This course satisfies the “relationships to knowledge” cluster: Asian Americans: Responses to the American Experience.  The class requires a minimum of 10 pages of written assignments.  Note: students will not receive Segment III credit UNLESS you complete the whole cluster as described in the Class Schedule and Bulletin, including the requirement that students must have earned 60 units by the end of the semester in which they take the course.

Prerequisites:

To enroll in this course you must have completed at least 6 units of upper coursework in Asian American Studies (one of AAS 310 [Chinese in America], 331 [Japanese in America], 370 [Vietnamese], or 456 [Pilipinos], and one of 322 [Chinese American culture], 363 [Pilipino], 444 [Vietnamese] or 693 [Asian Americans & the Mass Media])  or have the
consent of the instructor (factors considered: other relevant Ethnic Studies coursework; community experience; strong written and analytical skills.)

Course Description:

Critical examination of Asian & Pacific Islander American (API) communities: origins, changes, economics, trends of residential and community patterns, and movements for social and economic justice. The course will examine the implications and effects of immigration, class polarization, and political trends (such as the 1996 welfare “reform”, and immigration laws, the passage of CA’s Propositions 187, 209 and 227 and the resurgence of racial violence and scapegoating) on the API communities.  Finally, students will link theory and practice through community research and a group assignment.

· Acquaint students with a range of API communities and their origins;
· Provide an understanding of the crucial issues and forces affecting AA’s today in the context of our “multicultural” society and the changes brought by ‘globalization’;
· Critically analyze the history of API community activism and current community change strategies;
· Develop a better understanding of the intersections of race, gender and class through classroom dialogue and projects;
· Examine community research methods and the means by which research can be used to support social movements and to improve conditions in API communities; and
· Help students develop better critical thinking skills and a basic awareness of API community resources and needs.

The State of Asian America, Karin Aguilar San-Juan (South End Press 1994);
Selected articles from ColorLines, Third Force Magazine (1992-present), Asian Week, Amerasia Journal and other community publications; and
Course Handouts – available from the instructor throughout the course.

Requirements:

Assignments      50%
   & Participation in Class
  Group Presentation     10%
  Community Research Project   30%
  Final Exam      20%

I expect every student to make her best efforts to participate in the class discussions and in small groups. Therefore, regular attendance is absolutely necessary.  Warning: repeated missed classes will severely lower your final course grade.
Policy on late work:
20% reduction of grade (for example, and “A” paper which is turned in one week after the due date will be given a “B“ grade.  If that paper is turned in 2 weeks after the due date, the grade will have fallen to a “C”.
No late work will be accepted more than 3 class meetings after the due date.