Major Orientation and Advising for Direct-Admit Transfer Students
Students admitted directly to the American Studies major are automatically declared upon admission to Berkeley. However, all students must still complete the program’s declaration paperwork, develop an Area of Concentration, and work with an American Studies faculty advisor to establish a plan for completing the major.
Students transferring to UC Berkeley in the Fall semester should complete steps 1–4 of the process outlined below before the end of week 6, typically the end of September. Students transferring in the Spring semester should complete steps 1–4 of this process before the end of week 6, typically the end of February.
1. Confirm your major status in CalCentral
American Studies should appear as your declared major in CalCentral. If it does not, contact the American Studies Student Academic Advisor at amerstd@berkeley.edu.
2. Review your lower-division requirements
The American Studies major has four lower-division requirements: AMERSTD 10 (Introduction to American Studies) and three additional courses in the humanities or social sciences related to the study of the United States.
Your lower-division transfer coursework has already been considered as part of your direct admission to the major and does not require a separate faculty review.
The introductory requirement must be completed at Berkeley. Community college coursework cannot satisfy this requirement. If you have not yet satisfied the introductory requirement, you should plan to enroll in AMERSTD 10 as soon as possible, preferably during your first semester.
Review your transfer coursework and bring unofficial transcripts to your faculty advising meeting, particularly if you have completed any upper-division courses that might be applied to your Area of Concentration.
3. Prepare your declaration materials
Review the American Studies major requirements and complete as much of the major declaration paperwork as possible before meeting with a faculty advisor.
Central to the major is the Area of Concentration, a coherent set of upper-division courses organized around a topic, theme, or question in American culture and society. Your concentration must include coursework from at least three departments or fields.
You are not expected to have a finalized concentration before your first advising meeting, but you should be prepared to discuss your academic interests and propose courses that might contribute to your concentration.
You should also prepare a preliminary semester-by-semester plan for completing your remaining major requirements, including the methods courses and senior thesis.
4. Meet with an American Studies faculty advisor
During your first semester, meet with an American Studies faculty advisor to review your declaration materials, proposed concentration, and academic plan.
This meeting is an essential part of the advising process and cannot be replaced by email correspondence or advising through another campus office.
Your advisor will review your proposed upper-division course of study and discuss any necessary revisions. Once your proposed course of study has been approved, your advisor will sign your completed declaration form. Signatures may be handwritten or electronic.
Submit your signed declaration paperwork to the American Studies Student Academic Advisor (538 UAB or amerstd@berkeley.edu) for your student file.
Preparing for your Second Semester (and Beyond)
Newly admitted transfer students may enroll in their first semester without completing faculty enrollment advising. However, like all declared American Studies majors, they must have their proposed courses reviewed and approved by a faculty advisor before their enrollment advising hold can be removed for subsequent semesters.
Students who arrive at their initial advising meeting with a sufficiently developed Area of Concentration and academic plan may be able to complete both their declaration paperwork and enrollment advising during the same appointment. Those whose plans require further development may need to attend additional office hours before their courses can be approved.
Once your course selections have been approved, your enrollment advising hold can be removed.
Questions? Contact the American Studies Student Academic Advisor at amerstd@berkeley.edu.
