Western American Studies Certificate
Center of the American West at the University of Colorado at Boulder now offers an undergraduate certificate program in Western American Studies. This program offers a unique regional studies curriculum for students who wish to learn about the American West. The multi–disciplinary format allows students to explore the region’s many fascinating and relevant issues: from the region’s flora and fauna to its history and literature, from the political, social, cultural, economic and environmental concerns facing Westerners to the landscapes and ecosystems they inhabit. It is important for students to understand the region in which they live, and the interdisciplinary certificate program provides a means toward achievement of this understanding.
The program requires that students complete twenty–four hours of course work, including an introductory and a capstone course, as well as a sampling from a variety of disciplines. The format of the program allows each student an exposure to a broad array of Western topics, and provides a confluence for the diverse facets of their exploration.
In the certificate program, student learning goes beyond the traditional classroom setting. The Center of the American West sponsors readings, discussions, guest lectures, conferences, and field trips to historic Western sites and natural settings. Students have the opportunity to interact with some of the brightest minds at the University at various gatherings, and are encouraged to participate in Center events and projects. Upon successful completion of the requirements, students are awarded a certificate in Western American Studies, signed by the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the director of the Center. Presented at a Center celebration, the certificate stands as evidence of a sustained interdisciplinary concentration in Western American Studies.