BA American Studies at University of Alabama

Programme overview

Students should have a strong interest in American culture and history. This can include the visual arts, music, and popular culture, as well as social movements and politics in any time period of U.S. history. Many students also have great interest in how America fits into the larger global picture.

Faculty: J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences | Department: American Studies | Study mode: full-time | Location: Tuscaloosa, AL, United States

What you will study

Courses in the listed curriculum include AMS 150 Intro American Studies, AMS 231 Contemporary America.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Students are expected to formally declare a major no later than the fourth semester of full-time enrollment (or at 61 semester hours for transfer students). Students may declare a major by meeting with an academic advisor. Unless otherwise stated, the prerequisite for 300-level AMS courses is six hours in Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences courses or permission of the instructor, and the prerequisite for 400-level AMS courses is nine hours in Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences courses or permission of the instructor. Many career opportunities exist for American Studies majors. Many students attend law school, library school, or pursue advanced degrees. American Studies majors teach in secondary schools, junior colleges, and universities and work for historical commissions, arts alliances, museums, libraries, and the private sector. University-level freshman admission (not programme-specific): 4 units English, 3 units mathematics, 3 units natural sciences (two with labs) and 10 other academic units; ACT or SAT is required if the cumulative high school GPA is below 3.0 for 2027 entry (all applicants for 2028 entry).

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer (the admissions page lists Spring, and Summer/Fall priority deadlines).

First-year priority deadlines: November 2 for Spring entry and December 4 for Summer/Fall entry. Applications are accepted through the UA Undergraduate App, and first-time freshmen may also apply through the Common App.

Transfer priority deadlines: October 1 for Spring entry and March 1 for Summer/Fall entry. The application fee is $50 (nonrefundable); Alabama residents applying via the UA Undergraduate App pay no fee.

First-year applicants for a 2027 entry term must submit an ACT or SAT score if their cumulative high school GPA is below 3.0; all students applying to enroll in 2028 must submit test scores.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.ua.edu/apply/

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