Program: B.A., Asian American Studies
Standard Major
Overview
The Asian American Studies Department provides an interdisciplinary liberal arts program. The department offers a Bachelor of Arts major with two options and a minor in Asian American Studies designed to develop student skills in critical analysis, writing, communication and reasoning, while retrieving, documenting and analyzing the literary, artistic, economic, social, political and historical experiences of Asians in the United States. The department also participates in the CSUN General Education Program. Many courses in the major and minor meet the General Education requirements and may be used for both purposes.
Program Requirements
1. Core Courses (18 units):
AAS 100 Introduction to Asian American Studies (3)
AAS 201 Race, Racism and Critical Thinking (3)
AAS 210 History of Asians in America (3)
AAS 220 Survey of Asian American Literature (3)
AAS 311 Research Methods in Asian American Studies (3)
AAS 390/F Asian American Communities: Field Practicum (3)
2. Community Studies
Select two of the following (6 units):
AAS 345 Contemporary Issues in Asian American Studies (3)
AAS 347 Asian American Legal and Political History (3)
AAS 360 Asian American Immigration-Global Perspective (3)
AAS 361A-Z Asian American Experience of Selected Groups (3)
AAS 440 Urbanization and Asian American Communities (3)
3. Cultural and Literary Studies
Select two of the following (6 units):
AAS 230 Asian Americans and the Media (3)
AAS 321 Asian American Fiction (3)
AAS 325A-B Asian American Creative Studies Workshop (3)*
AAS 420 Asian American Literary Self-Representations (3)
AAS 430 Asian Americans and Popular Culture (3)
*Only one course in the AAS 325A-B series may be applied to the above Cultural and Literary Studies Section.
4. Social Relations, Family and Gender Studies
Select two of the following (6 units):
AAS 340 Asian American Women (3)
AAS 350 Asian American Personality and Mental Health (3)
AAS 355 Biracial and Multiracial Identity (3)
AAS 453 Asian American Families (3)
AAS 455 Asian American Sexuality (3)
5. Electives (3 units)
Select 3 units of electives either in Asian American Studies or, with permission from the Department Chair, from another department. Intermediate language study in an appropriate Asian or Pacific Island language is highly recommended and would qualify under this section.
6. Senior Capstone
Select one of the following (3 units):
AAS 495 Selected Topics in Asian American Studies (3)
AAS 497 Senior Seminar in Asian American Studies (3)
Total Units in the Major: 42
General Education Units: 48
Additional Units: 30
Total Units Required for the Degree: 120
Contact
Chair: Gina Masequesmay
Staff: Janaki Bowerman, Molly Nguyen
Jerome Richfield Hall (JR) 340
(818) 677-4966
www.csun.edu/aas
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will develop a core competency in the history, culture and experience of Asian Pacific American communities in the United States.
- Working from a social justice approach to race, class, ethnicity, gender and sexuality, students will develop and apply their critical-thinking skills as demonstrated through written assignments, oral presentations, class discussion and examinations.
- Students will acquire and develop effective communication skills.
- Students will develop and demonstrate basic research skills as they learn about the particular dynamics of working with Asian Pacific American communities.
- Students will demonstrate an applied knowledge and practical application of their acquired skills through student and community work, learning in the process the value and importance of community service.