UMass Boston

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Asian American Studies Program

Learn About Asian American History, Contemporary Issues & Contributions.

Through UMass Boston’s Asian American Studies Program, you'll learn about holistic practices of mentoring, community-building, service-learning, and advocacy. The curriculum addresses the social and academic needs of students while supporting the critical needs of local Asian American communities.

Students who complete this program often pursue careers in education, social work, community development, business, and other fields affected by the recent demographic growth of the Asian American population.

For UMass Boston students, successful completion of the program is recorded on official university transcripts. Non-UMB students receive a certificate of completion that provides documentation of expertise.

Expand Your Studies

How to Apply/Declare

Current Undergraduate Students: Declare or change your minor by completing an Undergraduate Program Add/Change form.

Prospective Undergraduate Students: Apply for admission to UMass Boston by completing an application. Start by reviewing the first-year and transfer application pages for important information about requirements, deadlines, and application status checks. Use the links below to apply: 

Apply as a First-Year Student

Apply as a Transfer Student

Curriculum

Introductory Course (3 Credits)

  • ASAMST 223L - Asians in the United States 3 Credit(s) OR
  • ASAMST 200 - Introduction to Asian American Studies 3 Credit(s)

Electives (12 Credits)

Take four courses from the list below. At least two courses must be 100 or 200-level and at least two must be 300-level or higher. One course must be from the list of comparative courses.

  • ASAMST 221L - Introduction to Asian-American Writing 3 Credit(s)
  • ASAMST 225L - Southeast Asians in the United States 3 Credit(s)
  • ASAMST 226 - Becoming South Asians 3 Credit(s)
  • ASAMST 228L - Asian Women in the United States 3 Credit(s)
  • ASAMST 238L - Asian American Psychology 3 Credit(s)
  • ASAMST 265L - World War II Internment of Japanese Americans (A) 3 Credit(s)
  • ASAMST 270 - Cambodian American Culture and Community 3 Credit(s)
  • ASAMST 294 - Resources for Vietnamese American Studies 3 Credit(s)
  • ASAMST 345 - Asian American Cultures and Health Practices 3 Credit(s)
  • ASAMST 370 - Asian American Media Literacy 3 Credit(s)
  • ASAMST 375L - Indian Cinema 3 Credit(s)
  • ASAMST 397 - Applied Research in Asian American Studies I 3 Credit(s)
  • ASAMST 423 - Boston’s Asian American Communities 3 Credit(s)

Comparative Courses

  • AFRSTY 101 - Introduction to Africana Studies 3 Credit(s)
  • AMST 201L - Imagining Latinidad: Historical Trajectories and Everyday Lives 3 Credit(s)
  • AMST 350L - Race, Class, and Gender: Issues in US Diversity 3 Credit(s)
  • ANTH 274 - Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean 3 Credit(s)
  • ENGL 284 - Language, Literacy and Community 3 Credit(s)
  • PSYCH 234 - Psychology of Cross-cultural Relations 3 Credit(s)
  • SOCIOL 211G - Race and Power in the US 3 Credit(s)

Capstone (3 Credits)

Take one course from the list below. Students who choose to take more than one capstone course may apply the additional course(s) toward the electives requirement for the program.

Option A

  • ASAMST 423 - Boston’s Asian American Communities 3 Credit(s) OR
  • ASAMST 397 - Applied Research in Asian American Studies I 3 Credit(s)

Option B

  • ASAMST 390 - Asian American Community Internships I 3-6 Credit(s)

Option C

  • ASAMST 497 - Teaching and Learning in Asian American Studies I 3 Credit(s) OR
  • ASAMST 478 - Independent Study I 1-3 Credit(s) OR
  • ASAMST 479 - Independent Study II 1-3 Credit(s)

Completion Requirements

Complete 18 credits from six courses, including one introductory course, four electives, and one capstone.

Residency: No transfer courses may be applied toward the program without the approval of the program director.

Contact

Peter Kiang, Program Director
Wheatley Hall, 2nd Floor, Room 97
Peter.Kiang [@] umb.edu

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Next Steps

Declare or Change Your Minor Request Info About UMass Boston Undergraduate Admissions

Next Steps

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