Asian American Studies Space

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 Jose 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.