Bachelor of Arts in American Studies

Liberal Education

The American Studies (AMS) program is dedicated to the study of the people, places, cultures and events—past and present—that make up America and American society. The American Studies major is designed to provide students with a rich contextual and multidisciplinary understanding of America and American culture as well as the study of American literature, politics, economics and history. Built around the core disciplines of literature, political science, philosophy, history, sociology and cultural anthropology, the program will employ comparative and integrative methods and approaches from the humanities and social sciences. Additionally, the program is designed to examine the social and political role of America and how it relates to the rest of the world.

The program will help graduates to develop sound critical thinking skills, analytical skills, communication skills and research skills to enable them to pursue careers in such fields as education, public service and politics, non-profit administration, museum administration, cultural anthropology and journalism. Students in the program will also be well prepared to pursue a graduate education.

The AMS program also combines traditional in-class instruction with online activities, student-initiated, primary-source research projects and visits to unique and historic sites, museums and cities around Florida and the country. As such, it is a program created with Lynn University’s niche as a campus offering innovative, individualized academic experiences in mind.

Major: American Studies – Degree Requirements

The AMS curriculum develops critical thinking, a historical perspective, social justice and moral reasoning, among other skills and values, in order to produce more responsible, informed and ethical citizens. The major is designed to allow students to substitute courses in place of degree requirements and to develop an individualized area of study within the major.

* The 300 and 400 level Dialogues course requirements may be embedded within the major. Courses with an asterisk meet both major requirements and the university core requirements.

Pending approval of the program coordinator, students may substitute courses in place of the major and minor requirements. Students must complete a minimum of 45 credits that are upper division (300+ level).