Consult this chart for a summary of degree requirements and a time line of progress toward the degree.

For Incoming Students With No Graduate Work Past The Bachelor’s Degree: Total Of 54 Credit Hours.

Years 1 and 2: 36 credit hours

AMST 700, The History and Practices of American Studies. The History and Practices of American Studies. Fall, year 1.

AMST 701, Interdisciplinary Research Methodologies. Research Methodologies. Spring, year 1 or 2.

AMST 702, Readings in American Studies. Readings in American Studies. Spring, year 1 or 2.

AMST 901, M.A. Research Seminar. A seminar for those preparing the M.A. requirement for a Capstone Project. The M.A. Research Seminar results in a Capstone Project accompanied by an oral defense. Fall, year 2.

AMST 992, Capstone Project. Spring, year 2.

At least two additional American Studies or Folklore graduate courses.

Up to five graduate courses chosen from related departments.

Spring, second year: capstone project and oral defense.

Year 3: 12-18 credit hours

AMST 902, PH.D. Research Seminar. Fall.

AMST 899, Directed Readings. Spring.

Up to four graduate courses chosen from American Studies, Folklore, or related departments.

Spring, third year, major and minor field exams, prospectus and defense.

Years 4 and 5: Dissertation work.

AMST 994 Doctoral Dissertation.

Language proficiency must be demonstrated prior to beginning of fifth year.

Doctoral dissertation and oral defense.

 

For Incoming Students With An M.A. Degree

Total of 54 credit hours, some of which may be satisfied by prior graduate work. Exact requirements to be detphdermined on an individual basis.

Year 1: 18 hours

AMST 700, The History and Practices of American Studies. The History and Practices of American Studies. Fall, year 1.

ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

AMST 701, Interdisciplinary Research Methodologies. Research Methodologies. Spring, year 1.

OR

AMST 702, Readings in American Studies. Readings in American Studies. Spring, year 1.

Four graduate courses, in American Studies, Folklore, or an approved course in a related department. Independent studies may be used to meet curricular needs on an individual basis.

Year 2: 18 hours

AMST 902, PH.D. Research Seminar. Fall.

AMST 899, Directed Readings. Spring.

Up to four graduate courses chosen from American Studies, Folklore, or related departments.

Spring, second year, major and minor field exams, prospectus and defense.

Language proficiency must be demonstrated prior to beginning of third year.

Years 3 and 4: Dissertation Research and Writing.

AMST 994 Doctoral Dissertation.

Doctoral dissertation and oral defense.

FOR ALL STUDENTS:

All students enrolled in the American Studies graduate program will participate throughout their graduate careers in a monthly colloquium in which faculty and Ph.D. candidates will offer presentations of their work-in-progress. The Colloquium exposes graduate students to the research interests of faculty in American Studies and allied fields, and may also include visiting graduate students and faculty from international partner institutions. The Colloquium is the collegial wellspring of the program, the intellectual and social center of the American Studies community, the conversation occurring there will naturally both inform and be informed by classroom work, particularly in AMST 700, 701, and 702, will help to shape, against the backdrop of individual specializations, a common discourse, and in large part provide a site for the formation of the American Studies social and intellectual community.

Student progress in the Ph.D. will be assessed annually by the American Studies faculty.

FACTORS FOR ADVANCEMENT TO CANDIDACY INCLUDE:

• Academic performance reflected primarily in completion of coursework and performance in seminars and independent studies;
• Contributions to the intellectual life of the program and department reflected primarily in colloquium participation;
• Language proficiency;
• Comprehensive exams;
• Teaching portfolio;
• Dissertation proposal;
• Recommendation of the student’s advisor and Director of Graduate Studies.

For helpful tips and resources on how to utilize and navigate the new ConnectCarolina registration system, please visit the Student Registration Guide website.