Minor in Asian American Studies

Asian American Studies (AAS) was one of the Ethnic Studies fields born from the Third World Liberation Front and in solidarity with multiple oppressed communities. Spearheaded by community-based scholars, the field was created to address the longstanding inequities in education and research. The field calls attention to the histories and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and the important heterogeneity within these communities. Specifically, AAS brings together perspectives from different fields in the creative arts, humanities and social sciences while at the same time seeking to maintain a commitment to activism and to the needs of our communities. The mission of the San José State University AAS degree program is to empower students to create a more socially-just and equitable society. AAS students will meet this vision by applying interdisciplinary theories into action, cultivating critical thought, and serving Asian American communities. 

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

  1. Demonstrate a core competency in interdisciplinary knowledge of major concepts, theories, and methods in Asian American Studies (AAS). For specifics see below.
    • Explain the sociopolitical, historical, contemporary, and comparative formations of race and ethnicity
    • Analyze systems of power and hierarchies associated with the intersections of race and ethnicity to class, gender, sexuality, religion, spirituality, national origin, immigration status, ability, sovereignty, language, health, and/or age to understand the diversity and complexity of Asian American populations 
  2. Apply Asian American Studies theory and knowledge to the following:
    • addressing anti-racist and anti-colonial issues
    • identifying practices and movements that have and continue to facilitate the building of a more just and equitable society
  3. Communicate knowledge in Asian American studies effectively and creatively_appropriate to purpose and audience in the following forms: written, visual and/or oral forms

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

  1. Analyze and articulate concepts such as race and racism, racialization, eurocentrism, white supremacy, self-determination, liberation, decolonization, sovereignty, imperialism, settler colonialism, and diaspora.
  2. Critically analyze the intersection of race and racism as they relate to class, gender, sexuality, religion, spirituality, national origin, immigration status, ability, sovereignty, language, health, and/or age.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of anti-racist and anti-colonial issues, including struggle, resistance, solidarity, and liberation in order to connect classroom ideas and knowledge to current events and processes.
  4. Demonstrate competence in using multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives and methods in the study of Asian Americans.
  5. Identify and evaluate mechanisms that can facilitate the building of a more just and equitable society.
  6. Effectively communicate ideas of civic engagement and change-oriented social citizenship in an organized written, visual, and/or oral form appropriate to the purpose and audience.

For requirements for the minor and course descriptions please see the current course catalog.

Asian American Studies Minor Form [pdf]

Program Coordinator

Dr. Yvonne Kwan
408-924-5258
yvonne.y.kwan@sjsu.edu
DMH 213
See Professor Kwan’s current office hours here.