Asian American Studies
College of Ethnic Studies
Dean: Dr. Grace Yoo
Department of Asian American Studies
EP 103
Phone: (415) 338-2698
Chair: Dr. Wesley Ueunten
Program Scope
The goals of the Asian American Studies Department are to:
- Provide a comprehensive offering of courses about the histories, cultures, communities, and experiences of Asian Americans.
- Offer an interdisciplinary approach to Asian American perspectives, issues, and needs.
- Increase the general body of information within the field of Asian American Studies.
- Promote the application of skills and knowledge from Asian American Studies to the improvement of conditions within Asian American communities and the larger society.
Through its combination of course offerings, guided research, supervised fieldwork and participation, and student/faculty involvement in Asian American community activities and issues, Asian American Studies is the national leader of its field. The department, its faculty, and its students reflect the dynamic character of Asian American life and circumstances. Coursework in the discipline will be of value to any student intending a career that involves significant contact with Asian Americans, and to those who want to develop 21st-century work skills of critical thinking, communication, and cultural competency.
Undergraduate Program
The department offers a B.A. in Asian American Studies for students who wish to pursue a comprehensive program of study on Asian American experiences. The major provides students with a broad range of knowledge of the diverse Asian American population through disciplinary and interdisciplinary inquiries and analyses of Asian American history, literature, arts, and communities. Under advisement, students may use two specific courses to fulfill the history and government requirements and may use an unlimited number of units in Asian American Studies courses to count towards General Education. Students majoring in Asian American Studies are encouraged to study a modern Asian language or related courses.
Minor Program
The department offers a Minor in Asian American Studies for those who wish to pursue a coherent course of study of the Asian American experience. It provides a wide range of course selections about different Asian American ethnic groups and topics. It is of particular value for those students whose careers may bring them into regular professional contact with Asian American groups and communities.
General Education and SF State Studies
The Asian American Studies Department has designed its course offerings so that students may take a broad range of Asian American Studies courses while also meeting some General Education and other baccalaureate requirements. These offerings explore all aspects of Asian America, providing students with the opportunity to obtain a solid understanding of Asian American life and communities. In addition, by using AA S courses to partially complete General Education requirements, students can earn a major or minor in Asian American Studies in conjunction with another major, all within 120 units.
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, Behavioral and Social Sciences. 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 advisor early in their enrollment.
Teacher Preparation
Courses in Asian American Studies provide important knowledge of Asians in America that can assist them in teaching in California. Coursework 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 offers an interdisciplinary approach to theories and methods in Asian American Studies, as well as coursework in Asian American history, social sciences, and humanities. Students may write a research thesis, conduct a field report, or do a creative project as their culminating project. Graduates of the program primarily enter academia or professional work with high contact with Asian American communities.
Career Outlook
Both baccalaureate and master’s degrees can be used to enhance work in Asian American communities, enhance career opportunities in the Pacific Rim areas, prepare for teaching and other professional careers, and prepare for doctoral studies or other professional degrees.
Professor
Russell Jeung (2002), Professor in Asian American Studies. Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.
Mai-Nhung Le (1997), Professor in Asian American Studies. Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.
Jonathan H.X. Lee (2009), Professor in Asian American Studies. Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara.
Isabelle Pelaud (2001), Professor in Asian American Studies. Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.
Valerie Soe (1997), Professor in Asian American Studies. M.F.A. School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales (2000), Professor in Asian American Studies. Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles.
Wesley Ueunten (2007), Professor in Asian American Studies. Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.
Grace Yoo (1996), Professor in Asian American Studies. Ph.D. University of California, San Francisco.
Associate Professor
Eric Pido (2011), Associate Professor in Asian American Studies. Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.
Assistant Professor
Arlene Sudaria Daus-Magbual (2022), Assistant Professor in Asian American Studies. Ed.D. San Francisco State University.
Chrissy Yee Lau (2023), Assistant Professor in Asian American Studies. Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara.
Loan K. Le (2023), Assistant Professor in Asian American Studies. Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.
Lecturer
Irene F. Duller (2008), Lecturer in Asian American Studies. M.A. San Francisco State University.
Jeannie Woo (2003), Lecturer in Asian American Studies. M.A. San Francisco State University.
Adjunct Professor
Dehua Zheng (1994), Adjunct Professor in Asian American Studies. Ph.D. University of Hong Kong.
AA S 101 First-Year Experience (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to first-year freshmen.
Course Attributes:
- A1: Oral Communication
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
AA S 102 Identity, Equity, and Student Success (Units: 3)
Exploration of racial/cultural identity, equity, and student success. Topics include an overview of academic success skills, racial/cultural identity development, social justice, equity, personal and community responsibility, educational strategies and planning, interpersonal communication, career development, health issues, and self-assessment strategies. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.
AA S 106 Asian American Activism (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: GE Area A2*.
Course Attributes:
- E: Lifelong Learning Develop
AA S 108 Asian American Artistic Explorations: Creativity, Identity, and Community (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: GE Area A2*.
Course Attributes:
- E: Lifelong Learning Develop
AA S 110 Critical Thinking and the Asian American Experience (Units: 3)
Development of basic critical thinking skills involved in understanding, criticizing, and constructing arguments reflective of the experience of Asian Americans and key themes in Asian American Studies.
Course Attributes:
- A3: Critical Thinking
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
AA S 115 Quantitative Analysis in Asian American Studies (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Category I or II placement for QR/Math or satisfactory completion of ELM requirement, or MATH 70 or ESM 70 with a grade of C or better. Category III or IV placement for QR/Math or students who have not passed MATH 70 or ESM 70 with a C or better must be concurrently enrolled in MATH 122.
(Note: For this course to satisfy General Education, students must earn a grade of C- or CR or better.)
AA S 210 History of Asians in the United States (Units: 3)
Comparative analysis of the experience of different Asian American groups and their place in the general history and development of American society.
Course Attributes:
- U.S. History
- D2: Social Sciences: US Hist.
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
AA S 211 Contemporary Asian Americans (Units: 3)
Examination of factors that define minority groups and their positions in contemporary U.S. society, using Asian Americans as a case study.
Course Attributes:
- D1: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
AA S 212 Asian Americans and Mass Media (Units: 3)
Images and treatment of Asian Americans in mass media, especially motion pictures, television, advertising, popular literature, and commercial art. American minorities in the entertainment industry.
Course Attributes:
- C1: Arts
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
AA S 213 Asian Americans and American Ideals and Institutions (Units: 3)
The Asian American experience in the U.S. focusing on basic governmental ideals and institutions. Impact of Asians on legal-constitutional America and the countervailing impact of political-legal structures imposed on Asians.
Course Attributes:
- U.S. Govt CA State Local Govt
- D3: Social Sciences: US CA Gov
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
AA S 214 Second Year Written Composition: Asian American Studies (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ENG 114 or equivalent with a grade of CR or C- or better. Must be taken after completing 24 units and before completing 60 units.
Course Attributes:
- A4: Written English Comm II
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
AA S 216 Introduction to Asian American Literature (Units: 3)
Reading and analysis of Asian American literature. Appreciation of literature from a literary standpoint with a focus on history, identity, and representation.
Course Attributes:
- C2: Humanities
- C3 or C2: Humanities/Lit.
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
AA S 218 Asian American Culture (Units: 3)
Ethnic values and cultures in America using Asian American arts, languages, and literatures. How these works reflect and express the character of the Asian American experience and the forces that have shaped that experience.
Course Attributes:
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- C2: Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 301 Asian Americans of Mixed Heritages (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 313 Asian American Futurism: Music, Art, Technology, Culture, and Identity (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
AA S 320 Chinese in the United States (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 322 Chinese American Language and Literature (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
AA S 323 Chinese American Identities (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 330 Nikkei in the United States (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
AA S 332 Japanese American Art and Literature (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
AA S 333 Japanese American Identities (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
AA S 338 Okinawan American Heritage and Culture (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- GE-F: Ethnic Studies
AA S 350 Filipina/os in the United States (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
AA S 352 Filipina/o American Literature, Art, and Culture (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 353 Filipina/o American Identities (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
AA S 360 Koreans in the United States (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 370 Vietnamese in the United States (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 372 Vietnamese American Literature (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
AA S 373 Vietnamese American Identities (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 380 Cambodians in the United States (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 396 Empire in the Pacific: Asian Americans, Indigeneity, and Resistance (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; GE Areas A1, A2, A3, and B4; or consent of the instructor.
AA S 510 Asian Americans in California (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Environmental Sustainability
- Social Justice
AA S 512 Asian American Children's/Adolescent Literature (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
AA S 516 Asian American Photographic Explorations (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
AA S 520 Asian American Musical Communities (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better; or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
AA S 521 Community Building Through The Performing Arts: Methods and Strategies (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: AA S 520 or permission of the instructor.
AA S 522 Asian Americans and the Transracial Adoptee Experience (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division standing; GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better; or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 540 South Asians in the United States (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 541 South Asian Diaspora (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
(This course is offered as RRS 657 and AA S 541. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 570 Southeast Asians in the United States (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 582 Asian American Women's Literature and the Arts (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
AA S 584 Asian American Sexualities (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 585 Asian American Religiosities (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
AA S 587 Asian Americans and Environmental Justice (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Environmental Sustainability
- Social Justice
AA S 588 Asian American Media Workshop (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
AA S 591 Asian American Community Health Issues (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- E1 LLD Pre-Fall 2019
- UD-B: Physical Life Science
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
AA S 593 Asian Americans in Education (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- GE-F: Ethnic Studies
AA S 595 Asian American Communities and Public Policy (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- UD-D: Social Sciences
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
AA S 597 Asian Transnational Communities (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- GE-F: Ethnic Studies
AA S 681 Asian American Community Changes and Development (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to Asian American Studies majors and minors; upper-division standing; 6 units of AA S GE courses; or permission of the instructor.
Course Attributes:
- Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
- Social Justice
AA S 685 Projects in the Teaching of Asian American Studies (Units: 1-4)
Prerequisites: Undergraduate students only; upper-division standing; 3.3 GPA in AA S courses; permission of the instructor.
AA S 688 Asian American Community Service Internship (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; permission of the instructor.
AA S 696 Critical Approaches to Asian American Studies (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to Asian American Studies majors; 24 upper-division units in AA S courses; or permission of the instructor.
AA S 697 Proseminar in Asian American Studies (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Restricted to Asian American Studies majors; senior standing; AA S 696*; or permission of the instructor.
AA S 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; 3.0 GPA; permission of the instructor and department chair.
AA S 710 Critical Approaches to Asian American Studies (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Asian American Studies students or permission of the instructor.
AA S 800 Theory and History in Asian American Studies (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.
AA S 810 Seminar: Asian American Immigration (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Asian American Studies students or permission of the instructor.
AA S 822 Seminar: Asian American Literature and Arts (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate Asian American Studies students or permission of the instructor.
AA S 833 Seminar: Asian American Family and Identity (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Asian American Studies students or permission of the instructor.
AA S 865 Asian American Community and Public Policy (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Asian American Studies students or permission of the instructor.
AA S 875 Asian American Community Health Issues (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate Asian American Studies and Healthcare Administration Certificate students or permission of the instructor.
AA S 884 Critical Asian American Educational Experience and Pedagogy (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.
AA S 894 Creative Work Project (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and department chair; approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies before registration.
AA S 895 Field Study in Asian American Studies (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor; approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies before graduation.
AA S 896 Directed Reading in Asian American Studies (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and graduate adviser.
AA S 898 Master's Thesis (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor; approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies before registration.
AA S 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and graduate adviser.