Asian Pacific American Studies  (Minor)


Learn about the contributions and experiences of Asian Pacific Americans and Pacific Islanders and how those experiences have shaped societies and cultures in the U.S. You'll have the opportunity to explore these issues through a variety of historical, cultural and political lenses.



Program Description

The Asian Pacific American studies minor program prepares students to address issues of justice, equity and access at the intersections of citizenship, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, class and culture and to identify actions and solutions based in community experiences and community-based research across multiple disciplines. Students have the opportunity to work with a dedicated faculty committed to community-engaged research and student-centered learning.

The program 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. The interdisciplinary faculty comprises expertise in critical ethnic studies, diaspora and globalization, U.S imperialism and settler colonialism, social networks, immigration, interracial and interethnic relations, and the health and well-being of Asian Pacific American families and communities. The faculty listing is on the Asian Pacific American studies website.

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.



Minor Map

Major/Certificate Map archive


At a Glance: program details

  • Location: Tempe campus
  • Additional Program Fee: No
  • Second Language Requirement: No


Program Requirements

GPA Requirement: None

Incompatible Majors: BA in Asian Pacific American studies

Other Enrollment Requirements: None

Current ASU undergraduate students may pursue a minor and have it recognized on their ASU transcript at graduation. Minor requirements appear on the degree audit once the minor is added. Certain major and minor combinations may be deemed inappropriate by the college or department of either the major program or the minor. Courses taken for the minor may not count toward both the major and minor.

Enrollment Requirements

The minor in Asian Pacific American studies requires a total of 18 credit hours, including six hours of core courses and 12 elective hours selected from courses with the APA prefix.

Required Core Courses: (6)
APA 200 Introduction to Asian Pacific American Studies, HU or SB, C (3)
APA 360 Asian Pacific American Experience, HU or SB, C (3)

Elective Courses: (12)
The remaining 12 credit hours will be completed by selecting courses not taken to fulfill the six required hours and will be selected from any APA course.

Examples of APA electives include:

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)*

*Note: One APA 360 course is required for the core; other sections may be repeated for credit with 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 Special Topics (3) (may be repeated for credit with a different topic)
APA 450 Asian Pacific American Contemporary Issues, SB, C (3)
APA 484 Internship (3)
APA 494 Special Topics (3) (may be repeated for credit with a different topic)
APA 499 Individualized Instruction (1-3) (may be repeated for credit)

Other Requirements and Restrictions

  1. At least 12 of the 18 credit hours must be upper-division courses (300-level or higher).
  2. All courses for the minor must have a "C" grade (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) or higher.
  3. A minimum of nine credit hours must be taken in residency at ASU.
  4. No course may be used to satisfy more than one requirement in the minor.

Depending upon a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this minor.







Program Contact Information

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