Asian American Studies Major

Students must also complete the Undergraduate Registration Requirement and the degree requirements of their home school.

Double-counting note: Weinberg College prohibits double-counting a major course toward some other major or minor, except where this is explicitly permitted in this catalog (see Related Course for this major, below). Weinberg College does allow double-counting a major course toward a general bachelor's degree requirement (i.e. degree requirements other than majors or minors). Other programs or schools may have their own restrictions that supersede this, so check the relevant parts of this catalog for possible limits. 

Course Title
Program Courses (12 units)
2 introductory courses chosen from:
ASIAN_AM 210-0
Introduction to Asian American Studies
ASIAN_AM 214-0
Asian American History
ASIAN_AM 216-0
Global Asians
ASIAN_AM 225-0
Asian American Communities
ASIAN_AM 275-0
Introduction to Asian American Literature
2 ASIAN AM electives at the 200-level
6 ASIAN AM courses at the 300-level 1,2
2 additional ASIAN AM electives at either the 200- or 300-level 2
(Note: A Senior Project is required. See below.)
Related Courses (1 unit) 3
1 course outside of Asian American Studies that explicitly focuses on race, ethnicity, and indigeneity in the frame of US empire, approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
1

At least one of the courses must be Independent Study In Asian American Studies (ASIAN_AM 399-0) connected to the Senior Project.

2

No more than two units of ASIAN_AM 399-0 may be applied to the 13 units required for the major.

3

Double-counting note: Weinberg College allows double-counting a related course toward some other major, minor, or general bachelor's degree requirement. Other programs or schools may have their own restrictions that supersede this, so check the relevant parts of this catalog for possible limits.

Senior Project

  • Senior Projects must be approved in advance by the Director of Undergraduate Studies or major adviser and require an AASP faculty mentor.
  • Students must take at least one ASIAN_AM 399-0 course for supervised reading and writing of their senior essay or senior thesis with a faculty advisor. Up to two units of ASIAN_AM 399-0 can be counted toward the major.
  • The Senior Project, which culminates in a senior essay or senior thesis (see DUS for required length and other criteria), can take the form of an advanced research project, an in-depth community engagement project like an internship or substantial volunteer work, or course work specified below. Options include:
    • Senior thesis in Asian American Studies.
    • Independently proposed research project and senior essay.
    • Independently proposed internship at an Asian American community organization or other nonprofit whose work involves Asian American issues, and a senior essay.
    • Pre-approved study abroad courses on Asian diasporas, and a senior essay.
    • Chicago Field Studies in a field related to Asian American Studies, and a senior essay.

Honors in Asian American Studies

To qualify for honors, a student must demonstrate consistently high performance in the major and complete a major research project during the senior year, selecting a thesis adviser from among core and affiliated faculty. Students whose theses and grades meet program criteria are recommended to the college for graduation with honors. For more information see the director of undergraduate studies or program director.  Also see Honors in the Major.