Asian American Studies Major

Study the history, culture and experiences of Asian Americans from a multidisciplinary perspective, and venture outside the classroom with community and social justice work.

Asian American Studies is a rigorous, multidisciplinary intercollegiate program that emphasizes social justice, critical thinking and forward-looking analysis of the history, society, culture and experiences of Asians in the United States.

You will take courses in anthropology, cultural studies, economics, ethnomusicology, gender and feminist studies, history, literature, psychology, sociology, media analysis, performance studies, queer studies, racial politics and transnationalism.

As an Asian American Studies major or minor, you will integrate this range of approaches with innovative community work and learning opportunities in the greater Los Angeles area. 

Why major in Asian American Studies?
In class with Professor Sharon Goto
In class with Professor Sharon Goto
In class with Professor Hung Cam Thai
In class with Professor Hung Cam Thai

What You’ll Study

    • Courses in Asian American history and contemporary issues
    • Asian American community fieldwork or internship
    • Theory and methods in Asian American Studies
    • Asia and migration, globalization and/or imperialism
    • Senior thesis
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Community engagement opportunities through four programs in literacy, arts, social justice and community-based learning

Learning at Pomona

Teofanny Saragi ’18 interned for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders this summer.

Intergovernmental Affairs Internship in Washington D.C.

Teofanny Saragi ’18 interned at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders under President Barack Obama working on issues affecting the AAPI community.

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Teofanny Saragi '17
Teofanny Saragi ‘18

If you've ever wondered about why your history, story, and perspectives are not reflected in your textbooks, Asian American Studies is for you. If you've never had an opportunity to learn about narratives that are not highlighted in the mainstream, Asian American Studies is for you. If you want to learn how to build community with diverse groups of people and bridge theory and praxis, Asian American Studies is for you. If you want to be connected to a legacy of activism, advocacy, and radical knowledge, Asian American Studies is for you.

Faculty & Teaching

Our Intercollegiate Department of Asian American Studies is comprised of 13 core professors from 11 disciplines and interdisciplinary fields. With numerous affiliated and visiting faculty, you will be exposed to a broad spectrum of vantage points within the field. 

Professor Hung Thai

We deal with questions of empire and of inequality in relation to U.S. history. Many students begin to think critically about these issues for the first time in our courses. And then they realize that prior to taking our courses, they did not have the opportunity to analyze these questions that are at the core of contemporary American life.