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.

The minor program employs interdisciplinary analysis and approaches from the humanities and social sciences. The faculty who teach the courses in the Asian American minor program come from departments of American Studies, Art and Art History, Chinese Studies, Communications, English, Japanese Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, Law, Modern Languages, Psychology, Sociology, and Women and Gender Studies. The program faculty draw upon local and Midwestern Asian American communities to combine university scholarship and classroom teaching. An Asian American Studies minor offers students analytic and critical thinking skills and encourages a lifelong pursuit of strategies for community empowerment and social change.

Students take two required courses and four elective courses offered under the rubric of Asian American studies to complete the minor. Many of our courses can also be taken to fulfill domain credits. Our faculty also offers Sophomore Seminar in Multiculturalism courses  on Asian American Art, Asian American Experiences in the U.S. and on Immigrant Entrepreneurs, all of which focus on Asian American communities.

Every other year we also offer a Study Abroad program in Hawai’i during December term.

This interdisciplinary minor program draws from over twenty faculty members from across the University to contribute to the program. Areas of expertise include: American studies, pan-Asian American studies, art and art history, Chinese studies, creative writing, cultural studies, film studies, history, inter and pan-ethnic studies, Japanese studies, Latin American and Latino studies, literature, law, media studies, psychology, political science, sociology, and women and gender studies.

In addition to offering courses, which students can take towards the minor or for domain credit, the Asian American Studies program provides students with quality co-curricular activities.  We bring in speakers and performers of national renown to provide the latest theoretical, scholarly, or popular culture developments in the field of Asian American Studies.  These co-curricular activities provide a contemporary link between in-class learning and out-of-the-classroom experiences and are open to the public.

Asian American Studies can lead to a number of career paths in law, academia and the non-profit sector.  Students’ career trajectories in our program range from studio art, literature, history, and modern languages to sociology, psychology, sociology, and law. What they have in common is an interest in Asian and Pacific American history and issues of social justice.  

Established in the midst of the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s, the field of Asian American Studies is closely related to American studies, Asian studies, history, international business, political science and government, and sociology.  Our graduates can go on to graduate school where they can continue their investigation of Asian American-related scholarship or enroll in professional programs, such as law school or social work. Among other occupations, Asian American Studies related careers include: advertising, marketing, and public relations managers; arts (visual, performing, literary, music) and media; child, family and school social workers; curators; elementary, middle, and high school teachers; government executives and legislators; historians; human resource managers; postsecondary teachers; philanthropy.

DECLARING A MINOR: It is most important that you declare Asian American Studies as your minor, as this will facilitate advising and allow you to track your progress. Visit the website of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Division - http://condor.depaul.edu/~lasugrad/ - and click on Administrative Forms. Then click on Declaration of Program Plan. Print and fill out the form, declaring Asian American Studies as your minor, and return it to LA&S College Office, 2352 N Clifton, Suite 130, Chicago, IL 60614, or Fax (773) 325-7311.
 
Once you have declared Asian American Studies as your minor you will have access to your progress in the minor on Campus Connection. The program director will also have access to this information and this will facilitate advising. Please contact the program director, Laura Kina, for advising or with any questions concerning the program.

Asian American Studies
1150 W. Fullerton, Suite 317
Chicago, IL 60614,
Phone 773-325-4048
Fax 773-325-1950
lkinaaro@depaul.edu
http://www.depaul.edu/~aas
      
Once you have declared Asian American Studies as your minor the approved Asian American Studies courses you take will automatically be credited towards the minor.
 
COURSES OFFERED EACH YEAR: Not all the courses approved for Asian American Studies are offered each year. We seek to offer the two core courses, AAS 100 and AAS 200, at least once per year.  AAS 100 is typically offered in the fall and AAS 200 is offered in the Winter and/or Spring. The Study Abroad trip to Hawai'i is usually offered during December every other year. Our approved elective course offerings vary from quarter to quarter. Please refer to the Program Degree Requirements for a complete list of approved elective courses. Refer to Campus Connect and the Asian American Studies website for the latest offerings.
 
LIBERAL STUDIES: Many of the Asian American Studies core and elective courses also qualify for credit in Liberal Studies such as AAS 200/HST 283 (domain: Understanding the Past: North America); ENG 272 (domain: Arts & Literature); PSY 221 (domain: Self, Society, and the Modern World).  However, please confirm this information by accessing the Liberal Studies website: http://las.depaul.edu/lsp/public_html/index.html