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 department of asian american studies offers a b.a. in asian american studies for students who wish to pursue a comprehensive program of study on asian american experiences. the major provides students with a broad range of knowledge of the diverse asian american population through disciplinary and interdisciplinary inquiries and analyses of asian american history, literature, arts, and communities. under advisement, students may use two specific courses to fulfill the history and government requirements and may use an unlimited number of units in asian american studies courses to count towards general education. students majoring in asian american studies are encouraged to study a modern asian language or related courses.