About Asian American Studies

Welcome to Asian American Studies. Our classes are open to all students interested in exploring the experience of people from Asian and Pacific backgrounds in the United States.

These classes fill key graduation and transfer requirements in key areas. The Asian American Studies department offers courses year-round and now offers a certificate and degree in Asian American Studies.

Students can explore experiences of Asian Pacific Americans, particularly their community, culture, and histories. They can explore media stereotypes of Asian Americans, community issues and political participation, growing up in early Chinatown, Angel Island Immigration and Detention Center, early Asian American Women, workplace issues for Asian Americans.

Explore Potential Careers

Studying Asian American Studies can lead to a variety of different jobs or career paths. Below are just some of the many options you will have!

  • Education
  • Law, non-profits
  • Health and medicine
  • Journalism
  • Business
  • Public sector
  • Community advocacy
  • The arts

Program Options 

Click on the degree or certificate you're interested in earning to see a sample map of courses to take to complete your goal from start to finish.

Please note that the course maps provided are just an example to help you get started. Please meet with a counselor to personalize the plan to you and your Academic goals.

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required Core 1: Race and Ethnicity (3 units)

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
IDST 37 Introduction to Ethnic Studies 3  

Total Units: 3 

Required Core 2: Introduction to Gender (3 units)

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
WGST 25 Introduction to Women's Studies: Feminism Demystified 3  

Total Units: 3 

Required Core 3: History (3 units)

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ASAM 20 Asian American Experience Since 1820 3  

Total Units: 3

Area 1: Humanities (3 units): Choose one course from the following list

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ASAM 6 Asian American Issues through Literature 3  
ASAM 10 Asian American Popular Culture 3  
ASAM 30 Asian American Issues Through Film 3  
IDST 14 American Cultures in Literature and Film 3  
IDST 46 Fa'a Pasefika: Interdisciplinary Cultural Expressions of Oceania 3  
MUS 26 Music in American Culture 3  
PHST 30 Philippine Society and Culture Through Film 3  

Total Units: 3

Area 2: Social Science and Area Studies (6 units) Chose two courses from the list below.

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ASAM 8 Filipino American Community 3  
ASAM 22 Community Issues & Leadership 3  
ASAM 27 Asian American Race Relations 3  
ASAM 35 Asian American Women 3  
ASAM 40 Chinese American Community 3  
ASAM 42 Southeast Asians in the U.S. 3  
BCST 104 Race and Media 3  
HIST 45 LGBT American History 3  
IDST 45 Pacific Islanders in the U.S. 3  
LBCS 88 California Labor History 3  
LGBT 50 Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Communities of Color in the U.S. 3  
PHST 20 The Filipino Family 3  
PHST 40 Contemporary Issues in the Filipino Diaspora 3  
POLS 12 Ethnic Politics in the United States 3  
PSYC 23 Psychology of Race and Ethnic Relations 3  

Total Units: 6

Overall Total Units: 18

View Requirements in College Catalog

Courses Required for the Associate of Arts (AA) in Asian American Studies

Choose 3 of the following courses

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ASAM 20 Asian American Experience Since 1820 3  
ASAM 22 Community Issues & Leadership 3  
ASAM 23 Asian Americans and American Ideals and Institutions 3  
ASAM 35 Asian American Women 3  

Total Units: 9

Choose 1 of the following humanities courses

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ASAM 6 Stories of Asian America 3  
ASAM 10 Asian American Popular Culture 3  
ASAM 30 Asian American Issues Through Film 3  

Total Units: 3

Choose 1 of the following social science/area studies courses

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ASAM 8 Filipino American Community 3  
ASAM 27 Asian American Race Relations 3  
ASAM 40 Chinese American Community 3  
ASAM 42 Intro to Asian American Studies: Southeast Asian American Experiences 3  
ASAM 61 Asian American Community Field Study 3 - 4  

Total Units: 3 - 4

Choose 1 of the following elective courses (or any course not selected above):

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ASAM 65 Individual Study in Asian American Studies 3  
HIST 45 LGBT United States History 3  
IDST 14 American Cultures in Literature and Film 3  
IDST 37 Introduction to Ethnic Studies 3  
IDST 45 Pacific Islanders in the United States 3  
IDST 46 Fa'a Pasefika: Interdisciplinary Cultural Expressions of Oceania 3  
LBCS 88 California Labor History 3  
LGBT 50 LGBT Communities of Color in the U.S. 3  
MUS 26 Music in American Culture 3  
PHST 20 The Filipino Family 3  
PHST 30 Philippine Society and Culture Through Film 3  
PHST 40 Contemporary Issues in the Filipino Diaspora 3  
POLS 12 Ethnic Politics in the United States 3  
PSYC 23 Psychology of Race and Ethnic Relations 3  

Total Units: 18 - 19

View Requirements in College Catalog

Core Course:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ASAM 20 Asian American Experience Since 1820 3  

Total Units: 3 

Electives -- choose 9 units from the following courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
PHST 40 Contemporary Issues in the Filipino Diaspora 3  
ASAM 6 Asian American Issues through Literature 3  
IDST 45 Pacific Islanders in the U.S. 3  
ASAM 8 Filipino American Community 3  
ASAM 10 Asian American Popular Culture 3  
ASAM 22 Community Issues & Leadership 3  
ASAM 27 Asian American Race Relations 3  
ASAM 30 Asian American Issues Through Film 3  
ASAM 35 Asian American Women 3  
ASAM 40 Chinese American Community 3  
ASAM 42 Southeast Asians in the U.S. 3  

Total Units: 9

Overall Total Units: 12 

Transfer Options

The program coursework you complete at City College will satisfy lower-division requirements for related majors at several colleges and universities. Start planning your transfer by exploring Asian American Studies programs at the following institutions: 

  • San Francisco State
  • University of California, Berkeley
  • University of California, Davis
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • University of California, Santa Barbara 

Have questions about transfer? Visit the Transfer Center for help, transfer information, and/or to speak with college representatives.