program description

the goals of the asian american studies department are to:

• provide a comprehensive offering of courses about the histories, cultures, communities, and experiences of asian americans.
• offer an interdisciplinary approach to asian american perspectives, issues, and needs.
• increase the general body of information within the field of asian american studies.
• promote the application of skills and knowledge from asian american studies to the improvement of conditions within asian american communities and the larger society.

through its combination of course offerings, guided research, supervised fieldwork and participation, and student/faculty involvement in asian american community activities and issues, asian american studies is the national leader of its field. the department, its faculty, and its students reflect the dynamic character of asian american life and circumstances. coursework in the discipline will be of value to any student intending a career that involves significant contact with asian americans, and to those who want to develop 21st-century work skills of critical thinking, communication, and cultural competency.

the master of arts in asian american studies offers an interdisciplinary approach to theories and methods in asian american studies, as well as coursework in asian american history, social sciences, and humanities. students may write a research thesis, conduct a field report, or do a creative project as their culminating projects. graduates of the program primarily enter academia or professional work with high contact with asian american communities.