Asian American Studies

College of Ethnic Studies
Dean: 

Department of Asian American Studies
PSY 103
415-338-2698
Chair: Marlon K. Hom

Faculty

Professors—Begonia, Chan, J., Chew, Dong, Hom, Okutsu, Woo

Associate Professors—Gonzales, Kobashigawa

Assistant Professors—Hsu, Le, Vergara, Yoo

Programs

B.A. in Asian American Studies
Minor in Asian American Studies

Program Scope

The goals of the Asian American Studies Department include:

• To provide a comprehensive offering of courses which offer all students the opportunity to study and develop greater understanding and awareness of the histories, cultures, communities, and experiences of Asian Americans;
• To integrate knowledge and skills from a variety of other disciplines into a coherent body of information and methodologies that reflect Asian American perspectives, approaches, and needs;
• To increase the general body of information within the field of Asian American Studies;
• To encourage and promote the application of skills and knowledge from Asian American Studies to the improvement of conditions within Asian American communities and the larger society.

These goals are approached through a combination of course offerings, guided research, supervised fieldwork and participation, and student/faculty involvement in Asian American community activities and issues. The department is committed to a constant evolution of its programs and perspectives so as to reflect the dynamic character of Asian American life and circumstances. Towards these ends, courses offered by the department can be used in a number of programs and to meet a variety of graduation requirements. Solid course work in the department will be of significant value to any student intending a career that involves significant contact with Asian Americans.

Undergraduate Program. The department offers a major in Asian American studies for students who wish to pursue a comprehensive program of study on Asian American experiences. The major program is designed, through disciplinary and interdisciplinary inquiries and analyses of Asian American history, literature and the arts, gender and family, as well as the communities, to provide students with a broad range of knowledge of the diverse Asian American population. Under advisement, students may use two specific courses to fulfill the history and government requirements, and may use up to twelve units in Asian American studies courses towards General Education. Students majoring in Asian American studies are encouraged to study an Asian language or related courses. The major is of particular value for students interested in pursuing a career in community service, teaching, or a career in matters relating to Pacific Rim countries. It also prepares a strong foundation for those who are interested in pursuing graduate studies in ethnic/Asian American studies.

Minor Program. The department offers a Minor in Asian American Studies for those students who wish to pursue a coherent course of study regarding the Asian American experience while completing majors in other fields. The minor program is designed to provide a wide range of course selections while ensuring knowledge of a broad range of different Asian American groups. The minor is of particular value for those students whose chosen careers may bring them into regular professional contact with Asian American groups and communities.

General Education and History/Government Requirements. The Asian American Studies Department has designed its course offerings so that students may take a broad range of courses in Asian American Studies while also meeting their general education and history and government requirements for graduation. These offerings explore all aspects of Asian American history, arts, and contemporary family and community experience, providing students with the opportunity to obtain a solid understanding of Asian American life and communities.

Liberal Studies. Asian American Studies courses can be used to meet many of the requirements for a B.A. in Liberal Studies, most especially as the basis for an emphasis in ethnic studies in Area III, Social Science. Those students planning to seek a multiple subjects credential to teach in the elementary school grades can use additional Asian American studies courses to meet some of the subject matter and general unit requirements in the 85-unit liberal studies program for credential candidates. Students are encouraged to see a Liberal Studies adviser early in their enrollment, if they wish to make full use of these options.

Teacher Preparation. Courses in the Asian American Studies Department will provide important knowledge on Asians in America that can assist them in teaching in California. Course work in Asian American Studies also will help prepare students and meet credential subject matter requirements as described earlier as part of the liberal studies major.

Graduate Program. The Master of Arts in Asian American Studies is designed, through disciplinary and interdisciplinary inquiries and analyses of Asian American history, literature and the arts, gender and family studies, as well as community studies, to provide students with a critical knowledge of the diverse Asian American population. Students in Asian American studies are encouraged to study a modern Asian language other than English.

Career Outlook

The master's degree can be used to enhance work in the Asian American communities; enhance career opportunities in the Pacific Rim areas; prepare for a teaching and other professional career; and prepare for doctoral studies or other professional degrees.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES

Admission to Program. Students interested in this major should seek program advising from designated Asian American Studies faculty members who serve as major advisers to plan a course of matriculation. All majors must be approved by the major adviser and the department chair.

A baccalaureate major in Asian American studies consists of a total of 39 units in five instructional modules; no more than nine units can be taken for CR/NC.

MINOR IN ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES

A total of 24 units are required for the Asian American Studies Minor—eighteen of which must be from core courses and six from electives on advisement.

MASTER OF ARTS IN ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES

Admission to Program

Applicants must meet the general requirements for graduate admission at San Francisco State University. In addition, students must demonstrate an undergraduate proficiency equivalent to three of the five ethnic specific courses offered at SFSU; e.g., AA S 300, AA S 310, AA S 331, AA S 370, AA S 380, and AA S 456. If judged deficient in undergraduate preparation, the student is required to take the above courses to meet the minimum requirements and should seek additional program advising.

General Information

The program consists of thirty units in five modules. No more than six units are allowed in Directed Reading or Special Study or a combination of both. A student must perform satisfactorily in the first year of graduate study by maintaining a minimum grade of B in all courses taken towards the degree or be subject to dismissal. CR/NC units are not acceptable towards the degree. A graduate student in good standing must maintain a B (3.0 GPA) throughout the course of study.

Program

Module 1. Theory and Research Methods in Asian American Studies: Intensive training in research methodologies as well as data analysis—in both the humanities and social sciences—to develop critical and analytical skills in Asian American studies as a discipline of inquiry.

Module 2. Seminars in Asian American Studies: Thematic seminars to prepare students in disciplinary and interdisciplinary inquiries. These seminars are conducted by Asian American studies graduate faculty who are specialists in their respective areas.

Module 3. Asian American Community Studies: In-depth studies of pertinent issues facing the Asian American community, particularly issues of public policy and health concerns through an interdisciplinary approach.

Module 4. Electives or Emphasis: Courses taken on advisement with prior approval from the graduate adviser that aim to provide flexibility for graduate students to enroll in courses (upper division and/or graduate courses offered within or outside the AAS Department) to pursue an emphasis within Asian American studies; e.g., Asian area studies, counseling, creative writing, education, English studies, cinema, electronic or print journalism, health services, history, international business, international relations, social work, etc.

Module 5. Culminating Course—Master's Thesis or Field Study: An independent and final project, which can be either scholarly or creative/artistic under graduate faculty supervision, as evidence of abilities in both research methodologies and critical analysis or artistic creativity.