293H1/ HIS305H1/ HIS318H1/ HIS345H1/ HIS359H1/ HIS374H1/ HIS377H1/ HIS378H1/ HIS379H1/ HIS396H1/ HIS400H1/ HIS401H1/ HIS404H1/ HIS411H1/ HIS413H1/ HIS464H1/ HIS479H1/ HIS484H1/ HIS487H1/ HIS497H1/ HUN335H1/ JIH366H1
*NOTE: This list of eligible courses is not exhaustive and some courses may not be offered every year. Please visit the CSUS website for more information.
Courses these requirements name
- AMS200H1Introduction to American Studies
- AMS201H1Myths and Realities of US Governance
- AMS100H1Global Capitalism
- ENG250H1Introduction to American Literature
- ENG270H1Introduction to Colonial and Postcolonial Writing
- HIS271Y1American History Since 1607 last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
- GGR240H1Geographies of Colonialism in North America
- GGR254H1Geography USA
- POL347H1U.S. Government and Politics: Constitutional Structure and Development
- POL386H1U.S. Government and Politics
- CIN270Y1American Popular Film Since 1970
- ECO306H1American Economic History
- POL315H1American Civil Liberties
- POL326H1The Politics of U.S. Foreign Policy
- POL327H1U.S. Foreign Policy in a Complex World
- POL341H1International Law: Operation of the International Legal Order
- POL427H1American Political Development
- POL433H1Topics in United States Government and Politics
- ANT210H1Anthropologists and Indigenous Peoples in North America
- CAR421H1Global Perspectives on the Haitian Revolution
- EAS315H1The "Yellow Peril": Past & Present
- EAS388H1Asian/North American Feminist Issues
- GGR336H1Urban Historical Geography of North America
- GGR339H1Urban Political Geographies
- GGR359H1Comparative Urban Policy
- INS302H1Indigenous Representation in the Mass Media and Society
- INS341H1North American Indigenous Theatre
- JGU356H1
- MUN200H1Understanding Global Controversies
- SOC306H1Economic Sociology
- SOC373H1Deconstructing 'Muslim American' - Race, Nationalism, and Religion last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
- SOC460H1Global Inequalities and Contentious Politics last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
- WGS420H1Asian/North American Feminist Issues
- AMS320H1Tearing Down Monuments: Controversies in Public Memory
- CAR324H1Capitalism and Crisis in the Caribbean
- CDN368H1Canada's Borders
- CIN211H1Science Fiction Film
- CIN230H1The Business of Film
- CIN310Y1Avant-Garde and Experimental Film
- CIN334H1The Origins of the Animation Industry, 1900-1950: A Technosocial History
- CIN335H1Animation after 1950
- CIN374Y1American Filmmaking in the Studio Era
- ENG360H1Early American Literature
- ENG363H1American Literature to 1900
- ENG365H1Contemporary American Fiction
- ENG368H1Asian North American Literature
- FAH251H1Black Art in North America
- FAH452H1Contemporary Indigenous Art in Canada and the United States
- JLN427H1Advanced Topics: The Hispanic Caribbean last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
- MUS306H1Popular Music in North America
- RLG242H1Bible in America
- SLA312H1Nabokov
- SPA387H1Latin American Performative Expression
- CAR332Y0Puerto Rican Culture and Environment
- CDN340H1The History of Canada-U.S. Relations
- CLT420H1Ireland, Race and Empires
- EAS450H1History of the USA in the Pacific, the 19th century
- HIS106Y1The African Diaspora in the Americas, 1492-1804
- HIS221H1African American History to 1865
- HIS222H1African American History from 1865 to the Present
- HIS285H1History of Chinese Diasporas in the Americas
- HIS293H1The Making of the Atlantic World, 1480-1804
- HIS305H1Death and Life in Plantation America
- HIS318H1Histories of the "Wild" West
- HIS345H1History and Film
- HIS359H1Regional Politics and Radical Movements in the 20th Century Caribbean
- HIS374H1Mass Incarceration in the United States
- HIS377H1The United States in the World
- HIS378H1America in the 1960s
- HIS379H1Vietnam at War
- HIS396H1The Progressive Era and Rise of Big Business in America
- HIS400H1The American War in Vietnam
- HIS401H1The Cold War through its Archives
- HIS404H1Advanced Topics in U.S. History
- HIS411H1Great Trials in History last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
- HIS413H1Slave Emancipation in the Atlantic World
- HIS464H1Religion and Violence in Comparative Perspective
- HIS479H1US Foreign Policy Since World War II
- HIS484H1The Car in North American History
- HIS487H1Animal and Human Rights in Anglo-American Culture
- HIS497H1Animal Politics and Science
- HUN335H1Urban vs. Rural: Immigration to and Settlement in North America last in the 2025-2026 Calendar
- JIH366H1Indigenous Histories of the Great Lakes, 1815 to the Present
Requirements are quoted from the 2026-2027 Arts & Science Calendar, which is the official version. Atlas is independent of U of T, so confirm important decisions with your department or college registrar. See how to read program requirements or browse every program.
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