Asian American Studies

Our multidisciplinary Asian American Studies major champions social justice, critical thinking, and innovative analysis

Students Walking and Biking on Pitzer's Campus

About This Program

  • Asian American Studies is an interdisciplinary field. You will work with your adviser to create a palette of courses covering a wide range of subjects focusing on the Asian American experience. 
  • Our program is part of the Intercollegiate Department of Asian American Studies at the Claremont Colleges (IDAAS). 
  • In addition to taking courses at all the 5Cs, you will also have the facilities, resources, and support of the IDAAS available to you. 
  • Our program prepares you for success in a wide range of fields post-graduation. Alums with this major often go on to work in communications, media, the nonprofit sector, government, and human services. 

At a Glance

Degree Awarded

  • Bachelor of Arts

Field Group

Asian American Studies

Program Type

Area of Study

Asian American Studies and Our Values

Pitzer’s core values are woven throughout all of our academic programs. Learn how our Asian American Studies program addresses the values of intercultural understanding and social responsibility.

Intercultural Understanding

“Understanding people’s stories and understanding how context shapes who they are – That’s what brought me to Pitzer. Pitzer has the space to teach classes and to research this process of inquiry and engagement.”

Kathy Yep

Professor of Asian American Studies

30% Study Abroad

One-third of Asian American Studies majors study abroad for a semester or more.

Study Abroad Programs

Social Responsibility

“Pitzer’s core value of social responsibility is in the DNA of my films, and so much of who I am as a filmmaker can be traced back to my time at Pitzer.”

Steven Liang '10

Film Director

Asian American Studies and Communications self-designed major

100% Community Service Participation

All Asian American Studies majors take part in field work in the Asian American community or with an Asian American community-based organization.

Asian American Studies in Detail

View Course Catalog

What You Will Learn

  1. The history and contributions of Asian Americans in the United States and abroad.
  2. How race as a social construct functions in the world.
  3. How race intersects with gender, sexualities, and socio-economic class.
  4. How to design and implement a research study, creative project, or a community-based project in an Asian American community.
  5. The ethical implications of your research, creative project, or community-based project in Asian American communities. 

Learn More

Visit the Intercollegiate Department of Asian American Studies (IDAAS) at the Claremont Colleges site for more information and resources. 

IDAAS Website

Eleven graded courses are required for the major, including:

Six core courses:

  • Asian American History (ASAM 125 HM  )
  • Asian American Contemporary Issues (SOC 150 AA)
  • Communities course: approved field work in an Asian American community or internship with a Asian American community-based organization (ASAM 090 PZ)
  • Theory and Methods in Asian American Studies (ASAM 115 PZ)
  • Senior Seminar (ASAM 190A PO)
  • Senior Thesis or Project: independent work with senior thesis/project adviser (ASAM 191 PO)

Breadth requirements and electives:

Students with this major must take five courses in addition to the core courses listed above. These courses should be selected in consultation with the IDAAS major advisor, and they must fulfill all the following requirements. Core courses above may not be used to fulfill any breadth requirements, but all other courses may fulfill two or more requirements. For example, a single non-core course might simultaneously fulfill the requirements for social sciences, gender and sexuality, and Asia and migration. If courses are used to fulfill multiple requirements, students must take additional IDAAS courses to make a total of eleven courses for the major. Consult list of approved courses for each requirement.

  • At least one IDAAS social sciences course
  • At least one IDAAS humanities course
  • At least one IDAAS gender and sexuality course
  • At least one approved non-Asian American ethnic studies course: e.g. comparative ethnic studies course, Black Studies course, Chicano Studies course
  • At least one approved course related to Asia and migration, globalization, and/or imperialism

Asian language courses and ASAM 197 AA are strongly recommended but not required.

A combined major in Asian American Studies requires at least nine courses, including:

Six core courses:

  • Asian American History (ASAM 125 HM)
  • Asian American Contemporary Issues (SOC 150 AA)
  • Communities course: approved field work in an Asian American community or internship with a Asian American community-based
  • organization (ASAM 090 PZ)
  • Theory and Methods in Asian American Studies (ASAM 115 PZ)
  • Senior Seminar (ASAM 190A PO)
  • Senior Thesis or Project: independent work with senior thesis/project adviser (ASAM 191 PO)

Breadth requirements and electives:

Three courses in addition to the core courses listed above. These courses should be selected in consultation with the IDAAS major advisor.

The minor in Asian American Studies requires six graded courses, including:

Two of three IDAAS core courses: ASAM 125 HM  , ASAM 090 PZ , SOC 150 AA 

Four elective courses determined by minor adviser and student

Asian American Studies Faculty

Our Asian American Studies program is part of the Intercollegiate Department of Asian American Studies (IDAAS). Visit the IDAAS website to view all participating faculty across the 5Cs.

View all Asian American Studies Faculty
Professor Todd Honma

Todd Honma

  • Professor of Asian American Studies
  • Asian American Studies Field Group
portrait of Linus Yamane

Linus Yamane

  • Professor of Economics
portrait of kathy yep

Kathy Yep

  • Professor of Asian American Studies
  • Asian American Studies Field Group

Contact Us

Related Programs

Art

At Pitzer, Art is a powerful tool for informed and compelling expression, shaping a future where creativity meets purpose

  • Bachelor of Arts

History

At Pitzer, the study of history is an invitation to unravel the intricacies of our world—its political boundaries, economic systems, social structures, and cultural practices

  • Bachelor of Arts

Political Studies

Our Political Studies program explores the intricate political landscape of the United States, the vibrant contributions of its communities, the workings of political systems, and much more

  • Bachelor of Arts