Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
about the
Asian American Studies Major and Minor
We know you have
questions about the major and
the minor, and we try to answer them here . . .
What
is Asian
American Studies at UCLA?
This
interdisciplinary field examines Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders,
their
history, communities, and contemporary issues. It
studies the experiences of immigrants and
succeeding generations
within the changing context of US
society, politics and culture and illuminates our understanding of race
relations, gender roles, labor, policy-making, and citizenship. As the largest Asian American Studies (AAS)
program in the country,
with more than 40 affiliated faculty, the department offers courses
ranging
from literature, history, cultural studies, sociology, and anthropology
to
film, journalism, and law.
What
GE and
University requirements
are fulfilled by Asian American Studies classes?
The required
lower
division courses for the AAS major and minor satisfies
the following university and GE
requirements at UCLA:
- The
AAS major’s Asian language
requirement meets the University’s foreign language requirement
-
AAS
10W satisfies GE Society and Culture,
Historical Analysis AND the
Writing II requirement
-
AAS
10 fulfills a GE Society and Culture,
Historical Analysis course
-
AAS
20 counts as a GE Society and Culture, Social Science Analysis
In other words, the Asian
American Studies major could
fulfill up to four (4) college/university requirements:
two (2) GE courses, Writing II, and the Univiersity language
requirement.
The Asian American Studies minor
could fulfill up to three (3) college/university requirements:
two (2) GE courses and the Writing II requirement.
Why
should I major
or minor in Asian American Studies?
Students choose to major
and minor in Asian American Studies for many reasons.
Perhaps the most common reasons are that the
Asian American Studies (AAS)
major and minor offer:
Relevant Education. Students gain an understanding and
appreciation
of historical, social, economic, and political issues that concern
them, their
families, and their communities.
Scholarship. AAS students learn to conduct qualitative
and
quantitative research, hone analytical and writing skills, think
constructively
about problem-solving, and explore creative expression through such
medium as
fiction, poetry, performance, and film-making.
Advocacy. AAS majors and minors learn that they can
make a difference
in their own lives and beyond. They gain
self-empowerment and awareness about issues that affect them and their
communities. They become involved in
activism, community, service,
and leadership.
Flexibility. The interdisciplinary nature of AAS
allows
students to take classes with various emphases such as English, World
Arts
and Cultures, Sociology, Anthropology, Education, Law, and Film and
Television. The major and the minor allow students to
focus their study on a specific ethnic community or particular
discipline (for
example, English or Psychology).
What
careers are
open to Asian American Studies majors and minors?
Due to its
interdisciplinary
nature, the Asian American Studies major and minor prepare students for
a wide
array of jobs and graduate schools.
Many AAS majors
and
minors continue their education at graduate programs in the Arts,
Social
Sciences, and the Humanities. A number
of AAS alumni enroll in professional schools such as medicine,
business, law,
social welfare, urban planning, and public health.
Yet others enter the workforce immediately
after graduation.
As the result, AAS alumni
are involved diverse fields that
include:
Arts
- Designers, artists
- Creative writers, poets
Film and Performance
- Directors, editors, animators, and actors
Business
Community Based Organizing
Education
- K-12
- Junior College and Universities
Engineering
Journalism
Law
Medicine
Public Health
- Community health advocates
Public Policy
Urban Planning
Social Work
Technology
Computer
programmers
Web designers
What is the
difference beteen a minor and a major in Asian American Studies?
One of the biggest "differences" between the
Asian American Studies (AAS) major and the minor are the in their
requirements. The major requires fifteen (15) courses while the
minor only requries seven (7) courses.
The major clearly allows students more training and in-depth study of
AAS. The minor, on the other hand, offers students a solid
foundation in AAS.
Often students decide to minor in
AAS rather than major because, while they are interested in AAS, they
do not have enough units to double major within University's 216 (plus
Advanced Placement units) unit maximum. Other students are in the
School of Engineering (SEAS), and SEAS students are only can only
complete minors in the College of Letters and Science.
Is there a minimum GPA to
enter the Asian
American Studies Major or Minor?
No. We do not exclude students from the
major or minor based on GPA.
How do I
declare the Asian American Studies MAJOR?
To declare the Asian American Studies
(AAS) major, you must FIRST complete:
1. AAS 10 or AAS 10W
AND
2. AAS 20
Once the two courses are completed,
make an appointment by emailing advising@asianam.ucla.edu to see an AAS counselor who
will declare you in the AAS major.
IMPORTANT:
Students who are
declaring the major BEFORE Fall 2005
will be admitted into the Interdepartmental (IDP) AAS major.
Those who are declaring the major
AFTER Summer 2005 will be admitted into the Departmental AAS major.
How do I
declare the Asian American Studies MINOR?
To declare the Asian American Studies (AAS)
minor, you must FIRST complete:
1. AAS 10 or AAS 10W
AND
2. AAS 20
Once the two courses are completed,
make an appointment
by emailing advising@asianam.ucla.edu to see an AAS counselor who will declare you in
the AAS major. You must be able
to complete the requirements for your declared major and the AAS minor
within the University's 216 (plus Advanced Placement units) unit
maximum.
Is it
possible double
major with Asian American Studies?
The majority of the Asian
American Studies (AAS) majors are double majors. Students must
complete all requirements for BOTH majors within the University's 216
unit (plus Advanced Placement units) maximum. Please see the AAS counselor to
determine if you can double major within the University's unit maxiumum.
In order to declare
a DOUBLE
MAJOR with AAS you MUST:
1. Complete ALLlower division
courses in EACH major (that
is, in AAS and in the other major);
2. Complete two (2) courses
upper division courses in EACH major
(that is, two in AAS and two in the other major for a total of four
upper division courses);
3. See make an appointment by emailing advising@asianam.ucla.edu to see the AAS
counselor to start the double major paperwork.
Is it possible to
double major with Asian
American Studies if I
am in the School of the Art and Architecture (AA) or in the School of
Engineering (SEAS)?
Students
from the Arts
and Architecture
School
CAN double
major or minor in Asian American Studies (AAS).
Engineering
(SEAS) students can only minor in AAS.
What majors
double
most effectively with the Asian American Studies major?
Because the
Asian American Studies (AAS)
courses are interdisciplinary and because the major requires (3)
non-Asian American courses, many students double
major with AAS. The AAS Major
doubles most efficiently with Sociology, Political Science, History,
American
Literature, Communication Studies, and Art History. Students
have also double majored with
Psychology, Anthropology, Economics, and World Arts and Cultures.
The
University allows a maximum of five (5) upper division
courses between two majors.
The
double major requirements must be completed within the University’s
216 unit (plus Advanced Placement unit) maximum.
How many
courses/units can double between majors?
The University
allows a maximum of five (5) upper division
courses (or 20.0 units) between two majors.
Can I do
summer
Travel Study or Education Abroad and fulfill requirements for the Asian
American Studies major?
Yes,
students can fulfill Asian American Studies (AAS) major and minor
requirements through departmentally approved course work taken through
Travel Study and Education Abroad Programs (EAP).
>AAS offers a six-week UC Summer Travel
Study program at the University
of Hawai‘i, Mānoa
(UHM) campus. Program participants take
multi-disciplinary
survey courses on Hawaiian history, culture, and community issues. Students take courses with UHM students and
practice local values of community and collaboration.
Travel Study participants also explore the island of O‘ahu through a political tour
which
encompasses many cultural and historic Hawaiian sites.
Students
may fulfill
up to three upper division courses towards the AAS major and minor
thorough the
Travel Study Hawai‘i Program. Learn more
from an AAS counselor and via the web at: http://www.summer.ucla.edu/travel/.
Students interested in
studying abroad in East, Southeast, and South Asia
through UCEAP may fulfill the
Asian language requirement and
at possibly one upper division course on the AAS DEPARTMENTAL
major. Students in the AAS IDP major may fulfill the Asian
language requirement and possibly three upper division courses.
For more information
see an AAS counselor and visit: http://www.isop.ucla.edu/eap/.
Who
can I
talk to if I have more questions or just need help with Asian American
Studiees at UCLA?
It can be quite confusing to navigate
through the many rules and regulations at UCLA. And you may have
many more questions about Asian American Studies (AAS), the major, the
minor, graduate school, or all of the opportunties that the department
has to offer such as travel study, internships, and independent studies.
Feel free to make
an appointment to see an AAS counselor at 3336 Rolfe Hall.
We're more than happy to talk with you--and we're here to help!
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