Undergraduate Minor
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
Why Asian American Studies?
The growing visibility of Asian American populations in the United States has brought new richness to the study of Asian American communities, histories, arts, literature, and culture. Increasingly, organizations, businesses, governmental agencies, educational and professional institutions are eager to recruit individuals with backgrounds in Asian American Studies. Courses in Asian American Studies offer students the cultural overview, concepts and analytical skills to understand the diversity and complexity of Asian American communities. With the 21st century being hailed as the Asian Century, Asian American Studies provides a basis for understanding global developments in politics, information, commerce, and cultural exchange.
What are the course requirements for the undergraduate minor?
At least 15 credit hours of College of Arts and Sciences course work, 6 of which must be at the 300 level including the following:
- AAST-A 101 Introduction to Asian American Studies
- 9 credit hours from courses in Lists A and B (see below). At least 6 credit hours must be from List A. With the approval of the director of the Asian American Studies program, 3 credit hours of A495 Independent Readings and Research in Asian American Studies may be substituted for one AAST course at the 200 or 300 level.
- A499 Senior Seminar in Asian American Studies
- No course taken in fulfillment of the American Studies major or minor can be applied to this minor.
- Students who choose course work outside the College in partial fulfillment of the minor will need to take additional College of Arts and Sciences course work to meet the minimum total of 15 credit hours in the College.
- AAST-A 200 Asian American Literature (3 cr.) CASE A&H, CASE DUS
- AAST-A 300 Topics in Asian American Studies (3 cr.) CASE DUS (Topic: Social Problems in the Health and Well-being of Asian America)
- AAST-A 320 Advanced Topics in Asian American Literature (3 cr.) CASE A&H, CASE DUS
- AMST-A 298 Special Topics in Arts and Humanities for American Studies (3 cr.) CASE A&H (Topic: Negotiating Asian/American Identities: A Survey in Asian American Literature)
- AMST-A 299 Special Topics in Social and Historical Studies for American Studies (3 cr.) CASE S&H (Asian American Topics)
- EALC-E 385 Asian Americans: Cultural Conflict and Identity (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE DUS
- EDUC-G 204 Asian American Mental Health
- ENG-L 374 Ethnic American Literature (3 cr.) CASE A&H, CASE DUS (Asian American Topics)
- HIST-A 205 Asian American History (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE DUS
- POLS-Y 200 Contemporary Political Problems (3 cr.) CASE S&H (Topic: Asian American Politics Since the 1960s)
- SOC-S 342 Asian American Communities and Identities (3 cr.) CASE S&H, CASE DUS
- AAST-A 201 Asian Diaspora Experience (3 cr.) CASE A&H, CASE GCC
- AMST-A 398 Advanced Topics in Arts and Humanities for American Studies (3 cr.) CASE A&H (Topic: Responses to Empire: Reading Philippine-U.S. Contact)
- CMCL-C 314 Communication, Culture, and Social Formations (3 cr.) CASE S&H (Topic: Asian/Pacific Islander Families and Diasporas)
- CMLT-C 360 Diasporic Literatures (3 cr.) CASE A&H, CASE GCC (Topic: Literatures of the Asian Diaspora)
Will Asian American Studies be compatible with my program of studies?
Of course! Asian American Studies courses are usually cross-listed with offerings in major departments throughout the College of Arts and Sciences. The 100- and 200-level courses in the program will fulfill either an Arts & Humanities or a Social & Historical Studies requirement.
For further information, please feel free to contact us at aasp@indiana.edu.
What can the Asian American Studies minor do for me?
A minor in Asian American Studies enriches your understanding of diversity and provides you with an area of specialized knowledge as you prepare for a career in diverse fields: Law, Public Policy, Urban Planning, International Relations, Human Geography, Education (Teaching, Counseling, Policy), Arts, Arts Administration, Journalism, Medicine, Nursing, Social Work, Psychology, Business, Marketing, Public Relations.
