B.A. in AMCS

For current catalog information, see 2012-2013 Catalog AMCS Program Description (PDF)

Each student majoring in AMCS is assigned a faculty advisor and consults with the advisor on progress toward the degree. Upon acceptance into the major, a transfer student’s records will be reviewed to articulate the courses that are equivalent to those offered within AMCS, CALS, or NAMS at Sonoma State University. A maximum of ten lower-division units may be transferred toward the AMCS major. Upper-division courses from four-year institutions may be transferred above and beyond the ten units of lowerdivision transfer toward the AMCS major, based on advisor approval. Students should use www.assist.org to view official articulation agreements between SSU and other California colleges.

Admission to the Major
Degree Requirements Units
General Education 51
Major core requirements 17
Major Electives 19
General Electives 33
Total Units needed for graduation 120

Students graduating with a B.A. in American Multicultural Studies must take a minimum of 36 units within AMCS or supporting courses from CALS, NAMS, or related course work in other departments in order to fulfill the requirements of the major. The majority of the
courses must be fulfilled within AMCS. Please see the course catalog description for any prerequisites and fulfillment requirements.


Major Core Requirements
Courses Units
AMCS 210 Ethnic Groups in America 4
AMCS 255 Ethnicity in the Humanities 3
AMCS 350 Ethics, Values, and Multiculturalism 3
AMCS 395 Community Involvement Program (CIP) 3
AMCS 480 Research and Methodology 4
Total Units in the Major Core 17
Total Elective Units 19
Total Major 36

CIP/Service Learning

Students are required to complete at least 3 units of credit by being involved in a Community Involvement Program (CIP) or servicelearning opportunity. Departmental CIP advisors can provide information to students about service-learning opportunities. Departmental CIP policy is as follows:

  1. Students will do 30 hours of community service per unit received. Students may count a maximum of 4 units of CIP credit toward the AMCS major.
  2. CIP advisors will request that students get a letter (on official letterhead) from their supervisors indicating their duties and the amount of time worked.
  3. Students will submit a journal or a paper, two double-spaced pages per unit of CIP credit received, describing their experiences as a CIP volunteer.
  4. Students are expected to keep a log of the dates and times they worked.
  5. CIP advisor can give additional assignments if necessary.

Major Electives and Repeated Courses

Any course within AMCS may serve as an elective course. Students may count one class (up to 4 units) of AMCS 399: Student Instructed Course for major elective credit. Students may repeat courses such as AMCS 470 and AMCS 476 for major elective credit provided that
the subject matter varies. Students should check with their advisors or the department chair if they have questions.

Optional Courses in Related Fields and Departments

A maximum of three classes (up to 12 units) may come from outside AMCS to fulfill the unit requirement of the major. These courses may be taken from CALS, NAMS, WGS, or other departments and programs at Sonoma State University upon consent of the faculty major
advisor. Courses in CALS, NAMS, and other academic programs and departments may be considered for elective credit for the degree upon consent of the major advisor, especially for those students pursuing a double major.

Lower-Division Units

A maximum of ten lower-division units may be used toward the AMCS major.

Grading Minimums

Students must earn a grade of C- or above to get AMCS major credit. All courses with grades below C- must be retaken in order to be eligible for major credit. Courses must be taken for a grade in order to be eligible for major credit. Courses for major credit may
not be taken CR/NC.

Sample Four-Year Program for Bachelor of Arts in American Multicultural Studies

Total Semester Units: 120

Freshman Year: 30 Units
Fall Semester (15 units) Spring Semester (15 units)
GE ENGL 101 (A2) (3) GE AMCS 255 (C4) (3)
GE PHIL 101 (A3) (3) GE AMCS 200 (A l) (3)
GE Elective (B1, C1, C2) (9) GE Electives (B4, D2, D3) (9)

Sophomore Year: 30 units
Fall Semester (15 units) Spring Semester (15 units)
GE AMCS 210 (D1) (4) GE Elective (B3) (3)
GE Elective (B2) (3) GE Elective (D4) (3)
Electives (8) GE Electives (9)

Junior Year: 30 units
Fall Semester (15 units) Spring Semester (15 units)
AMCS Elective (4) AMCS 480 (4)
AMCS 350 (C3) (3) AMCS Electives (8)
GE Electives (D5, E) (6) Elective (3)
Electives (2)  

Senior Year: 30 units
Fall Semester (15 units) Spring Semester (15 units)
AMCS 395 (3) AMCS Elective (4)
Electives (12) Electives (12)