The interdisciplinary major in Asian and Asian American Studies combines analytical perspectives and research methods of the social sciences and humanities in an integrated curriculum that is based on area studies and ethnic studies scholarship. Students acquire in-depth knowledge of particular regions of Asia, enhanced appreciation of Asian cultures and societies, greater awareness of contemporary issues of global concern facing both Asia and the United States, and a better understanding of the histories, struggles, and contributions of Asian Americans.
The major includes training in a relevant Asian language, a concentration in a specific region of Asia, and courses in various disciplines that converge on an identified theme of study. It complements minors in China Studies, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies, and South Asian Studies, as well as the major and minor in Religious Studies.
Students are encouraged to gain a first-hand experience of living in and studying Asian cultures by participating in Study Abroad programs. Stony Brook offers a summer program in China, Japan and India and academic year programs in China, Japan, and Korea. Similar programs are being planned in other countries.
The academic offerings of the department are complemented by the rich array of resources and programming at the program in China Studies, Center for India Studies, Center for Japan Studies, the Center for Korean Studies,, the Asian American Center Bridge, and the Charles B. Wang Center, which collaborate with various academic departments, student groups, community organizations, and individuals to promote a better understanding of Asia and Asian Americans today.
The Department of Asian and Asian American Studies has strong ties with selected academic and cultural organizations in Asia, and Asian and Asian American institutions on Long Island and in the greater New York area. Stony Brook's proximity to the New York City metropolitan area, with its Asian ethnic communities, offers rich opportunities for cultural and intellectual enrichment.
A major in Asian and Asian American Studies will open attractive opportunities for students who plan to pursue a wide range of careers, including the arts, business, education, economics, government, journalism, law, literature, and media. Many students increase their employment opportunities by pursuing a double major. In addition, Asian and Asian American Studies offers challenging opportunities at the graduate and professional school level as well.
The major in Asian and Asian American Studies leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. All courses taken for the major must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C or higher. Completion of the major requires 39 credits, including at least 21 upper-division credits.
A. Language Proficiency (6 credits)
Majors are required to take at least six credits (or the equivalent of one year) of college study of an Asian language at the intermediate level or above. Students who already have a pre-established language proficiency in an Asian language can be exempt from this requirement with approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, and in that case, they should take two additional AAS courses at 200-level or above.
B. Core Courses to Asian and Asian American Studies (9 credits)
Majors are required to take three of the core courses to AAS major:
Students may substitute courses not listed, with Director of Undergraduate Studies approval.
C. Areas of Focus (15 credits)
Majors are required to take fifteen credits from one area of focus
, including at least nine credits from upper-division courses.
Students are encouraged to construct their own analytic focus within the major in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Note: Students may substitute courses not listed under their chosen Area of Focus with Director of
Undergraduate Studies approval.
1) Asian Philosophy and Religions
Courses in this area of focus include but are not limited to:
2) Literature, Arts, and Culture of Asia
Courses in this area of focus include but are not limited to:
3) Society and Contemporary Issues
Courses in this area of focus include but are not limited to:
4) Region and Language
Courses in this area of focus include but are not limited to:
D. Asian and Asian American Studies Electives (6 credits)
Majors are required to take two electives in AAS to meet the total credit and upper-division credit requirements.
E. Senior Seminar (3 credits)
Majors are required to take the following course as a capstone requirement:
F. Upper-Division Writing Requirement
By the end of their junior year, students must register for the 0-credit AAS 459: Write Effectively in Asian and
Asian American Studies, and complete one upper-division course from requirements C that includes a minimum of ten pages of written English work. Written assignments for the course must be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies for assessment of advanced writing skills appropriate to the major. This review is separate from the evaluation made by the course instructor and has no effect on the course grade.
Students should consult with the department advisor to ensure that their plan for completing the Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent with university graduation requirements for General Education. Students completing the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) must complete a course that satisfies the "Write Effectively within One's Discipline" (WRTD) learning objective to graduate. The Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent in most cases with the SBC learning outcomes for WRTD.
Notes:
1. A course is used to satisfy only one requirement category.
2. At least 12 of the upper-division credits must be taken at Stony Brook University.
3. Acceptable courses may include, but are not limited to courses with the following designators: ANT, ARH, CCS, CHI, CLT, ENG, HIN, HIS, JPN, KOR, LIN, PHI, POL, RLS, SKT, SOC, THR.
The Honors Program in Asian & Asian American Studies (AAS)
To be eligible to participate in the honors program, majors must have an overall g.p.a. of 3.00 and an average g.p.a. of 3.50 in AAS through their junior year. An eligible student wishing to write a senior thesis must find a faculty member to act as thesis advisor. The student, with the approval of this advisor, must submit a proposal of a project in writing to the Director of Undergraduate Studies. The deadline for submission of the proposal is April 30 for the spring semester, and November 30 for the fall semester. Selection of candidates and topics is made by a committee within the Department. Students in the honors program must enroll in AAS 495 for the semester in which the thesis is written. The thesis is evaluated by the thesis advisor, and approved by two additional faculty. For further information consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Secondary Teacher Education Program
See the Education and Teacher Certification entry in the alphabetical listings of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs.
Requirements for the Minor in Asian and Asian American Studies (AAS)
The Minor in Asian and Asian American Studies encourages students of any academic major to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Asian cultures, societies, and histories. Students with a minor in Asian and Asian American Studies consult with the Undergraduate Director of Asian and Asian American Studies to select a curriculum of interdisciplinary comparative study that speaks to their particular interests and career goals. All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C or higher.
Completion of the minor requires 18 credits, including at least 9 upper-division credits.
A. AAS minors are required to take six credits from the core courses.
The choice of core courses may be changed with the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies as long as the choice ensures the diversity within AAS and appropriate core knowledge needed for completing the minor in AAS.
B. AAS minors are required to take nine credits from one area of concentration, including at least six credits from upper-division courses. For available courses, refer to the AAS major requirement C.
C. Asian and Asian American Studies Elective
Minors are required to take one elective in AAS to meet the total credit and upper-division credit requirements.
| FRESHMAN |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| First Year Seminar 101 | 1 |
| WRT 101 | 3 |
| Elementary Asian language I | 4 |
| Core courses: 1st course | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 17 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| First Year Seminar 102 | 1 |
| WRT 102 | 3 |
| Elementary Asian language II | 4 |
| Core courses: 2nd course | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 17 |
| SOPHOMORE |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| Intermediate Asian language I | 3 |
| Core courses: 3rd course | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| Intermediate Asian language II | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| JUNIOR |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| Concentration: 1st course | 3 |
| Concentration: 2nd course | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| Concentration: 3rd course | 3 |
| Concentration: 4th course | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| SENIOR |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| AAS 401 | 3 |
| Concentration: 5th course | 3 |
| One upper-division elective in AAS | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| One upper-division elective in AAS | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
Major and Minor in Asian and Asian American Studies
Department of Asian and Asian American Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
Chair: EK Tan
Interim Director of Undergraduate Studies:Eva Nagase
Assistant to the Chair: Corey Fortcher
Administrative Assistant: Lynne Foerster
Office: 1046 Humanities
Phone: (631) 632-4030
Website: http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/asian/
Minors of particular interest to students majoring in Asian and Asian American Studies: Anthropology (ANT), China Studies (CNS), Japanese Studies (JNS), Korean Studies (KOR), Linguistics (LIN), Sociology (SOC), South Asian Studies (SOA)