Asian American Studies

College of Ethnic Studies
Dean: Kenneth Monteiro

Department of Asian American Studies
EP 103
415-338-2698
Chair: Marlon Hom

Faculty

Professors—Begonia, Chew, Dong, Hom, Kobashigawa

Associate Professors—Gonzales, Jeung, Yoo

Assistant Professors—Dariotis, Le, Pelaud, Tintiangco-Cubales, Vergara

Programs

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


Program Scope

The goals of the Asian American Studies Department include:

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.

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, 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. 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 Asian American studies 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 to meet credential subject matter requirements as described above 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 communities. 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.

Program Units
Introduction to Asian American Studies
Units selected from the following:
3
AA S 200 History of Asian Americans  
ETHS 220 Asians in America
Units selected from the following: 3
AA S 206 Introduction to Asian American Literature  
ETHS 210 Asian American Culture
Asian American Ethnic Groups
Units selected from the following with at least one course from each group.
18
Chinese American
AA S 310 Chinese in America  
AA S 315 Chinese American Personality
AA S 322 Chinese American Culture—Language and Literature
Pilipino American
AA S 355 Psyche and Behavior of Pilipinos  
AA S 363 Survey of Philippine Literature
AA S 456 Pilipinos in America: Problems of Transition
Japanese American
AA S 331 Japanese Americans in the United States  
AA S 335 Japanese American Personality
AA S 444 Japanese American Art and Expression
Vietnamese American
AA S 370 Vietnamese in America  
AA S 372 Vietnamese American Literature
AA S 375 Vietnamese American Identity
Asian American Community
Units selected from the following:
3
AA S 680 Community: Changes and Development  
AA S 695 Seminar on Contemporary Asian American Communities
Cross-group Topics and/or Electives
Units selected from the following:
9
AA S 205 Asian Americans and American Ideals and Institutions  
AA S 308 Photographic Exploration of Asian America
AA S 406 Asian American Workshop in Creative Writing
AA S 434 Concentration Camps, U.S.A.
AA S 502 Asian American Children/Teen Literature
AA S 550 Asian Americans of Mixed Heritage
AA S 603 Asian American Women
AA S 622 Asian American Women Literature and the Arts
AA S 693 Asian Americans and the Mass Media
 Electives on advisement (1-6)
Senior Proseminar Culminating course, after 24 units in Asian American Studies 3
AA S 697 Proseminar in Asian American Studies  
Total for major 39

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.

Core Courses Units
Introductory Course (chosen from one of the following) 3
AA S 200 History of Asian Americans  
ETHS 210 Asian American Culture
ETHS 220 Asians in America
Ethnic-group Courses (one each chosen from 3 of the 4 ethnic groups listed below) 9
Chinese American
AA S 310 Chinese in America  
AA S 315 Chinese American Personality
AA S 322 Chinese American Culture—Language and Literature
Pilipino American
AA S 355 Psychology and Behavior of Pilipinos  
AA S 363 Survey of Philippine Literature
AA S 456 Pilipinos in America: Problems of Transition
Japanese American
AA S 331 Japanese Americans in the United States  
AA S 335 Japanese American Personality
AA S 444 Japanese American Art and Expression
Vietnamese American
AA S 370 Vietnamese in America  
Thematic or Cross-ethnic Courses—one chosen from the following: 3
AA S 205 Asian Americans and American Ideals and Institutions  
AA S 206 Introduction to Asian American Literature
AA S 308 Photographic Exploration of Asian America
AA S 406 Asian American Workshop in Creative Writing
AA S 434 Concentration Camps, U.S.A.
AA S 603 Asian American Women
AA S 693 Asian Americans and the Mass Media
Concluding Community Courses—one chosen from the following: 3
AA S 680 Community: Changes and Development  
AA S 695 Seminar on Contemporary Asian American Communities
Electives
Asian American Studies courses on advisement, with at least one upper division AA S course. 6
Total for minor 24

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.

Curriculum Units
Theory and Research Methods 3-6
AA S 697 Proseminar in Asian American Studies  
AA S 710 Critical Approaches to Asian American Studies
Seminars in Asian American Studies 9-12
AA S 800 Seminar: Contemporary Asian American Discourse  
AA S 810 Seminar: Asian American Immigration
AA S 822 Seminar: Asian American Literature and Arts
AA S 833 Seminar: Asian American Family and Identity
Asian American Community Studies 3-6
AA S 865 Asian American Community and Public Policy  
AA S 875 Asian American Community Health Issues
Electives or Emphasis
Approved courses on advisement
3-12
Culminating Courses 3
AA S 895 Field Study  
AA S 898 Master's Thesis
Minimum total for degree 30