Please review all college-wide degree requirements summarized in the "College of Arts and Sciences" chapter of this Graduate Bulletin.

Master's Degrees

Students applying for the master of arts program in American and Florida Studies should have had an undergraduate major in one of the American studies areas and must satisfy the director that they are qualified for the type of work offered by the program.

Normally a minimum score of 1000 on the combined verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and three letters of recommendation are required for admission.

The degree candidate must submit an acceptable plan of study which will include either AMS 5809 or AMS 5815.

In almost all cases, the student is expected to write and defend a thesis. A student who elects to write a thesis must complete a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of course work at the graduate level including six (6) semester hours of thesis. A student who elects not to write a thesis must complete a minimum of thirty-two (32) semester hours of course work at the graduate level and a comprehensive examination. All students must successfully complete the foreign language requirement.

A doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree in Humanities with a concentration in American Studies is an option for those students who want to combine their interest in American Studies with graduate training in the teaching of Humanities at the college level. The graduate program in Humanities at the Florida State University cooperates closely with American and Florida Studies in tailoring a course of study to fit the needs of the individual student.

All students currently enrolled in a graduate program are eligible to apply for the Graduate Certificate program. Work toward the certificate gives graduate students at both the MA and PhD levels in other disciplines, particularly those in the American Studies core areas, an opportunity through interdisciplinary study to develop a deeper understanding of the pluralistic society they inhabit and to learn new ways to conceptualize social issues, culture, and art throughout American history.

The certificate program in American and Florida studies requires twelve (12) semester hours in at least three disciplines outside the student's department and must include at least one AMS seminar. Ordinarily, students will select courses from a recommended list available from the American and Florida Studies office. The final required project is an article prepared for publication according to the guidelines of a major professional journal. Each student's final program of study must be approved by the director.

AMS—American Studies

AMS 3310. Changing Concepts of the American Character (3).

AMS 3810. The Life of the Mind in America (3).

AMS 3932r. Lecture Series in American Problems (3–6). May be repeated to a maximum of six (6) semester hours within the same term.

AMS 3949r. Cooperative Education Work Experience (0). (S/U grade only.)

AMS 4935. Senior Seminar (3).

AMS 5809r. Seminar in American Culture (3). May be repeated to a maximum of six (6) semester hours.

AMS 5815r. Seminar in American Thought (3). May be repeated to a maximum of six (6) semester hours within the same term.

AMS 5908r. Directed Individual Study (1–3). May be repeated to a maximum of six (6) semester hours.

AMS 5915r. Supervised Research (1–3). (S/U grade only.) May be repeated to a maximum of five (5) semester hours.

AMS 5940r. Supervised Teaching (1–3). (S/U grade only.) May be repeated to a maximum of five (5) semester hours.

AMS 5942r. Internship in an Approved American Studies Field (3–9). (S/U grade only.) Must complete nine (9) semester hours on the graduate level before registering for the internship. May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.

AMS 5971r. Thesis (1–6). (S/U grade only.) A minimum of six (6) semester hours credit is required.

AMS 8966r. Master's Comprehensive Examination (0). (P/F grade only.)

AMS 8976r. Master's Thesis Defense (0). (P/F grade only.)