Asian Pacific American Studies (Certificate)
Explore the fundamental contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to U.S. society through historical, cultural and political lenses, with a focus on how events have impacted their individual and community experiences.
Program Description
Asian Pacific American studies educates students in social justice, the global causes and impacts of Asian and Pacific Islander migration, relational and comparative racial formations, and ethnic studies movements that have made and continue to make a difference in society for all people.
Topics include diaspora, globalization, U.S imperialism and settler colonialism, social networks, immigration, interracial and interethnic relations, and health and well-being of Asian Pacific American families and communities. The certificate program provides students with the opportunity to work with a dedicated faculty committed to community-engaged research and student-centered learning.
The Asian Pacific American studies program is housed in ASU's interdisciplinary School of Social Transformation, the only school of its kind in the United States.
At a Glance: program details
- Location: Tempe campus
- Additional Program Fee: No
- Second Language Requirement: No
Program Requirements
A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded prior to the award of an undergraduate degree. A student already holding an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.
Enrollment Requirements
The certificate consists of 18 credit hours, of which at least 12 must be completed at the upper-division level. Nine hours will be a prescribed core and the remaining nine elective hours will be selected from any of the courses with an APA prefix. Examples of elective course options with the APA prefix include those shown in the list of elective courses below.
Required Core Courses: (9 credit hours)
APA 200 Introduction to Asian Pacific American Studies, HU or SB, C (3)
APA 360 Asian Pacific American Experience, HU or SB, C (3)
APA 484 Internship (3)
Elective Courses: (9 credit hours)
APA 210 Introduction to Ethnic Studies in the U.S., C (3)
APA 310 Asian Pacific American Arts and Cultures, HU, C (3)
APA 315 Asian Pacific American Literature, HU, C (3)
APA 330 Asian Pacific American Genders and Sexualities, SB, C (3)
APA 340 Asian Pacific Americans and Media, HU, C (3)
APA 345 Asian Pacific Americans and Film, HU, C, H (3)
APA 360 Asian Pacific American Experience, HU or SB, C (3)*
APA 394 Special Topics (3)**
APA 450 Asian Pacific American Contemporary Issues, SB, C (3)
APA 484 Internship (3)
APA 494 Special Topics** (3)
APA 499 Individualized Instruction (1-3 credits; may be repeated for credit)
*Note: One APA 360 course is required for the core. The course may be repeated for credit with these different topics:
- Asian Pacific American psychology
- Chinese American
- Filipino American
- Japanese American
- Korean American
- Multiracial Experiences
- Pacific Islander
- South Asian
- Southeast Asian American
** APA 394 and 494 may be repeated for credit with different topics.
Other Requirements and Restrictions:
All courses for the certificate must have a "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) grade or higher. A minimum of nine credit hours must be taken in residency at ASU.
Depending upon a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
Program Contact Information
If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.
- SSTadvising@asu.edu
- 480/965-7682