Asian and Asian American Studies - Department Information

Department Contacts

Department Office :

1250 Bellflower Blvd. F03-340
Long Beach, CA 90840-1002
Telephone: 562-985-4645

Department Chair:
Dr. John N. Tsuchida
Office: FO3-338
Telephone: 562-985-8085
E-mail: jtsuchid@csulb.edu

Undergraduate Advisor:

Dr. Hsin-sheng Cassandra Kao

Office: F03-334
Telephone: 562-985-7530

E-Mail: ckao@csulb.edu

Graduate Advisor:

Dr. Linda España-Maram
Office: F03-317
Telephone: 562-985-4822
E-Mail: lnemaram@csulb.edu

Department Of Asian and Asian American Studies

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a major urban university that serves a diverse population of more than 32,000 students from throughout California, the United States, and more than 100 foreign countries. Located on a beautiful 322 acre campus near the Pacific Ocean, the University takes great pride in its over 3,000 highly qualified faculty and staff. Quality programs, dedicated faculty, inquisitive students and well equipped facilities (including the University Library's 1.4 million volumes) combine to provide a thorough and distinctive education. Housed within the College of Liberal Arts, CSULB's Department of Asian and Asian American Studies (AAAS) is the vanguard for the study of one of the world's most fascinating and important regions -- Asia.

AAAS enables students to explore Asian civilizations from an interdisciplinary perspective. The department encourages students to integrate the study of Asian peoples across the Pacific with that of Asian American communities in the United States. It also enables students to explore the Asian American experience, cultures and issues. The study of Asian cultures and societies is combined with appropriate language studies and training.

The Department also houses the Center for Asian Pacific American Studies (CAPAS) and the Southern Asian Studies Center (SASC).

Through academic offerings of its own and those of some dozen cooperating departments, the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies offers B.A and M.A. degrees and a Certificate in Asian Studies, a B.A. degree, Certificate and Single Subject Teaching Credential in Japanese, and B.A. degree and a minor in Asian American Studies. Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies can choose between an "Area studies" track and an "Asian American studies" track. The first track emphasizes a social science or humanities-based exploration of two Asian civilizations (Chinese, Japanese, South Asian or Southeast Asian). The second track combines the study of Asian Americans as an ethnic minority with supporting investigation of their countries of origin. The Bachelor of Arts in Japanese is designed to provide students with linguistic and cultural preparation, supported by international perspectives and understanding of humanities for effective intercultural communication.

The Master of Arts in Asian Studies enables students to combine the study of Asian cultures (Chinese, Japanese, South Asian, Southeast Asian) with perspectives from two disciplines (Art, History, Political Science or Religious Studies, among others). Although it is possible in some cases to design a program with emphasis on a single Asian culture, our graduate curriculum is best designed to accommodate a broader approach. The Single Subject Credential in Japanese is designed to produce educators prepared to teach Japanese with the communicative proficiency, critical thinking skills and sociocultural understanding essential for intercultural communication.

Undergraduates who want a more limited program than the B.A. may enroll in one of the Department's Certificate Programs: Asian Studies, Asian American Studies, or Japanese. AAAS also offers concentrations in Japanese and Asian American Studies under Track II of the B.A. in Liberal Studies.

With the cooperation of the International Programs, California State Universities and Colleges, and CSULB's Center for International Education, students in the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies may earn credit toward their degrees while studying abroad. Qualified undergraduates may enroll for two semesters at Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan or National Cheng-chih University, Taipei, Republic of China. Graduate students may apply for a year as a "teacher-scholar" at either Tunghai University or Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan. Students may also participate in exchange programs in the People's Republic of China at Huazhong Normal University (Wuhan), Wuhan University (Wuhan), Qingdao University (Qingdao), and Zhongshan University (Guangdong). University policy requires that a certain number of units must be taken on the campus from which the students expects to get a degree. To fulfill the residence requirement at CSULB, undergraduate students must earn a minimum of 30 semester units at the Long Beach campus. Twenty-four (24) of these units must be upper division and 12 of the units must be in the major.

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Advisement

Students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels interested in Asian and Asian American Studies should contact:

Department of Asian and Asian American Studies
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach, California 90840-1002

The Chairperson and degree advisors can be reached through F03-340, telephone (562) 985-4645. It is important for all degree candidates to see the Undergraduate or Graduate Advisor immediately upon matriculation to discuss their programs and be assigned an advisor from the Asian and Asian American Studies faculty.

Students may obtain application and financial aid materials from the Office of Admissions and Records. Applicants are required to send a copy of their official transcripts directly to the department at the above address.

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