Asian American Studies
B.A. Department of Asian American Studies · UC Irvine · 2026-2027 Catalog
The Department of Asian American Studies examines the historical and contemporary experiences of Asians in the United States and in a global context. The curriculum seeks to provide an analysis of the cultural, political, and economical organization of Asian American communities. Students are invited to participate and partake in broadening their understanding of multicultural perspectives within U.S. society.
Requirements
All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
12 courses (48 units) are required for the major.
Department Requirements for the Major in Asian American Studies
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| A. Three introductory Asian American Studies core courses: | ||
| ASIANAM 50 | Asian American Histories | |
| orASIANAM 51 | The U.S. and Asia | |
| and | ||
| ASIANAM 52 | Asian American Communities | |
| orASIANAM 53 | Asian Americans and Race | |
| and | ||
| ASIANAM 54 | Asian American Stories | |
| orASIANAM 55 | Asian Americans and the Media | |
| B. Complete the following: | ||
| ASIANAM 100W | Research Methodologies for Asian American Studies | |
| C. Select one course from each of the following areas: | ||
| Humanities/Arts: Asian American Studies 110–129 | ||
| Social Science/Social Ecology: Asian American Studies 130–149 | ||
| Asian American Sub-groups: Asian American Studies 151–160 | ||
| Ethnic/Race/Gender Relations: Asian American Studies 161–170 | ||
| D. Select four additional upper-division elective Asian American Studies courses. Students may request, by petition, one lower-division course to count as an elective. This course must be primarily focused on issues relevant to Asian American Studies. | ||
Residence Requirement for the Major: A minimum of five upper-division courses required for the major must be completed successfully at UCI.
Career Opportunities
Asian American Studies majors can pursue careers in any area. Many of our graduates go on to professions in law, business, education, community organizing, and government. Students also continue their education and pursue professional or graduate degrees. Majoring in Asian American Studies enables students to work on a number of skills that will benefit them in their careers, including writing for different audiences, analysis of text and images, research on contemporary topics, and public speaking and engagement. The department constantly seeks ways to expose students to professional opportunities via research, conference attendance, and internships.