University College | Washington University in St. Louis

The 30-credit M.A. in American Culture Studies (AMCS) offers adult learners multiple perspectives on the cultures, values, and people of the United States.

Studies may span American literature, history, politics, religion, philosophy, art, music, and film. Recent AMCS courses include:

• Spiritual Quests in American Culture
• Theodore Roosevelt: Progressive Icon
  
• Machine Politics in the United States
• History of Education in the United States
• Genre Cinema: The Art of Variation
  
• Wanderlust: An Exploration of Travel in American Culture

Courses normally are offered once a week in the late afternoon or evening. Students may start the program in the fall, spring or summer terms.

For more information, or E-mail ucollege@artsci.wustl.edu.

Admission

Admission to the M.A. in American Culture Studies program is open on a selective basis to:

• Qualified adults in the St. Louis area who are at least two years beyond the baccalaureate degree.
• Recent college or university graduates are expected to have a cumulative grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better.
• Applicants who are returning to formal academic study after a number of years' absence must have a strong undergraduate background in one of the disciplines represented in the American Culture Studies program, strong writing and analytical skills, and a clear understanding of their reasons for pursuing this degree.

• a completed Application for Graduate Admission form, including an essay of 300-400 words clearly describing their interest in and qualifications for the program;
• a non-refundable $35 application fee;
• official transcripts of all previous college work;
• academic or corporate letters of recommendation;
• a recent writing sample.

A personal interview with the program coordinator is strongly recommended. 

Admission Time Line: University College and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences review completed applications and make admissions decisions on a rolling basis. The process typically takes four to six weeks, and so we urge applicants to submit their materials by the following schedule in order to ensure a timely decision: mid-November for spring; mid-April for summer; mid-July for fall. If you plan to apply for federal financial aid, please note that this process can take six to eight weeks. It is suggested that applicants begin by completing their FAFSA at the time of application. For additional information about Financial Aid and step-by-step Financial Aid application instructions, click here.

Degree Requirements

Total Number of Credits Needed for Graduation: 30. Most courses are three credits.  A maximum of 6 credits of related and comparable  graduate-level course work may be transferred from another university or from a related graduate program at Washington University with the approval of the program director. These must be graduate-level units not used to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements. Transfer credit may be granted only for authorized courses for which the student received a grade of B or higher.

Minimum Grade Point Average in ACS Courses: 3.0 (or B)

Required Courses and Distribution Requirements:

• two courses from history, literature, or religion/philosophy;
• two courses from anthropology, political science, social thought and analysis, or economics;
• two courses from art history, music, or theater/film
• nine additional credits of course work to reflect a student's particular interests.

Although no specific courses are required, at least five of the courses
must be core seminars based in American Culture Studies. Introduction to American Culture Studies (U89 545) is highly recommended.

Students may also select, as electives, graduate-level (400-500) American Culture Studies courses in the College of Arts and Sciences authorized by the program director, with permission of the instructor.

American Culture Studies Final Project

All candidates for the master’s degree in American Culture Studies are required to complete a final written project.  Normally completed during the final semester of the program (and in some cases the final year), the project entails substantial research and analysis on a topic determined by the student in consultation with the program coordinator.

The project is completed under the primary supervision of a faculty advisor, along with a faculty committee, and it is evaluated by this committee in the form of an oral examination at the conclusion of the student’s program.

There are two options for the final written project:1) Directed Research Project (DRP), the minimum requirement for all students; and 2) Master’s Thesis, available to exceptionally strong students authorized by the program coordinator.

Directed Research Project

A three-credit Directed Research Project (DRP), developed under the supervision of a Washington University faculty member, isrequired for the M.A. degree. The project is to be completed at the conclusion of a student's course work, normally during the final semester. This project presents an opportunity to explore an area of personal interest. The project also provides an opportunity for students to work closely with a member of the ACS faculty. The project may be a subject first identified during a course or one that has emerged over time in the program. The Directed Research Project for American Culture Studies, approximately 30 pages, should be comparable to a research paper produced in a graduate research seminar, and should reflect a substantive engagement with relevant issues, questions, and scholarship.

Master’s Thesis Option

Students with exceptionally strong academic records and writing skills may be authorized by the American Culture Studies program coordinator to pursue a two-semester, six-credit Master’s Thesis rather than the three-credit Directed Research Project. The difference between the Master's Thesis and the Directed Research Project is primarily one of scope. Students who undertake the Master's Thesis will spend the first semester researching their topic and beginning to write, and the second semester writing and revising. The Master's Thesis in American Culture Studies should be approximately 60 pages, and like the three-credit DRP must reflect a substantive engagement with relevant issues, questions, and scholarship. The student will develop this work in consultation with a faculty advisor responsible for helping the student define the project's scope and objectives and identify useful sources. Students who are approved for this thesis must meet Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Master's Thesis guidelines.

Students are strongly recommended to write an academic paper for their Directed Research Project or Master’s Thesis. However, students may also apply to receive credit for other projects, such as museum exhibits, courses, and creative writing projects. If the nontraditional project is approved, the student should submit all relevant materials and a brief paper (4-6 pages) discussing the experience of working on the project, and its importance and objectives.

Implementation Plan

American Culture Studies students are required to submit an implementation plan, a brief essay (4 to 6 pages), with the final written project, whether it is a DRP or Master’s Thesis. The implementation plan will address how the student will apply the issues addressed in the final written project to activities in her or his professional life, or more generally to the world outside the classroom.  For example, a teacher could develop a syllabus or course unit that would translate the subject of the paper to the classroom, a museum professional could propose a hypothetical exhibit, or a journalist could propose a series of articles. The paper should be written before the final project with continued revision during and after the project's completion. Students must consult with the AMCS coordinator before and after the project. The implementation plan will be a brief addition to the final written project in which the student considers the material in that project in a contemporary social context.

Advisor and Committee

All candidates for the master’s degree in American Culture Studies complete the final project (DRP or Master’s Thesis) under the supervision of a faculty advisor and committee. The program coordinator will assist the student in selecting a faculty advisor and two other faculty readers for a thesis or a faculty advisor and one other faculty member for the DRP. The advisor or “director” works closely with the student at all stages of the project. The committee, in addition to the advisor reads the final paper and participates in the student’s oral examination. DRP advisors and committee members should be teaching faculty with the relevant graduate program. Master’s Thesis advisors and committee members should be tenured or tenure-track faculty at Washington University. Students select the appropriate advisor and committee members in consultation with the program director and University College.

Oral Examination

American Culture Studies students must pass an oral examination at the end of their program of study. The exam is one hour long, and the examining committee consists of the final project director and committee. The oral examination gives the student an opportunity to discuss the directed research project or master's thesis, as well as the entire American Culture Studies program experience. Please consult the University College online calendar for specific deadlines for the oral defense. Usually the defense must be completed by the beginning of September for summer graduates, the beginning of January for fall graduates, and late April or early May for spring graduates. Please note that these dates conform to deadlines for all graduate programs and are not flexible.

Final Essay

In preparation for the oral examination, the student should write a 4-6 page essay describing her or his course of study in the American Culture Studies program, highlighting some of the ideas or themes the student has pursued, and relating the final project to his or her professional life or the world outside the classroom.

Procedures and Timeline

It is important to adhere closely to requirements and deadlines associated with the final project in order to ensure timely completion of the project and fulfillment of program requirements.  Please read carefully below for detailed information about procedures, requirements, forms, and deadlines.  All candidates for the master’s degree in American Culture Studies are required to complete the Final Project Proposal Form for M.A. Programs.  All students authorized to pursue the Master’s Thesis also must complete the Title, Scope, and Procedure Form. 

Planning

You should begin planning for your Directed Research Project the semester prior to your final semester of study. If you have authorization to pursue a Thesis, begin planning two semesters prior to your final semester of study. The Title, Scope and Procedure Form must be completed and returned to University College at least six months before the month in which the degree is expected to be conferred (August, December, or May). University College will forward approved Title, Scope & Procedure forms to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

Registration

The Final Project Proposal Form must be completed with all required signatures for registration. Registration follows the normal academic schedule. Refer to the current course schedule for registration deadlines. Submit your Final Project Proposal Form to the Administrative Assistant for Academic Programs, University College, January Hall, Room 100. This will serve as your registration form.

Schedule Your Oral Defense

The Oral Defense should be scheduled as soon as possible after you have registered. The Oral Defense should take place no later than two weeks prior to the end of the semester you plan to graduate. Consult with your committee to find a time that is agreeable. Your Oral Defense will probably last only 1 hour, but schedule 1.5 hours for the defense to provide a small cushion of extra time if needed. To schedule and reserve space, contact the Administrative Assistant for Academic Programs, 314-935-6759.

Please consult the University College online calendar for specific deadlines for the oral defense. Usually the defense must be completed by the beginning of September for summer graduates, the beginning of January for fall graduates, and late April or early May for spring graduates. Please note that these dates conform to deadlines for all graduate programs and are not flexible.

Submission of the Final Project (Directed Research Project or Master’s Thesis): Submit a copy of your final project to each member of your committee two weeks in advance of your oral defense to allow time for review. Upon successful defense of the project, the final version must be submitted to University College along with a copy of the final essay. In addition, thesis candidates must submit an electronic copy and one hard copy of the Master’s Thesis to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences according to the deadlines listed in the online calendar. Please refer to the Graduate School Arts & Sciences Master’s Thesis guidelines for formatting and presentation requirements: 

Please refer to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Master’s Thesis guidelines for formatting and presentation requirements.

Important Contact Information

Lisa Satanovsky, American Culture Studies Program Coordinator
Email
(314) 935-7160

Elizabeth Fogt, Director of Advising and Student Services, University College
Email
(314) 935-6778