M.A. Program Advisor: Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales

M.A. Program: The Master of Arts degree 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 Options for Graduates: The M.A. degree can be used to: (1) enhance work in the Asian American communities; (2) enhance career opportunities in the Pacific Rim areas; (3) prepare for a teaching and other professional career; and (4) prepare for graduate studies (Ph.D.) or other professional degrees.

Admission to the Graduate Program: Applicants must meet the general requirements for graduate program admission at San Francisco State University. Students apply for admission to both the Graduate Division at San Francisco State University and the department of Asian American Studies. At the university-level, applicants must demonstrate completion of their undergraduate degree with at least a 3.0 GPA. At the department level, applicants will be evaluated on

(1) how the M.A. contributes to their personal and professional goals;
(2) background in Asian American studies;
(3) record of community service or student activism;
(4) topic or specific area of interest; and
(5) research, writing, and analytical abilities

Applicants should send the following materials to the MA Coordinator c/o Asian American Studies:

• A personal statement covering points (1) to (4) above
• A writing sample demonstrating research, writing and analytical skills
• An extra copy of transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation

Send to:
Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales
M.A. Coordinator
San Francisco State University
Asian American Studies Department
1600 Holloway Avenue, EP 103
San Francisco, CA 94132

Required Courses, Units, and Grades: The Master of Arts 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 graduate 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" (3.00 GPA) throughout the course of study.

Program of Instruction:
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. Through an interdisciplinary approach, in-depth studies of pertinent issues facing the Asian American community, particularly issues of public policy and health concerns.

Module 4. Electives or Concentration. Courses taken on advisement with prior approval from the graduate advisor 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 a concentration 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.

Courses:
1. Theory and Research Methods (3-6 units; minimum 3 units)
AAS 697 Proseminar in Asian American Studies (3 units)
AAS 710 Critical Approaches to Asian American Studies (3 units)

2. Seminars in Asian American Studies (9-12 units; minimum 9 units)
AAS 800 Seminar: Asian American Demographic Analysis (3 units)
AAS 810 Seminar: Asian American Immigration (3 units)
AAS 822 Seminar: Asian American Literature and Arts (3 units)
AAS 833 Seminar: Asian American Family and Identity (3 units)

3. Asian American Community Studies (3-6 units; minimum 3 units)
AAS 865 Asian American Community and Public Policy (3 units)
AAS 875 Asian American Community Health Issues (3 units)

4. Electives or Concentration (3-12 units; minimum 3 units)
Approved courses on advisement

5. Culminating Courses (3 units)
AAS 895 Field Study (3 units)
AAS 898 Master’s Thesis (3 units)

TOTAL: 30 units (minimum)

IMPORTANT: SFSU Graduate Admissions Information

At the same time that a candidate is applying for admission to the Master of Arts degree in
Asian American Studies, s/he must also additionally apply for admission to San Francisco State University. This is a completely separate but simultaneous admission process.

We hope this information will be helpful. Official requirements of all majors and programs are also published in the University Bulletin.

Interested in applying to the program? Here's what you need to do:

1. Go to the SFSU Graduate Division website for important information on the admission process, requirements, procedures, deadlines and graduate equity fellowships.
http://www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy/

2. Pick up a CSU Graduate Application available at the One-Stop Student Service Building or complete the application online.
http://www.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/grad_apply.asp

3. Make sure to complete all sections of the CSU Graduate Application and indicate SFSU Asian American Studies as your desired institute/studies.

4. Once completed, make two copies of the application, one for your records and the other to be sent to the AAS department separately (see #5). Be sure to include the necessary ORIGINAL materials required by the SFSU grad division before mailing to:

San Francisco State University
Office of Graduate Admission
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132

5. Prepare all the materials required by the Asian American Studies Dept., i.e. writing sample, personal statement, extra copy of transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and copy of your CSU Graduate Admissions Application from #4. Send these directly to the MA Coordinator c/o Asian American Studies:

Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales, MA Coordinator
San Francisco State University
Asian American Studies Department
1600 Holloway Avenue, EP 103
San Francisco, CA 94132

The Asian American Studies Department accepts application year round. However, students are only admitted in the fall semesters.