Certificate Candidacy

To earn a graduate certificate at Washington University, a student must complete all courses required by their department; maintain satisfactory academic progress; fulfill all academic and residence requirements; and file an Intent to Graduate. Graduate certificates are not standalone programs and are only available to current students in applicable graduate programs. Thus, graduate certificates are conferred at the same time as the student’s primary graduate program.

Program Requirements

• Total Units Required: 15
• Grade requirement: B or higher
• Certificate Length: 3-6 years
  • Note: Students must be enrolled in 9 graduate credits each semester to retain full-time status. As students complete their course work, if enrolled in fewer than 9 graduate credits, they must enroll in a specific Arts & Sciences graduate course that will show 0 units but does count as full-time status. Students should connect with their department to ensure proper enrollment prior to Add/Drop.

Required Courses

The Graduate Certificate in American Culture Studies is awarded to students who complete the PhD in an Arts & Sciences department and who satisfy the following requirements:

• Complete 15 credits of course work, structured as follows and in consultation/cooperation with the student's home department:
  • The core seminar AMCS 645 Introduction to American Culture Studies (3 credits).
  • Two multidisciplinary courses (6 credits) on American topics (500/5000 level or higher) designed in explicitly multidisciplinary terms. Courses that satisfy this requirement will be determined in consultation with the director of graduate studies (DGS).
  • Two extradepartmental courses (6 credits) on American topics (500/5000 level or higher) based in fields that complement course work in the home department, to be determined in consultation with the director of graduate studies.
• Routine consultation with the AMCS director of graduate studies in addition to consultation with the student's principal PhD advisor.
• Completion of a PhD dissertation in the home department with the AMCS faculty advisor often serving as one of the "outside" readers on the oral defense committee and the dissertation defense committee.
• Maintenance of good standing within the AMCS program through regular participation in program functions and events.
  • Americanist Forums. Attendance at the monthly colloquium series is expected with exceptions considered related to residency, leaves, fieldwork, and dissertation research.

Students pursuing the Graduate Certificate in AMCS have the opportunity to teach a course in AMCS. To be eligible to teach for the AMCS department, students must have completed the certificate and mentored teaching experiences required by their home departments. Interested students should contact the AMCS DGS to learn about the process for proposing a course. Course planning should begin well in advance; we recommend that students begin talking with the AMCS DGS and their PhD advisor at least one year prior to the semester in which they hope to teach.

For more information about program activities and requirements, please visit our Graduate Studies webpage.

Contact Info

Contact:	Noelani Kelly, Graduate Program Administrator
Phone:	314-935-5216
Email:	n.kelly@wustl.edu
Website:	http://amcs.wustl.edu