PERMANENT COURSES IN ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES

COURSE LIST (Click on links for course descriptions)

AAS 100 -- Introduction to Asian American Studies
AAS/Anthropology 184 -- Asian American Cultures
AAS 199 -- Undergraduate Open Seminar
AAS/Sociology 224 -- Asian American Historical Sociology
AAS/Theatre 260 -- Intro to Asian American Theatre
AAS/History 281 -- Constructing Race in America
AAS/History 283 -- Asian American History
AAS/Anthropology 284 -- Advanced Topics (Anthropological) in Asian America
AAS/English 286 -- Asian American Literature
AAS 290 -- Individual Study
AAS/Religious Studies 291 -- Hinduism in the United States
AAS/Educational Policy Studies 310 -- Race and Cultural Diversity
AAS/Political Science 317 -- Asian American Politics
AAS/Sociology 328 -- Asian Americans and Social Inequalities
AAS/Communications/Cinema Studies 365 -- Asian American Media and Film
AAS/Social Work 397 -- Asian Families in America
AAS/Educational Policy Studies 402 -- Asian American Education
AAS/Communications/AfroAm Studies/Latino(a) Studies/Gender & Women's Studies 435 -- Commodifying Difference
AAS 450 -- Asian American Ethnic Groups
AAS/Psychology 470 -- Psychology of Asian Americans
AAS/Anthropology 484 -- Asian Diasporas
AAS 490 -- Advanced Topics in Asian American Studies
AAS 589 -- Readings in Asian American Studies (Graduate)
AAS 590 -- Asian American Studies Seminar (Graduate)


COURSE DESCRIPTION (Click on links to go back to course list)

AAS 100 -- Introduction to Asian American Studies (3 credits): Interdisciplinary introduction to the basic concepts and approaches in Asian American Studies. Surveys the various dimensions of Asian American experiences including history, social organization, literature, arts, and politics. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a UIUC Social Sciences, and US Minority Culture(s) course.

AAS/Anthropology 184 -- Asian American Cultures (3 credits): Surveys the heterogeneity of contemporary Asian American communities. Explores the core concepts of "culture" and "social organization" through the variety of experiences in the family, churches, business establishments, schools, and other public institutions. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a UIUC Social Sciences, and US Minority Culture(s) course. Same as ANTH 184, and SOC 124.

AAS 199 -- Undergraduate Open Seminar (1 to 5 credits): This course may be repeated to a maximum of 6 credit hours.

AAS/Sociology 224 -- Asian American Historical Sociology (3 credits): Explores concepts of colonization, international labor migration, race, nation, assimilation, and class formation through socio-historical examinations of diverse groups in Hawai'i presently categorized as Asian Americans. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a US Minority Culture(s) course. Same as SOC 224.

AAS/Theatre 260 -- Intro to Asian American Theatre (3 credits): Introduction to Asian American theatre, with emphasis on theatre companies, actors, playwrights, and audiences, through the reading of major dramatic works, examining production histories, and viewing Asian American performances and film. Same as THEA 260.

AAS/History 281 -- Constructing Race in America (3 credits): Interdisciplinary examination of the historical, cultural, and social dimensions of race and ethnicity in the United States. Explores the complex and intricate pursuit of multiracial and multicultural democracy. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a Hist&Philosoph Perspect, and US Minority Culture(s) course. Same as AFRO 281, HIST 281, and LLS 281.

AAS/History 283 -- Asian American History (3 credits): Exploration of the migrations of peoples from the Asian continent into the United States, their attempts to build family and community, and their subsequent impact on American history. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a Hist&Philosoph Perspect, and US Minority Culture(s) course. Same as HIST 283.

AAS/Anthropology 284 -- Advanced Topics [Anthropological] in Asian America (3 credits): Considers a number of theoretical and methodological topics in sociocultural anthropology through ethnographic writings on Asian America. Theoretical topics include transnationalism, colonialism, resistance, culture, race, and identity. Methodological topics include fieldwork, ethnographic writing (including the blurring of genres) and ethics. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a UIUC Social Sciences, and US Minority Culture(s) course. Same as ANTH 284. Prerequisite: ANTH 184 or consent of instructor.

AAS/English 286 -- Asian American Literature (3 credits): Introduction to Asian American literary studies and culture through the reading of major works of literature selected from but not limited to the following American ethnic subgroups: Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Pakistani, and Vietnamese. Same as ENGL 286. Prerequisite: Completion of the Composition I requirement. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a Literature and the Arts, and US Minority Culture(s) course.

AAS 290 -- Individual Study (2 to 3 credits): Supervised reading and research in Asian American Studies chosen by the student with instructor approval. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite: AAS 100.

AAS/Religious Studies 291 -- Hinduism in the United States (3 credits): Introduction to the historical, religious, and socio-cultural aspects of Hinduism in the US. The role of Hinduism in the maintenance of the ethnic identity of Indians in the US will be examined in the context of the rituals, languages, temples, family, and other social organizations. The maintenance and/or shift of the features of traditional (Indian) Hinduism in the transplanted counterpart in the US will be examined. Same as RLST 291. Prerequisite: RLST 104 or RLST 286 or consent of instructor.

AAS/Educational Policy Studies 310 -- Race and Cultural Diversity (4 credits): Study of race and cultural diversity from Colonial era to present; the evolution of racial ideology in an ethnically heterogeneous society; the impact of race on the structures and operations of fundamental social institutions; the role of race in contemporary politics and popular culture. Same as EPS 310, AFRO 310, and LLS 310. Prerequisite: Completion of campus Composition I general education requirement. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a Advanced Composition, and US Minority Culture(s) course.

AAS/Political Science 317 -- Asian American Politics (3 credits): Provides an overview of the role of Asian Americans in the American political system. Topics include: the international context of emigration, the history of different Asian groups in the U.S., demographic patterns, issues of identity, classification, and pan-ethnicity, voting behavior, minority representation, and public policy. Same as PS 317. Prerequisite: PS 101, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor.

AAS/Sociology 328 -- Asian Americans and Social Inequalities (3 credits): An examination of various forms of social inequality between Asian Americans and other groups as well as among Asian Americans, including those based on race, gender, class, citizenship and sexuality. Same as SOC 328.Prerequisite: SOC 100 and/or AAS 100 are recommended.

AAS/Communications/Cinema Studies 365 -- Asian American Media and Film (3 credits): An examination of media generally and films and videos more specifically (experimental, documentary, independent, and Hollywood features) by, for, and about Asian Americans. Same as COMM 365 and CINE 365. Prerequisite: Any AAS course at the 100 or 200 level or consent of instructor.

AAS/Social Work 397 -- Asian Families in America (3 credits): Offers a comparative analysis of Asian families as they cope and adapt to American society. Examines: 1) how families from four major Asian-American groups (Chinese, Indian, Japanese and Korean) function in American society; 2) how these families compare to families in their country of origin; and 3) how these families are similar to or different from the "typical American" family. Includes visits to Asian cultural institutions and with Asian families. Same as SOCW 397. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a UIUC Social Sciences, and US Minority Culture(s) course.

AAS/Educational Policy Studies 402 -- Asian American Education (4 credits): Examination and analysis of Asian American education from the late 1800s to the present. Same as EPS 402. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for a Advanced Composition, and US Minority Culture(s) course.

AAS/Communications/AfroAm Studies/Latino(a) Studies/Gender & Women's Studies 435 -- Commodifying Difference (3 or 4 credits): An interdisciplinary examination of how racial, ethnic and gender difference is negotiated through media and popular culture, and how racial, ethnic and gendered communities use cultural forms to express identity and difference. Among the theoretical questions explored are the politics of representation, ethnic/racial authenticity, cultural commodification and transnational popular culture. Some of the cultural forms examined are cultural festivals/parades, ethnic/race-based beauty pageants, cinematic and televisual texts and musical forms, such as Hip-Hop and Salsa.Same as LLS 435, AFRO 435, COMM 432, and GWS 435. Prerequisite: Any combination of 6 hours from Latina/o Studies, Asian American Studies, Afro-American Studies, Gender and Women Studies or Media Studies; graduate standing, or consent of instructor.

AAS 450 -- Asian American Ethnic Groups (3 or 4 hours): Intensive interdisciplinary study of a particular Asian American ethnic group (specific ethnic group focus will change every semester). 3 undergraduate hours, 4 graduate hours. This course may be repeated in the same or separate semesters, up to a maximum of 9 undergraduate hours or 12 graduate hours, if topics vary. Students may register in more than one section per term if topics vary. Prerequisite: Any AAS course at the 100 or 200 level or consent of instructor.

AAS/Psychology 470 -- Psychology of Asian Americans (3 or 4 credits): Examines central themes in the psychological study of Asian Americans such as race, ethnicity and culture, family issues, gender and sexuality, stereotype and discrimination, mental health and counseling, and public policy; analysis of historical, sociological, political, cultural, local, and global backdrops for the individual psychological experiences. Same as PSYC 470. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: PSYC 100 or consent of instructor.

AAS/Anthropology 484 -- Asian Diasporas (3 or 4 credits): Comparative study of Asian diasporic communities in various world regions through ethnography. Introduces concepts of transnationalism, globalization, and modernity in relation to Asian migration in contemporary times. Same as ANTH 484. Prerequisite: ANTH 184 or ANTH 284 or consent of instructor.

AAS 490 -- Advanced Topics in Asian American Studies (3 or 4 credits): Research seminar on specialized topics in Asian American Studies. May be repeated if topics vary. Students may register in more than one section per term if topics vary. Prerequisite: AAS 100 or any Asian American Studies course, or consent of instructor.

AAS 589 -- Readings in Asian American Studies (Graduate 1 to 4 credits): Individual guidance in intensive readings in the literature of one or more subdivisions of the field of Asian American Studies. May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.

AAS 590 -- Asian American Studies Seminar (Graduate 4 credits): May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.