The Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies major is dedicated to the multidisciplinary study of historical and contemporary experiences of Asian-ancestry groups in local, national and global contexts. Although attention is focused on Asians in the US, the program situates the experiences, contributions, issues, and concerns of Asian American communities within their larger transnational and diasporic contexts.
Connections among Asian communities in the US and around the world are explored in terms of the entangled histories and circuits of migration and the interconnected space through which people, capital, ideas, influences, and activism flow between Asia and the US and among Asian diasporic communities.
Honors Program
The Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies Program provides a program leading to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with honors. A student must have senior standing; a 3.5 GPA overall; and 3.5 GPA in the major. To complete the degree with honors, the student will be required to undertake a 6 unit research project (ASAMST H195A and ASAMST H195B) and will be graded according to standards determined by the faculty advisor as being of honors quality.
Minor Program
The Department offers a minor in Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies. For further information regarding how to declare the minor, please see the program's website.
Other Majors and Minors offered by the Department of Ethnic Studies
In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.
General Guidelines
All courses taken to fulfill the major requirements below must be taken for graded credit, other than courses listed which are offered on a Pass/No Pass basis only. Other exceptions to this requirement are noted as applicable.
No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs, with the exception of minors offered outside of the College of Letters & Science.
A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 must be maintained in both upper and lower division courses used to fulfill the major requirements.
For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.
Electives can be satisfied with related courses from outside departments (i.e., Asian Studies, East Asian Languages & Cultures, History, South & Southeast Asian Studies), Asian language courses, EAP courses from an Asian university, additional courses from the Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies curriculum, or related coursework from other UC campuses.
Minor Requirements
Students who have a strong interest in an area of study outside their major often decide to complete a minor program. These programs have set requirements and are noted officially on the transcript in the memoranda section, but are not noted on diplomas.
General Guidelines
All minors must be declared no later than one semester before a student's Expected Graduation Term (EGT). If the semester before EGT is fall or spring, the deadline is the last day of RRR week. If the semester before EGT is summer, the deadline is the final Friday of Summer Sessions. To declare a minor, contact the department advisor for information on requirements, and the declaration process.
All courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements below must be taken for graded credit.
A minimum of three of the upper division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be completed at UC Berkeley.
A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for courses used to fulfill the minor requirements.
Courses used to fulfill the minor requirements may be applied toward the Seven-Course Breadth requirement, for Letters & Science students.
No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs.
All minor requirements must be completed prior to the last day of finals during the semester in which you plan to graduate. If you cannot finish all courses required for the minor by that time, please see a College of Letters & Science adviser.
All minor requirements must be completed within the unit ceiling. (For further information regarding the unit ceiling, please see the College Requirements tab.)
Seminar on Advanced Topics in Asian American Studies [4]
ASAMST 190AC
Course Not Available
College Requirements
Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.
For detailed lists of courses that fulfill college requirements, please review the College of Letters & Sciences page in this Guide. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages.
All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley.
The American History and Institutions requirements are based on the principle that a US resident graduated from an American university, should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.
All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.
College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements
The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course.
The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work.
In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses by the end of their second semester and a second-level course by the end of their fourth semester.
College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements
The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.
Unit Requirements
120 total units
Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units
Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department
Residence Requirements
For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes here for four years. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you go abroad for a semester or year or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.
Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.
Senior Residence Requirement
After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your BA degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.
You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.
Modified Senior Residence Requirement
Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.
Upper Division Residence Requirement
You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.
Student Learning Goals
Learning Goals for the Major
Undergraduates are expected to obtain the following skills by the time they graduate. These skills belong to five different general areas: historical knowledge, empirical knowledge and quantitative methods, interpretation and qualitative analysis, theory and critique, and community service. They are:
Historical Knowledge
Familiarity with the history of modern Western civilization, including European expansion, conquest, and enslavement.
Specific knowledge of the modern history of at least three different ethno-racial groups.
Acquaintance with debates in historiography, particularly as they relate to the use of history in relation to the understanding of people of color.
For students who specialize in history, proper use of primary and secondary historical sources, as well as the writing of scholarly historical work.
Empirical Knowledge and Quantitative Methods
Familiarity with different methods of gathering empirical data about human communities (anthropological, sociological, etc.,).
Knowledge of critical debates about the use and implications of traditional methods of gathering empirical data to obtain knowledge about communities of color.
Identification of proper methods to conduct research, and awareness of the limits and possibilities of such methods.
Creative use, delimitation, and expansion of methods of empirical and quantitative study based on the nature of the problems and questions addressed in the research as well as the object of study.
Interpretation and Qualitative Analysis
Acquaintance with major methods and debates in the humanities.
Familiarity with the art, film, literature, or music of at least three different ethno-racial groups.
Identification of proper methods to conduct research about the creative products of human communities, and ethno-racial communities in particular.
Creative use, delimitation, and expansion of methods of qualitative analysis based on the nature of the problems and questions addressed in the research as well as the object of study.
Theory and Critique
Familiarity with major theories of race and ethnicity, and their intersections and constitutive relations with class, gender, and sexuality.
Acquaintance with theories of space and place, including indigeneity, Diaspora, migration, and nation, as well as their use in determining the unit of analysis.
Use of comparison and contrast for evaluating and producing theory as well as for critical analysis.
Creative use of philosophies and theories that are relevant to the understanding and critical analysis of the social contexts, interpersonal dynamics, and multiple creative productions of ethno-racial communities.
Service Learning
Further refinement and enrichment of the above listed skills in settings where the students interact with communities of color and/or their productions.
Advising
Departmental Major Advising
We strive to deliver personalized advising services of the highest quality. We seek to continuously educate ourselves on developments in our field and to evaluate, improve, and streamline our services to support students in obtaining the best education and experience possible.
Advising Staff and Advising Hours
Dewey St. Germaine: Monday through Friday, 9:30 to11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m., or by appointment
530 Barrows Hall deweystg@berkeley.edu 510-643-6420
Laura Jimenez-Olvera: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 9:30 to11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m., and Friday, 1:30 to 5 p.m., or by appointment
532 Barrows Hall lauraj@berkeley.edu
510-642-0243
Mailing Address
Department of Ethnic Studies
506 Barrows Hall #2570
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-2570
Academic Opportunities
Berkeley Connect in Ethnic Studies
Berkeley Connect in Ethnic Studies matches interested students with ethnic studies graduate student mentors in a one semester, 1 unit program that includes individual advising, small group discussions, special events and excursions. Through this program, you will become part of a community of like-minded faculty, mentors, and students that will provide a supportive environment in which to exchange and discuss ideas and goals. Berkeley Connect will help you to make the most of your time at the university as you learn more about the majors offered through the Department of Ethnic Studies. For further information, please see the Berkeley Connect website.
Study Abroad
The Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies program encourages all undergraduate majors to consider study abroad opportunities. Whether you are interested in fulfilling major and/or general education requirements, taking courses related to a future career, improving or learning language skills, or simply living and studying in a country that is of interest to you, we will work with you to make it happen. For information about Study Abroad programs, please see the Berkeley Study Abroad website.
Prizes and Awards
The Department of Ethnic Studies offers the Dr. Carlos Munoz Jr. Scholar/Activist Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded each semester and recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and activism in their community on and off campus.
Courses
Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018
Through the study of the literary, political, social and psychological dimensions of representative works of Asian American literature, this course introduces students to close textual analysis, fosters critical judgment, and reinforces academic writing skills. Satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement. Reading and Composition: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing Requirement
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 4 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018
This course examines literary works by Asian American, African American, Chicano, and Native American writers in their political and social contexts, focusing on similarities and differences between the experiences of ethnic minorities in the U.S. Emphasis is on literary interpretation and sustained analytical writing. Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition requirement. Reading and Composition: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Previously passed an R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Previously passed an articulated R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Score a 4 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Literature and Composition. Score a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Language and Composition. Score of 5, 6, or 7 on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination in English
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition requirement
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Fall 2018
Introductory comparative analysis of the Asian American experience from 1848 to present. Topics include an analysis of the Asian American perspective; cultural roots; immigration and settlement patterns; labor, legal, political, and social history. Introduction to the History of Asians in the United States: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Asian American Studies 20A after taking XAsian American Studies 20A but may remove a deficient grade.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2016, Fall 2015
This course will be a survey of contemporary issues affecting the Asian American community. We will look at the different theories that explain the current status of Asian Americans and the interrelationship between the Asian American community, nation, and world. The course will focus on the issue of race relations, the commonalities and differences between Asian Americans and other race and ethnic groups. Asian American Communities and Race Relations: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students who have already taken ASAMST 20B are not eligible to receive credit for ASAMST 20AC.
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the American Cultures requirement
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2015, Spring 2014
The course examines critical issues in Asian American communities today. In particular, the course will focus on key themes, such as immigration, identity, discrimination, mental health and political power. An important objective of this course is educating students on social justice issues facing the Asian American community. Contemporary Issues in Asian American Communities: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Spring 2019, Fall 2017, Fall 2014
Analysis of social, intellectual, and artistic currents in Asian American communities. Focus will be on social practices, popular culture, the arts and expression (e.g. language and literature), and the historical and political contexts in which they are produced and consumed. Cultural Politics and Practices in Asian American Communities: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Summer 2020 8 Week Session, Fall 2019
This course will be a survey of contemporary issues affecting the Asian American community. We will look at the different theories that explain the current status of Asian Americans and the interrelationship between the Asian American community, nation, and world. The course will focus on the issue of race relations, the commonalities and differences between Asian Americans and other race and ethnic groups. Asian American Communities and Race Relations: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Asian American Studies W20AC after completing Asian American Studies 20AC. A deficient grade in Asian American Studies 20AC may be removed by taking Asian American Studies W20AC.
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the American Cultures requirement
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of web-based lecture and 1 hour of web-based discussion per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 7.5 hours of web-based lecture and 2.5 hours of web-based discussion per week
Online: This is an online course.
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2018, Fall 2017
The Freshman Seminar Program has been designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small-seminar setting. Freshman seminars are offered in all campus departments, and topics vary from department to department and semester to semester. Enrollment limited to 15 freshmen. Freshman Seminar: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2020
Freshman and sophomore seminars offer lower division students the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member and a group of peers in a small-seminar setting. These seminars are offered in all campus departments; topics vary from department to department and from semester to semester. Freshman/Sophomore Seminar: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Priority given to freshmen and sophomores
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1.5-2 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final Exam To be decided by the instructor when the class is offered.
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015
University organized and supervised field program involving experiences in schools, school-related activities, community and community-related activities. Field Studies in Asian American Communities: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Restricted to freshmen and sophomores; consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-9 hours of fieldwork per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-22.5 hours of fieldwork per week 10 weeks - 4.5-13.5 hours of fieldwork per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015
Group study of selected topics which will vary from semester to semester. Supervised Group Study: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Restricted to freshmen and sophomores; consent of instructor
Credit Restrictions: Enrollment is restricted; see the Introduction to Courses and Curricula section of this catalog.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-3 hours of directed group study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018
Chinese American history, 1848 to present. Topics include influence of traditional values, Eastern and Western; patterns of immigration and settlement; labor history; the influence of public policy, foreign and domestic, on the Chinese individual and community. Chinese American History: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 20A or equivalent
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2018, Fall 2015
This course will be presented as a proseminar with selected topics in order to give students an opportunity to participate in the dynamics of the study of Japanese American history. Topics include immigration, anti-Japanese racism, labor, concentration camps, agriculture, art and literature, and personality and culture. Japanese American History: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 20A or equivalent
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2012, Spring 2011, Fall 2005
Koreans in America from 1876 to the present. Topics include comparative immigration and settlement patterns; labor and socio-economic life; political activities; community organization; and issues related to the contemporary population influx. Korean American History: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 20A or equivalent
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2018, Fall 2017
Topics include consequences of the Spanish-American War on Filipino emigration; conditions in Hawaii and California and the need for Filipino labor; community development; changing relations between the U.S. and the Philippines; effects ofthe independence movement and World War II on Filipino Americans; and contemporary issues. Filipino American History: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 20A or equivalent
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 0-2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Spring 2019, Fall 2016
This course will introduce students to the sociocultural, economic, educational, and political issues facing Southeast Asian refugees in the U.S. While the course focus is on the Asian American experience, references will be made to the pre-migration experiences and histories of the Southeast Asian refugee groups. The processes and problems in the formulation of refugee programs and services in the U.S. also will be addressed in their implications for refugee resettlement and adaptation experience. Emphasis will be placed on comparative analyses of the Southeast Asian refugee communities. Contemporary Issues of Southeast Asian Refugees in the U.S: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 20A or equivalent
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2014, Fall 2010, Fall 2009
This course will examine Southeast Asian migration and resettlement in the U.S. in the context of the United States involvement in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the Vietnam War. It will also address the post-war "legacies" and their impact on the societies and politics of the three countries as well as neighboring states in the region. Asylum politics and refugee camp experiences will be addressed in the discussion of the formation of U.S. resettlement policies and of the adaptation of Southeast Asian refugees. Southeast Asian Migration and Community Formation: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 20A or equivalent
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2019, Spring 2014, Spring 2012
Examines immigration and social history of South Asian Americans from the early 20th century to present. Development of South Asian American communities within the social, political and economic contexts of South Asia and the U.S. South Asian American Historical and Contemporary Issues: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 20A or equivalent
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018
The course traces Islam's journey in America. It will deal with the emergence of identifiable Muslim communities throughout the U.S. and focus on patterns of migration, the ethnic makeup of such communities, gender dynamics, political identity, and cases of conversion to Islam. The course will spend considerable time on the African American, Indo-Pakistani, and Arab American Muslim communities since they constitute the largest groupings. It also examines in depth the emergence of national, regional, and local Muslim institutions, patterns of development pursued by a number of them, and levels of cooperation or antagonism. The course seeks an examination of gender relations and dynamics across the various Muslim groupings, and the internal and external factors that contribute to real and imagined crisis. The course seeks to conduct and document the growth and expansion of mosques, schools, and community centers in the greater Bay Area. Finally, no class on Islam in America would be complete without a critical examination of the impacts of 9/11 on Muslim communities, the erosion of civil rights, and the ongoing war on terrorism. Muslims in America: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Fall 2017
Analyzes the global presence of an Asian group with a significant U.S. population: migration/settlement history, transnational economic/political/cultural interactions between diasporic communities and with land of origin, impact on Asian American community/identity formation. Instructor selects group(s). Asian Diaspora(s) from an Asian American Perspective: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2010
This course will examine and attempt to understand Islamophobia, as the most recently articulated principle of otherness and its implications domestically and globally. The course will also closely examine the ideological and epistemological frameworks employed in discourses of otherness, and the complex social, political, economic, gender-based, and religious forces entangled in its historical and modern reproduction. Islamaphobia and Constructing Otherness: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018
This course will examine and attempt to understand Islamophobia, as the most recently articulated principle of otherness and its implications domestically and globally. The course will also closely examine the ideological and epistemological frameworks employed in discourses of otherness, and the complex social, political, economic, gender-based, and religious forces entangled in its historical and modern reproduction. Islamophobia and Constructing Otherness: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Summer 2020 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2020
Topics in Asian popular culture. Analysis of historical and contemporary issues addressed in popular media focused on a specific Asian country, such as 1990s Hong Kong cinema, fifth generation Chinese films, films of China and Taiwan, Japanese and Korean anime, South Asian and Bollywood cinema, and South Korean film and television drama. Course topics will vary with the expertise of the particular instructor.
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Summer 2018 Second 6 Week Session, Fall 2016
Course will examine the nature, structure, and operation of selected legal institutions as they affect Asian American communities and will attempt to analyze the roles and effects of law, class, and race in American society. May be taken with 197. Law in the Asian American Community: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 20A or 20B
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018
This course examines the state of Asian American health, the historical, structural, and cultural contexts of diverse Asian American communities, and the role of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status in the production of unequal outcomes between Asian Americans and other racial/ethnic groups as well as across different Asian American subgroups. Asian American Health: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2016
This course will examine how Asian American communities engage religion and how, in turn, they are shaped by the different facets of religious life. Religion is examined in the form of major traditions-Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity-and readings will introduce students to key concepts, practices, and institutions which help to define these trajectories. Religions of Asian America: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2015, Spring 2011, Spring 2010
An examination of the purpose, power, and function of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government and their relationship to the Asian American community. The course presents a range of contemporary issues to illustrate how government institutions and the Asian community define issues and respond to political challenges. Politics, Public Policy, and Asian American Communities: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students that have already taken ASAMST 145AC will not receive credit for taking ASAMST 145.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Summer 2015 First 6 Week Session
An examination of the purpose, power, and function of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government and their relationship to the Asian American community. The course presents a range of contemporary issues to illustrate how government institutions and the Asian community define issues and respond to political challenges. Politics, Public Policy, and Asian American Communities: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 20A or 20B
Credit Restrictions: Students that have already taken ASAMST 145 will not receive credit for taking ASAMST 145AC.
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the American Cultures requirement
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8-8 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018
This course examines the historical and contemporary issues which shape the educational experiences of Asian Americans. Critical issues such as bilingual education, university admissions, and the education of Asian immigrants as well as theoretical models of Asian American academic success will be explored and critically analyzed. Asian Americans and Education: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2018, Spring 2018
The influence of cultural legacy, ethnic background, immigration history, community structure, class and economic status, and racism on gender and generational relations in the Asian American family. Gender and Generation in Asian American Families: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 20A or 20B
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2019, Fall 2013, Spring 2012
Examines the historical and contemporary experiences of Asian American women in relation to work, sexuality, intellectual and artistic activity, and family and community life as well as the development of Asian American feminist thought and its relation to cultural nationalism. Asian American Women: Theory and Experience: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 20A or 20B
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 0-2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Examines the historical and contemporary experiences of Asian American women in relation to work, sexuality, intellectual and artistic activity, and family and community life as well as the development of Asian American feminist thought and its relation to cultural nationalism. Asian American Women: Theory and Experience: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Asian American Studies 20A or 20B
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for Asian American Studies 151AC after completing Asian American Studies 151. A deficient grade in Asian American Studies 151 may be removed by taking Asian American Studies 151AC.
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the American Cultures requirement
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Not yet offered
This course offers a critical sociological examination of what it means to be a 1.5 and second-generation Asian American today. Since the liberalization of immigration policy in 1965, immigrants and their children are becoming an increasing and emergent demographic of American society. In major American cities they comprise over 50% of the population. How does the second-generation Asian American experience compare to other racial groups? How is the second-generation changing the United States’ racial and ethnic structure? How is the second generation becoming American? We will explore these questions through second-generation Asian American experiences of race and ethnicity, religion, family, education, dating, and mental health. The Second Generation Asian American Experience: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Summer 2016 First 6 Week Session, Spring 2016
Introduces students to films and videos by and about Asian Americans; presents an overview of the development of the Asian American media arts field in relation to current cultural theories and American film history and theory. Asian Americans in Film and Video: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Summer 2019 Second 6 Week Session
Introduces students to representative works of Asian American literature by writers from the major ethnic subgroups; examines the works in their sociohistorical context; analyzes thematic and formal elements intertextually to form a coherent understanding of the Asian American literary tradition. Asian American Literature: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2020 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2020, Summer 2019 First 6 Week Session
Instruction and practice in forms and techniques of prose, verse, drama or other writing as an expression of Asian American experiences and a contribution to evolving Asian American culture; may focus on specific genres or tasks depending on instructor. Creative Writing: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2018 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2017 First 6 Week Session, Summer 2016 First 6 Week Session
The course will examine the various strategies of (re-)narrating colonial/neocolonial history in three genres: literature (novels, short fiction, poetry), essays, and films from the Philippines and the United States. Notions such as imperialism, nation, narration, history, nationalism, memory, ethnicity, language, power, gender, and subject formation will be discussed. Contemporary Narratives on the Philippines and the United States: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018
Investigates specific genres in Asian American literature (e.g., autobiography, biography, drama, etc.) in terms of formal characteristics, innovations, comparisons of works from various subgroups in relation to counterparts in dominant Anglo-American tradition. Genre in Asian American Literature: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Summer 2017 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2015, Summer 2005 10 Week Session
Explores gender/sexuality issues in Asian American literature and culture, such as simultaneous construction of gender/ethnicity/race/culture; heterosexual (masculinist/feminist) and gay/lesbian cultural projects; the body; family relations; matrilineal and patrilineal traditions. Instructor selects focus. Gender and Sexuality in Asian American Literature and Culture: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2013, Fall 2011, Spring 2009
Analyzes literary representations of contemporary and/or historical experiences of Chinese Americans; genre, formal, and stylistic features; definition of cultural identity and development of literary tradition. Primarily English-language works, some translations from Chinese. Chinese American Literature: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2014, Spring 2013, Spring 2010
Critical readings of major Korean American literary work, including autobiography and personal memoir, autobiographical fiction, poetry, short stories and novel, with attention to conditions surrounding the production and consumption of these writings. Korean American Literature: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
The Asian Pacific American Theme House (APATH) seminar is designed to provide APATH community members and any other UC Berkeley students interested in finding an academic and rigorous space to learn about university culture and expectations and to explore their interests in Asian American Studies, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) identities, communities, leadership and career aspirations. The fall semester focuses on transition to college through the lens of AAPI issues and experiences of Asians in the U.S. The spring semester focuses on strategies of persistence and tenacity. This yearlong course is a required component for APATH residents however the course is open to any Berkeley students to enroll. Asian Pacific American Theme Program Seminar: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. This is part one of a year long series course. A provisional grade of IP (in progress) will be applied and later replaced with the final grade after completing part two of the series. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
The Asian Pacific American Theme House (APATH) seminar is designed to provide APATH community members and any other UC Berkeley students interested in finding an academic and rigorous space to learn about university culture and expectations and to explore their interests in Asian American Studies, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) identities, communities, leadership and career aspirations. The fall semester focuses on transition to college through the lens of AAPI issues and experiences of Asians in the U.S. The spring semester focuses on strategies of persistence and tenacity. This yearlong course is a required component for APATH residents however the course is open to any Berkeley students to enroll. Asian Pacific American Theme Program Seminar: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. This is part two of a year long series course. Upon completion, the final grade will be applied to both parts of the series. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2013
Course for senior Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies maors designed to support and guide the writing of a senior honors thesis. For senior Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies majors who have been approved for the honors program. Senior Honors Thesis for Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies Majors: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Senior standing. Approval of Faculty Advisor, 3.5 GPA on all University work, and a 3.5 GPA in courses in the major
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. This is part one of a year long series course. A provisional grade of IP (in progress) will be applied and later replaced with the final grade after completing part two of the series. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014
Course for senior Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies maors designed to support and guide the writing of a senior honors thesis. For senior Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies majors who have been approved for the honors program. Senior Honors Thesis for Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies Majors: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Senior standing. Approval of Faculty Advisor, 3.5 GPA on all University work, and a 3.5 GPA in courses in the major
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. This is part two of a year long series course. Upon completion, the final grade will be applied to both parts of the series. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015
Supervised fieldwork experience with campus and community organizations related to the vision and mission of Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies. This University organized and supervised field program is an opportunity for students to think critically about the work of engaged scholarship through their participation a variety of community-based activities and events. Students will be required to meet regularly with a faculty sponsor and submit a final project. Field Study in Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-9 hours of fieldwork and 0-2 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-22.5 hours of fieldwork and 0-0 hours of seminar per week 10 weeks - 4.5-13.5 hours of fieldwork and 0-0 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015
Group study of selected topics which will vary from semester to semester. Supervised Group Study: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Credit Restrictions: Enrollment is restricted; see the Introduction to Courses and Curricula section of this catalog.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-3 hours of directed group study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
+ Indicates this faculty member is the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award.
Faculty
Carolyn Chen, Associate Professor. Religion, Race, Ethnicity, Immigration.
Catherine Ceniza Choy, Professor. Asian American history, Filipino American studies, immigration history, adoption studies, nursing history. Research Profile
+ Michael Omi, Associate Professor. Racial politics, racial theory, racial stratification, racial and ethnic categories and the US Census, racist and anti-racist social movements . Research Profile
Lok Siu, Associate Professor. Transnationalism, Migration, Cultural Citizenship, Un/Belonging, Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Formation, Asians in the Americas, Cultural Politics of Food, Ethnography.
Khatharya Um, Associate Professor. Education, memory, Southeast Asian Studies, Asian American histories and communities, Southeast Asian diaspora, refugees, international migration, transnational and diaspora studies, genocide studies. Research Profile
Lecturers
Hatem A. Bazian, Lecturer. Near Eastern studies. Research Profile
Christopher Chua, Lecturer.
Harvey C. Dong, Lecturer.
Lisa Hirai Tsuchitani, Lecturer.
Anna P. Leong, Lecturer.
Hannah B. Michell, Lecturer.
Fae M. Ng, Lecturer.
Young Shin, Lecturer.
Jane K. Singh, Lecturer.
Jere Takahashi, Lecturer Emeritus.
Winston Tseng, Lecturer.
Keiko Yamanaka, Lecturer.
Emeritus Faculty
Evelyn Nakano Glenn, Professor Emeritus. Labor, citizenship, undocumented students, caring work, settler colonialism, skin color bias. Research Profile
Elaine H. Kim, Professor Emeritus. Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies. Research Profile
L. Ling-Chi Wang, Professor Emeritus.
Sau-Ling Cynthia Wong, Professor Emeritus. Ethnicity, sexuality, telecommunications, Asian Americans, demographic transformation, fragmentation, globalization, transportation, internet technology, international conference, construction of gender. Research Profile
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