MAJOR

Asian American Studies

Major

Overview

A wide variety of ethnic groups -- including Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Filipinos, Southeast Asians, and Pacific Islanders --make up the Asian American population in the United States. These groups have histories, languages, and cultures that differ greatly. But they also share similar experiences, such as dealing with discrimination in America. From the exploitation of the Hawaiian Islands to the World War II internment of Japanese Americans, this discrimination counts among the ugliest themes of the American experience.

On the other hand, you will also learn about the ways in which Asian Americans contribute to the fabric of American culture. They’ve carved out rich neighborhoods such as New York’s Chinatown and produced great works of art such as the novels of Indian American Bharati Mukherjee.

Leaders Who Majored in Asian American Studies