Asian American Studies, BA

The Asian American Studies (AAS) program, offered by the Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences , provides an interdisciplinary liberal arts education. The program offers a Bachelor of Arts major and a minor in Asian American Studies - both are designed to develop student skills in critical analysis, writing, communication and reasoning, while retrieving, documenting and analyzing the diverse artistic, economic, social, political and historical experiences of Asian Americans in the United States. In addition to foundational courses on history, theory, and methods, the degree encompasses three different areas of emphasis: Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts, and other critical interdisciplinary studies in Ethnic Studies and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.

The mission of the 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. 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.

Program Learning Outcomes

Summary of Degree Units
University Graduation Requirements	44
Major Requirements	45
University Electives	31
Total	120

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

University Requirements

Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Note Abbreviations ).

Core Lower Division General Education (33 units)

Of the 39 units required by the university, 6 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3, B4, or F must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with a major advisor for details.

Note: Students who have completed the ADT Transfer degree (under SB 1440) for this major will have completed all lower division GE requirements and should follow the 60 unit guarantee roadmap. Meet with an advisor prior to registering for your first semester for the 60 unit roadmap or specific questions.

Upper Division General Education (9 units)

Of the 9 units required by the university, 0 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with major advisor for details.

American Institutions

Complete one 6-unit sequence of American Institutions (US123) courses, which also satisfies GE Area D. Students may also satisfy the American Institutions Requirement with other courses, but the sequence listed below may also fulfill major requirements.

Consult with a major advisor to select the appropriate sequence.

Asian American Studies

AAS 33A - Asian Americans in U.S. History I 3 unit(s) (D)
AAS 33B - Asian Americans in U.S. History II 3 unit(s) (D+US123)

Physical Education (2 units)

All SJSU undergraduate students, regardless of major, have an opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in physical activities. To accommodate students’ needs and interests, the university offers a diverse selection of activity courses .

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

At SJSU, students must pass a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course with a grade of C or better (C- not accepted) to meet graduation requirements. For this major, the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) is satisfied by a course in the major.