Program Overview

Asian American Studies offers a critical perspective on the formation of a multiracial U.S. society by studying groups with roots in Asia and the Pacific. The minor program seeks to place the historical patterns and contemporary experiences of Asians and Pacific Islanders in America in a broader context by analyzing global economic, socio-cultural, and political factors that shape Asian America. The program defines Asian America broadly to include people who have lived here for generations as well as recent immigrants, as it tries to understand the particular ways in which identity formation and struggle take place within the U.S.
   
Courses within the program explore the changing ideas of race within the United States, while questioning the category of “race” itself. Classes focus on the experiences of Asian Americans in the context of struggles by other groups of color, including African Americans, American Indians, Latina/os, and Arab Americans. While understanding race as a primary unit of analysis, the program seeks to appreciate individual and group differences within Asian America along the fault lines of class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religion.

Chicago is the perfect backdrop for such a concentration because it offers a rich historical tradition of many ethnic neighborhoods as well as a snapshot of changes being brought about by globalization, economic change and local struggles. Asian American studies is committed to studying these struggles and changes both academically and with reference to what is happening in the city around us.

What will I learn in Asian American Studies courses?

Asian American Studies courses will provide you with critical tools to examine the promises and contradictions of American culture and history. You will learn about the particular histories of Asian American groups and explore exciting, innovative ways of understanding some of the central issues and dynamics of American life in general. As a result, you will acquire a better appreciation of the diversity that makes up the U.S. In addition, you will also be introduced to ways of analyzing the forces that shape our increasingly transnational, globally interconnected world.

What are my career options if I pursue a minor in Asian American Studies?

Asian American Studies can lead you to a tremendous variety of career paths, including positions in law, business, advertising, marketing, academia, the arts, social work, international relations, and the government. Asian American Studies courses can enhance your opportunities, simply because you will be a more informed person! Some of our graduates have gone on to graduate school, while others have enrolled in professional programs, such as law school or social work.  What our graduates all have in common, though, is an interest in Asian and Pacific American history and issues of social justice.

Do I need to be an Asian American Studies minor to take courses in Asian American Studies?

No. Asian American Studies courses are open to anyone who is interested in taking them.  Students can take our courses to count towards the minor or as elective courses. You can also take our courses to fulfill required core courses (such as Discover/Explore Chicago, the Focal Point Seminar and the Sophomore Seminar in Multiculturalism), or to fulfill required learning domain credits (such as Arts and Literature, Religious Dimensions, Self Society and the Modern World, and Understanding the Past-North America).

Are there any Study Abroad opportunities in Asian American Studies?

Yes. The Study Abroad trip to Hawaii is usually offered during December every other year. This trip is an exciting, wonderful opportunity to learn about Asian and Pacific Islander American communities in the beautiful surroundings of the Pacific islands.