North American Studies provides a comprehensive view of civilization on this continent, with a special emphasis on the United States. The peoples of the continent are examined in the first instance from the perspective of economics, political science, literature, and history. Subsequent courses are available from several other disciplines as well. Foundation and capstone seminars constitute a vital part of the program. The goal is to attain mastery over diverse material and to develop an integrated knowledge of society on this continent.
Independent study, internships, and university exchange arrangements are available within the context of the program. Graduates of the program are well prepared for several types of professional options, including those that require advanced degrees.
Transferring Credits
Students are normally allowed to transfer appropriate credits completed elsewhere to meet up to one-third of a McGill program. Therefore, for the 18 credit Minor Concentration in North American Studies, 6 credits may be transferred to the program. For students completing the Major Concentration in North American Studies, 12 credits may be transferred to the program.
Please note that prior approval from a program adviser or the program chair is required.
For information on counting transfer credits towards the North American Studies Minor and Major Concentrations, please go here.
Fall 2009 Curriculum Rules
Minor Concentration (18 credits) (Expandable)
Required Courses (9 credits)
ECON 205 An Intro to Political Economy
HIST 211 American History to 1865
NAST 401 Interdisciplinary Seminar NAST
Complementary Courses (9 credits)
9 credits to be chosen from at least two departments:
ECON 219 Current Econ Problems:Topics
ECON 223 Pol Economy of Trade Policy
ECON 302D1 course description not available
and
ECON 302D2 course description not available
ECON 311 U.S. Economic Development
ENGL 225 American Literature 1
or
ENGL 226 American Literature 2
or
ENGL 227 American Literature 3
ENGL 324 20th C American Prose
ENGL 325 Modern American Fiction
ENGL 326 19th Century American Prose
ENGL 327 Canadian Prose Fiction 1
ENGL 328 Dvlpmnt of Canadian Poetry 1
ENGL 333 Dvlpmnt of Canadian Poetry 2
HIST 221 United States since 1865
HIST 301 U.S. Presidential Campaigning
HIST 311 Gilded Age&Progressive Era
HIST 322 Canada:American Presence s.\'39
HIST 331 The U.S. Between the Wars
HIST 341 The New Nation: U.S. 1800-1850
HIST 342 Canada: Ext Rel Since 1867
HIST 351 Themes in U.S. History s. 1865
HIST 360 Latin America since 1825
HIST 363 Canada 1870-1914
NAST 201 Intro to North Amer. Studies
*
NAST 471 Topics in North Amer Studies 1
NAST 472 Topics in North Amer Studies 2
NAST 490 Independent Reading & Research
NAST 499 Arts Internship: NAS
POLI 318 Comparative Local Government
POLI 319 Politics of Latin America
POLI 325D1 Government & Politics: U.S.
and
POLI 325D2 Government & Politics: U.S.
POLI 342 Canadian Foreign Policy
POLI 346 American Foreign Policy
POLI 371 Challenge of Cnd Federalism
POLI 425 Topics in American Politics
* It is strongly recommended that students take NAST 201.
Fall 2009 Curriculum Rules
Major Concentration (36 credits)
Required Courses (12 credits)
CANS 200 Intro to the Study of Canada
ECON 205 An Intro to Political Economy
NAST 201 Intro to North Amer. Studies
NAST 401 Interdisciplinary Seminar NAST
Complementary Courses (24 credits)
To be chosen as follows:
12 credits chosen from at least three of the following disciplines:
COMS 230 Communication and Democracy
ECON 219 Current Econ Problems:Topics
ECON 223 Pol Economy of Trade Policy
ENGL 225 American Literature 1
or
ENGL 226 American Literature 2
or
ENGL 227 American Literature 3
HIST 211 American History to 1865
HIST 221 United States since 1865
POLI 325D1 Government & Politics: U.S.
and
POLI 325D2 Government & Politics: U.S.
*
* Prerequisites will be waived for NAST students.
6 credits chosen from Group A:
ANTH 336 Ethnohistory:N.E.North America
ANTH 338 Native Peoples of N America
CANS 305 Canadian Modernity
CANS 306 Issues in Native Studies
CANS 307 Canada in the World
ECON 302D1 course description not available
and
ECON 302D2 course description not available
ECON 311 U.S. Economic Development
ENGL 324 20th C American Prose
ENGL 325 Modern American Fiction
ENGL 326 19th Century American Prose
ENGL 327 Canadian Prose Fiction 1
ENGL 328 Dvlpmnt of Canadian Poetry 1
ENGL 333 Dvlpmnt of Canadian Poetry 2
HIST 301 U.S. Presidential Campaigning
HIST 311 Gilded Age&Progressive Era
HIST 322 Canada:American Presence s.\'39
HIST 331 The U.S. Between the Wars
HIST 341 The New Nation: U.S. 1800-1850
HIST 342 Canada: Ext Rel Since 1867
HIST 351 Themes in U.S. History s. 1865
HIST 360 Latin America since 1825
HIST 363 Canada 1870-1914
HIST 364 Canada 1914-1945
HIST 367 Canada since 1945
HIST 371 American Civ. Rights 1877-1940
HIST 377 The United States, 1940-1965
HIST 392 The United States since 1965
HIST 393 Civil War & Reconstruction
JWST 306 The American Jewish Community
JWST 386 American Jewish Literature
NAST 471 Topics in North Amer Studies 1
NAST 472 Topics in North Amer Studies 2
NAST 490 Independent Reading & Research
NAST 499 Arts Internship: NAS
POLI 318 Comparative Local Government
POLI 319 Politics of Latin America
POLI 342 Canadian Foreign Policy
POLI 346 American Foreign Policy
POLI 371 Challenge of Cnd Federalism
POLI 425 Topics in American Politics
SOCI 327 Jews in North America
6 credits chosen from Group B:
BUSA 364 Business Law 1
BUSA 368 Business Law 2
CANS 409 Canadian Studies Seminar 9
CANS 412 Canada and Americas Seminar
COMS 300 Media and Modernity in 20th C
ECON 303 Canadian Economic Policy
ECON 305 Industrial Organization
ECON 306D1 course description not available
and
ECON 306D2 course description not available
or
ECON 426 Labour Economics
ECON 308 Govt Policy Towards Business
ECON 404 Transportation
ECON 406 Topics in Economic Policy
ECON 408 Public Sector Economics 1
ECON 409 Public Sector Economics 2
ECON 434 Current Economic Problems
ECON 440 Health Economics
ENGL 407 The 20th Century
ENGL 409 Studies in a Canadian Author
ENGL 410 Theme or Movement Canadian Lit
ENGL 411 Studies in Cdn Fiction
ENGL 414 Studies in 20th C Literature 1
ENGL 415 Studies in 20th C Lit 2
ENGL 418 A Major Modernist Writer
ENGL 419 Studies in 20th C Literature
ENGL 422 Studies in 19th C American Lit
ENGL 423 Studies in 19th C Literature
ENGL 440 First Nations+Inuit Lit+Media
HISP 301 Hispanic Lit-Eng Transl 1
HIST 408 Colonialism and Native Peoples
HIST 409 Themes: Latin American Hist 2
HIST 424 Gender, Sexuality & Medicine
HIST 431 Topics in U.S. History
HIST 434 Brit. North America 1760-1867
HIST 447 The Natural History of America
HIST 461D1 Topics in Modern U.S. History
and
HIST 461D2 Topics in Modern U.S. History
HIST 462D1 Topics: Canadian Conservatism
and
HIST 462D2 course description not available
HIST 530 U.S. Foreign Relations
LING 320 Sociolinguistics 1
MGCR 352 Marketing Management 1
MRKT 354 Marketing Management 2
MRKT 452 Consumer Behaviour
POLI 416 Political Economy of Canada
POLI 427 Sel Topics:Canadian Politics
POLI 469 Politics of Regulation
POLI 478 The Cdn Constitution
SOCI 318 Television in Society
SOCI 435 Popular Culture