American Studies, Minor

Saint Louis University's American studies program uses film, food, fashion, buildings, sports, popular media, the environment, art, literature and historical texts to understand the diverse cultures of the United States and the nation's place in the world in the past and present.

• American studies at SLU is interdisciplinary, using a variety of sources and methods (literature, social science, film and community institutions) to understand American cultures.
• American studies is global and diverse, paying close attention to international and regional relations, as well as to the variety of racial, ethnic, religious and other communities within and around its borders.
• American studies is practical, which means the everyday is taken as seriously as the esoteric, and the lessons learned in the classroom are applied to work in communities and public institutions.

As a result, SLU's American studies minor trains students in critical thinking, complex problem solving and clear written and oral communication. American studies graduates from SLU have experience working in diverse groups and applying their knowledge to the world around them.

These are sought-after skills transferable to a variety of fields. Graduates from SLU's American studies program have gone on to work in higher and secondary education, media and communications, nonprofit organizations, government, political organizing, social work, law, museums and other cultural institutions.

Curriculum Overview

A minor in American studies can be completed in 18 credits, including an introductory course, Intro to American Culture: Movements, Myths, and Methods (ASTD 1000).  The remaining 15 are electives, to be selected from American studies courses. With the approval of the student's faculty mentor, up to six of these credits can be fulfilled by relevant courses offered outside the Department of American Studies. The minor is open to students in any major program.

Note: Many undergraduate courses at SLU fulfill requirements of multiple programs simultaneously. For details, click here. 

Students must complete a minimum total of 18 credits for the minor. 

Continuation Standards

Students who pursue a minor in American Studies must earn a 2.00 GPA in the courses approved for completion of the minor. If a student's minor GPA drops below 2.00, the student will be placed on academic program probation within the department. A student may remain on academic probation for no more than two consecutive semesters, or for three semesters total, before being dismissed from the minor.

For additional information about this program, please contact american.studies@slu.edu or call 314-977-2911.