Minor in Asian American Studies

Students in a classroom sit with their desks in a circle discussing an assignment

The Minor in Asian American Studies explores Asian American identity and history from an interdisciplinary perspective. The 18-credit program requires one introductory course in Asian American literature, an American Studies course on either immigration history or race/racism and one English course in Asian American or postcolonial studies. 

In addition, students choose three electives from options including The Anthropology of Gender: Cross-Cultural Perspectives, Race and Minority Relations, Japanese Culture Through Film, The Asian American Experience Through Movement and Performance and more. Students also have the option to apply an approved internship toward the elective requirements.


How to Apply

Students must complete a Declaration of Major/Minor form with the signature of Patricia Chu, the advisor for the minor. Contact Patricia Chu with any questions.


Student Groups

GW is home to many Asian-American student groups:

  • Asian American Student Association (AASA) 
  • Afghan Student Association (ASU)
  • Bengali Student Association (BSA)
  • Chinese American Student Association (CASA) 
  • Dear Asian Youth (DAY), an Asian American journalism association
  • Indian Student Association (ISA)
  • Japanese Cultural Association (JCA) 
  • Korean Student Association (KSA) 
  • Pakistani Student Association (PSA)
  • Philippine Cultural Society (PSA)
  • South Asian Student Association (SAS)
  • Taiwanese American Student Association (TSA)
  • Vietnamese Student Association (VSA)

Course Requirements

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.

18 credits, including one 3-credit required course, one 3-credit selected course, and 12 credits in elective courses. Not all courses are offered each year. Courses other than those listed below can count toward the minor with the permission of the program director.

Required
ENGL 2100Introduction to Asian American Studies through Literature
3 credits in one introductory course in history selected from the following: 1
AMST 1050Explorations in American Culture (on subtopic Race and Racism in U.S. History)
AMST 2410Modern U.S. Immigration
or AMST 2410W Modern U.S. Immigration
Electives
12 credits (four courses) selected from the list below; or 3 credits in ENGL 4470 Internship and 9 credits (three courses) selected from this list: 1,2
AMST 1050Explorations in American Culture (on subtopic Race and Racism in U.S. History)
AMST 1200The Sixties in America
AMST 2410Modern U.S. Immigration
or AMST 2410W Modern U.S. Immigration
AMST 2750Latinos in the United States
or AMST 2750W Latinos in the United States
AMST 3360African American History to 1865
ANTH 2501The Anthropology of Gender: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
or WGSS 2121 The Anthropology of Gender: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
ENGL 3730Topics in Global Postcolonial Literature and Film
or ENGL 3730W Topics in Global Postcolonial Literature and Film
ENGL 3800Hawaiian Literary Renaissance
ENGL 3960Asian American Literature
or ENGL 3960W Asian American Literature
ENGL 3965Topics in Asian American Cultural Studies
ENGL 4470Internship
HIST 2630History of Korea
HIST 3611History of Modern China
HIST 3621History of Modern Japan
HIST 3640History of Southeast Asia
HIST 3650Modern South Asia, 1750-Present
JAPN 3162Japanese Culture Through Film
PSYC 2101Research Methods in Psychology
PSYC 3125Cross-Cultural Psychology
PSYC 3126WMulticultural Psychology
SOC 1001Introduction to Sociology
or SOC 1002 The Sociological Imagination
SOC 2174Sociology of Immigration
or SOC 2179 Race and Minority Relations

1The following courses can be counted as either a required or an elective course, but not both: AMST 1050; and AMST 2410 or AMST 2410W.

2Up to 6 credits (two courses) in Psychology (PSYC) can be counted toward the elective requirement. PSYC 2101 is a prerequisite for PSYC 3125 and PSYC 3126W. For additional prerequisites for PSYC 2101 and PSYC 3125, consult the Psychology course listing in this Bulletin. Because psychology courses on race and culture are 3000-level courses with up to four prerequisites, the psychology option is offered for psychology majors or those able to take two or three prerequisites outside this minor.

Up to 6 credits (two courses) in Sociology (SOC) can be counted toward the elective requirement,  including one 1000-level course and one 2000-level course. SOC 1001 and SOC 1002 are prerequisites for SOC 2174 and SOC 2179.