Undergraduate Program Advisor

Dr. Hsin-sheng (Cassandra) Kao
Office Room: FO3-334
Telephone #:(562)985-7530
E-mail: ckao@csulb.edu

Office Hours:

by appointment

Undergraduate Degrees

• Bachelor's Degree in Asian American Studies
• Bachelor's Degree in Asian Studies
• Bachelor's Degree in Chinese Studies
• Bachelor's Degree in Japanese
• Single Subject Credential in Japanese

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Asian American Studies

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Asian American Studies provides an interdisciplinary approach to explore the diverse history, cultures, communities, and contemporary realities in Asian America. It is designed to offer students an opportunity to develop a greater understanding of the complexities of Asian American experiences and to prepare them to function in a multiethnic society and multicultural world. The communication and critical analysis skills which are stressed in the program will be instrumental to students pursuing postbaccalaureate degrees in "traditional" disciplines, including History, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, and Literature; in interdisciplinary programs like Ethnic Studies and Women's Studies; and in professional fields such as Law, Business Administration, and Social Work. The program's curriculum and broad liberal arts perspectives likewise will prepare students for employment in several professions, including education, public policy, community development, media, social services, and human resources. Admission to the program requires completion of the G.E. Foundation courses.

A Bachelor of Arts degree in Asian American Studies will require a minimum of 40 units, with at least 18 units earned in residence at CSULB.

• 6 units of lower-division core courses

• 3 units of lower-division elective

• 16 units of upper-division core courses

• 15 units of upper-division electives in the following areas:
  • Specific Ethnic Group Focus (3 units)
  • Gender Studies (3 units)
  • Asian Americans in Comparative Perspectives (3 units)
  • Explorations in Asian America (3 units)
  • Asian American Studies-Related Courses (3 units)
  • Lower-Division Core Courses (6 units): ASAM 220, 221.

• Lower-Division Elective (3 units):
  To be selected from the following:
  ASAM 200, 260, 290, 299

• Upper-Division Core Courses (16 units):
  A/ST 300I OR 301I; ASAM 305, 345, 346, 495

• Upper-Division Electives (15 units):
  To be selected from the following areas:
  • Specific Ethnic Group Focus (Select 3 units): ASAM 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 352
  • Gender Studies (Select 3 units): ASAM 340, 370, 381
  • Asian Americans in Comparative Perspectives (Select 3 units): ASAM 319, 335I, 403; W/ST 318I
  • Explorations in Asian America (Select 3 units): ASAM 310, 347, 360, 380, 410, 490, 499
  • Asian American Studies-Related Courses (Select 3 units): ANTH 329, 419, ANTH/W/ST 475/LING 470; ART 330I; CHLS 421; COMM 330; C/LT 415I; ENGL 375; HIST 469, 473; LING 472; POSC 323; PSY 375; SW 350, 481I; SOC 346; W/ST 432

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Bachelors Degree in Asian Studies

1. ASAM 200 or ASAM 220;
2. A/ST 300IC, 301IC, and 492;
3. Three semesters (or the equivalent) of a single Asian language, chosen from courses in Chinese, Japanese, or an Asian Language approved by the Undergraduate Advisor.

I. Area Studies Track:

21 units of upper-division course work, including A/ST 492 (Proseminar in Asian Studies), selected from the list of approved electives, with the following provisions:

1. No more than 9 units shall be counted in a single discipline, such as art or history;
2. No more than 9 units shall be credited for any one area of Asia, chosen from among the following: China, Japan, South Asia, or Southeast Asia.

II. Asian American Studies Track:

21 units of upper-division course work, selected from the list of approved electives, with the following provisions:

1. A/ST 492 (Proseminar on Asian Studies);
2. Students must take 12 units of upper-division courses in Asian American Studies, including ASAM 310 and ASAM 345. The remaining upper-division units focusing on one geographical area of Asia, chosen from among the following: China, Japan, South Asia, or Southeast Asia.

Bachelors Degree in Chinese Studies

1. language and language-related courses (9 units);
2. Chinese culture and politics courses (6 units);

• Select one of the following:
  • CHIN 250 Introduction to the I-ching (3 units)
  • CHIN 260 Introduction to Chinese Civilization (3 units)

• Take all of the following:
  • CHIN 201 Intermediate Chinese (4 units)
  • CHIN 202 Intermediate Chinese (4 units)

• Take all of the following:
  • CHIN 301 Advanced Chinese (3 units)
  • CHIN 370 Chinese Literature in English Translation (3 units)
  • CHIN 451 Chinese Culture and Tradition (3 units)
  • CHIN 492 Senior Seminar (3 units)

• Electives (15 units):
  1. 9 units selected from:
     • CHIN 302 Advanced Chinese (3 units)
     • CHIN 321 Chinese Calligraphy (3 units)
     • CHIN 350 Business Chinese (3 units)
     • CHIN 360 Classical Chinese (3 units)
     • CHIN 380 Topics in Chinese Liguistics (3 units)
     • CHIN 390 Topics in Chinese Cultural Studies (3 units)
     • CHIN 410 Chinese Information Processing (3 units)
     • CHIN 430A Classical Chinese Fiction (3 units)
     • CHIN 430B Classical Chinese Drama (3 units)
     • CHIN 430A Classical Chinese Poetry (3 units)
     • CHIN 490 Special Topics in Chinese (1-6 units)
     • CHIN 499 Directed Studies in Chinese (1-6 units)
     • A/ST 490A Modern Chinese Literature (3 units)
     • A/ST 490B China in Transition (3 units)
  2. 6 units selected from:
     • ANTH 332 Chinese Culture and Society (3 units)
     • AH 468 Early Chinese Art (3 units)
     • AH 469 Later Chinese Art (3 units)
     • ASAM 331 Chinese American Experience (3 units)
     • A/ST 300I Traditional Asia (3 units)
     • A/ST 301I Modern Asia (3 units)
     • A/ST 320 Asia in Fiction and FIlm (3 units)
     • A/ST 406 Asian Women (3 units)
     • A/ST 495I China Heritage (3 units)
     • ECON 365 Economics of Modern China (3 units)
     • HIST 382A Imperial China (1-6 units)
     • HIST 488 The Chinese Revolution (1-6 units)
     • JOUR 312I World Press (3 units)
     • PHIL 306 Philosophies of China and Japan (3 units)
     • POSC 362 Society and National Politics of China (3 units)
     • POSC 455 Comparative Revolutionary Change (3 units)
     • R/ST 341I Buddhism (3 units)
     • R/ST 343 Religions of China (3 units)
     • W/ST 406 Asian Women (3 units)

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Bachelors Degree in Japanese

1. language and language-related courses (12 units);
2. Japanese civilization courses (6 units);
3. Japan-related or intercultural communication courses (3 units).

1. 8 units Core Courses: JAPN 201, 202

1. Core Courses (23 units): JAPN 201, 202, 301, 302, 311, 312, 451 (in Japanese);
2. Electives (21 units):

a. Language and Language-related Courses -12 units selected from: JAPN 350, 370, 421, 422, 461, 462, 471, 481, 490, 492, and 497;
b. Japanese Civilization (taught in English) - 6 units from: ANTH 335, A/ST 393I, AH 470, HIST 383A, 383B, 384, 405, 407I, 409, POSC 363, and R/ST 344.
c. Japan-related or Intercultural Communication Courses - 3 units selected from: ANTH 307I, 412I, 413, 490*, ASAM 330, 345, A/ST 300I, 301I, 310, 320, 406, 424, 490*, 492, 495I, COMM 309, C/LT 403, ECON 370, 471, EDSS 450F, GEOG 307I, H/SC 420I, HIST 307I, 382B, 406, 478, 495*, I/ST 317I, 318I, 319I, 478 JOUR 312, PHIL 306, POSC 362, 363, 371, 378, 469*, 485*, 489, 497*, PSY 439, R/ST 341I, SOC 350, W/ST 401I, and 406.

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Single Subject Credential in Japanese

1. Language: JAPN 301, 302, 311, AND 312;
2. Linguistics: JAPN 461;
3. Literature: JAPN 471 plus 421 or JAPN 370;
4. Culture: JAPN 451.

1. Language: JAPN 421, and 422;
2. Linguistics: JAPN 462, and 481;
3. Literature: JAPN 370;
4. Culture: JAPN 350, 492.
5. Variable Subjects: JAPN 490; 497.

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