Departmental Honors and Senior Capstone Experience

AMST 492/493

The Department of American Studies & Ethnicity offers a two-semester honors program for qualified students, first identified in AMST 350 Junior Seminar in American Studies and Ethnicity: Theories and Methods or by the program adviser. Seniors with a 3.5 GPA in the major and a 3.25 overall are encouraged to apply to the American Studies and Ethnicity honors program. Contact the program adviser for further information. The recommended timeline for preparation for and completion of honors requirements is available at dornsife.usc.edu/ASE.

How to Graduate with American Studies and Ethnicity Departmental Honors

• Earn a GPA of 3.5 in the major (for all departmental majors), 3.25 overall GPA
• Successfully complete both AMST 492 / 493 capstone experience seminars
• Complete an honors thesis and present research at the annual “Undergraduate Research Colloquium” during the first week of April of senior year
• In order to be considered for graduate with honors, the student should submit the screening form to aseinfo@dornsife.usc.edu detailing your thesis proposal and preferred advisor, preferably by the last Friday in March of junior year
• Draft thesis due to advisor no later than the second Friday in March of senior year
• Click here for the screening form

Recommended Preparation Timeline

• Write a research proposal during your AMST 350 Junior Seminar in American Studies and Ethnicity: Theories and Methods course in sophomore or junior year
• Choose a topic that corresponds with an intellectual area of American Studies & Ethnicity and your advisor’s area of expertise
• Submit the American Studies & Ethnicity Honors Thesis application to aseinfo@usc.edu on April 15th
• Submit the Honors Thesis Statement of Intent form signed by you and your advisor to aseinfo@dornsife.usc.edu no later than the last Friday in August of your senior year that includes a schedule of advisor meetings, milestones and draft submissions and your commitment to respond promptly to any feedback received from your advisor or AMST 492 / 493 instructor
• Enroll in AMST 492 and conduct research in conjunction with this Senior Capstone Experience in Fall of senior year
• Enroll in AMST 493 and write a thesis, generally between 30-45 pages, including graphs, tables, references and appendices with the draft due to your advisor and AMST 493 instructor by the second Friday in March of senior year
• Suggested revisions should be given by faculty advisor and/or AMST 493 instructor no later than the last Friday in March of senior year
• Present your research at the annual ASE Undergraduate Research Colloquium in the first week of April of senior year
• Revisions to thesis are due to advisor / AMST 493 instructor no later than the second Friday in April of senior year.
• Thesis evaluation by advisor, the AMST 493 instructor and members of the Undergraduate Studies Committee
• Faculty Advisor signs the Honors Thesis Statement of Completion Form which student turns in to aseinfo@dornsife.usc.edu no later than the last day of classes