Department of Social Science

Asian American Studies

A topical Social Science major

Program Coordinator: Professor Alex Yamato

The purpose of the Asian American Studies Program is to shed light on the forces and processes that have shaped American society. The program focuses on the perspectives of Asian Americans and their contributions in the development of the United States. It seeks to account for the similarities and differences in their participation in, and responses to, the social and cultural processes that have given form to the United States in a global context. To facilitate the study of these complex social phenomena, courses in the program are interdisciplinary, with emphases upon the social sciences.

A major concern of the program is the quality of education that is made available to the university community. In recognition of the fact that American society is multiculturally diverse and that social inquiry in the field of ethnic experience has been neglected, the program engages in the dissemination of knowledge, the expansion of knowledge through scholarly research, and the exchange of ideas between the community at large and the campus. This communication with the community has been spawned by the program's unique interdisciplinary formula for teaching and research. As part of the program's research and teaching activities, students and faculty have undertaken several projects in adjacent communities in which they join with nonacademic personnel working within their own institutions.

A minor in Asian American studies is selected by students planning careers requiring knowledge and awareness of the complex nature of American culture and society. Students have found the program to be useful preparation for careers in community service at many levels - local, state and national. The program offers knowledge and training to be effective in professional work in the Asian American community, in such careers as teaching, social work, urban planning, law, health, administration, business, communication, and human development.

Students considering a minor in Asian American studies should consult with the program coordinator.

Jump to:   Courses in Asian American Studies

Asian American Studies Major Requirements

(33 units total)

Social Science Core (15 units):

SOCS 193.  Women & Minorities in the Social Sciences

SOCS 194.  Intellectual Foundations of the Social Sciences

SOCS 195.  Theory and Practice in the Social Sciences

AAS 185.  Multicultural Perspectives within American Society

WOMS 160.  Women, Race & Class

Option 1  (15 units)

Required:  AAS 175. Asian American Communities (3 units)

Complete four courses (12 units) from:

AAS 125.  Filipino Experience in the United States

AAS 144.  Vietnamese Women in America

AAS 160.  Asian American Women

AAS 186.  The Vietnamese Experience in America

AAS 187.  Multiracial Asian Americans Experience

AAS 191.  History of Chinese Americans

AAS 192.  History of Japanese Americans

Option 2  (15 units)

Private Margaret Fukuoka, W.A.C. at Manzanar Internment Camp, 1943.  Photo by Ansel Adams, at the American Memory Collection, Library of Congress

Required:  AAS 175. Asian American Communities (3 units)

Complete four courses (9 units) from:

AAS 125.   Filipino Experience in the United States

AAS 144.  Vietnamese Women in America  

AAS 160.  Asian American Women

AAS 186.  The Vietnamese Experience in America

AAS 187.  Multiracial Asian Americans Experience

AAS 191.  History of Chinese Americans

AAS 192.  History of Japanese Americans

RELS 142.  Contemporary Buddhism and its Roots

Complete three units from:

ANTH 177.  Anthropology of Asia

CHIN 102.   Chinese Culture

GEOG 160.  East and South Asia

HIST 107.   History of Southeast Asia

HIST 109A.  History of China

HIST 109B.  History of China

HIST 110A.  History of Japan

HIST 110B.  History of Japan

HIST 134.  History of Vietnam War

HUM 114.  Legacy of Asia

JPN 102.  Japanese Culture

PHIL 104.  Asian Philosophy

POLS 145.  Asian Politics

RELS 143.  Spiritual Traditions of India

RELS 144. Chinese Traditions

Asian American Studies Minor

(15 units total)

Required:    (9 units)

AAS 033A.  Asian Americans in the United States Historical and Political Process

AAS 033B.  Asian Americans in the United States Historical and Political Process

AAS 175.  Asian American Communities

Additional Course (3 units)

AAS 125.   Filipino Experience in the United States

AAS 144.  Vietnamese Women in America  

AAS 160.  Asian American Women

AAS 186.  The Vietnamese Experience in America

AAS 187.  Multiracial Asian Americans Experience

AAS 191.  History of Chinese Americans

AAS 192.  History of Japanese Americans

Electives:   (3 units)

Three or more units in Asian American studies or a related area.