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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
ASAMD001.
Course Title (CB02)
Asian American Experiences Past to Present
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
This course is an introduction to Asian American Studies and an exploration of Asian American experiences from the 19th century examining processes and consequences of racialization with an intersectional framework. The experiences of Chinese Americans, Vietnamese Americans, Filipino Americans, Indian Americans, Japanese Americans, Korean Americans, as well as other Asian American groups, will be examined. Issues such as how Asian Americans respond to social inequity, the challenges of making a living, and the changing perspectives from immigrant to American-born generations will be highlighted.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course meets a general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½ College, CSU, and IGETC. It applies to fulfilling the Intercultural Studies A.A. degree. This course is UC and CSU transferable. This course fulfills the need for students to understand cultural diversity and introduce students to the foundational theories and concepts in studying the Asian-American experience.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Course Philosophy
This course seeks to be intellectually stimulating and personally engaging and relevant.

Formerly Statement

Formerly Statement
(Formerly ICS D020.)

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GDX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGDYCSU GE Area D - Social SciencesApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG4XIGETC Area 4 - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class essays

In-class exploration of Internet sites

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Homework and extended projects

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Field observation and field trips

Assignments

  1. Reading
    1. Reading assignments from one or more texts.
    2. Supplemental readings may also be assigned.
  2. Writing
    1. Short essays and/or a research paper related to Asian American historical experiences.
    2. Other writing requirements will include written portions in either midterm or final exam.
    3. A group research project that includes participation in an Asian American community event related to Asian American historical or contemporary experiences.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. A final exam with objective and/or essay questions discussing content from lectures and readings to evaluate the student's ability to analyze major issues.
  2. Analytical essays to evaluate ability to discuss significant issues related to Asian American history or contemporary community.
  3. A major group research project requiring substantial research of an Asian American issue to evaluate the student's ability to analyze an issue from both community and broader societal perspectives.
  4. Written report and class presentation of group project to evaluate ability to identify an issue and conduct research to further understanding.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Chan, Sucheng. Asian Californians. San Francisco, MTL/ Boyd & Fraser, 1991.
Hsu, Madeline. Asian American History: A Very Short Introduction. 2nd.edition. Oxford University Press, 2016.
Lee, Erika. The Making of Asian America. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2015.
Lee, Shelley Sang-Hee. A New History of Asian America. New York: Routledge, 2014.
Okihiro, Gary. American History Unbound: Asians and Pacific Islanders. Oakland, CA: University of California Press, 2015.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Cordova, Fred. Filipinos: Forgotten Asian Americans. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt, 1983.
Kurashige, Lon and Alice Yang Murray. Major Problems in Asian American History. Houghton Mifflin, 2003.
Lai, Him Mark. Becoming Chinese American: A History of Communities and Institutions. New York, Alta Mira Press, 2004.
Lukes, Timothy and Gary Okihiro. Japanese Legacy: Farming and Community Life in California's Santa Clara Valley. Cupertino, CA: California History Center, °®¶¹´«Ã½ College, 1985.
Lydon, Sandy. Chinese Gold: The Chinese in the Monterey Bay Region. Capitola, CA: Capitola Book Co., 1985.
Okihiro, Gary. Margins and Mainstreams: Asians in American History and Culture. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994.
Takaki, Ronald. Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans. Revised edition. Boston: Back Bay Books., 1998.
Tsu, Cecilia. Garden of the World: Asian Immigrants and the Making of Agriculture in California's Santa Clara Valley. Oxford University Press, 2013.
Yu, Connie Young. Chinatown San Jose, USA. San Jose: San Jose Historical Museum Association, 1991.
Yu, Henry: Thinking Orientals: Migration, Contact, and Exoticism in Modern America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
Zhou, Min, and Anthony Ocampo, eds. Contemporary Asian America: A Multidisciplinary Reader. 3rd. Edition. NewYork: New York University Press, 2016.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Explore the social sciences and humanities through the field of Asian American studies.
  • Evaluate the historical experiences of Asian Americans and compare racial formations with those of Americans of other ancestries (European Americans, American Indians, Latino Americans, and African Americans).
  • Evaluate the contributions of Asian immigrants and compare with those of Americans of other ancestries.
  • Analyze the major issues of race, class, gender and their interconnections in American society in the case of Asian immigrant labor.
  • Compare the structural (economic, social, and political) and ideological underpinnings of U.S. society from Asian exclusion to the Civil Rights Movement.
  • Appraise the impact of international relations on domestic policies affecting Asian Americans, especially in the case of World War II.
  • Assess the Asian American Movement and immigration reform from the Civil Rights era.
  • Apply themes and concepts from Asian American historical experience to understand contemporary issues.
  • Explore issues related to personal development and empowerment by drawing upon historical and contemporary Asian American experiences.

CSLOs

  • Analyze and discuss significant issues and events in Asian American history.

  • Research a significant issue related to Asian American history or contemporary community.

  • Engage in an Asian Pacific American community-related activity.

Outline

  1. Explore the social sciences and humanities through the field of Asian American studies.
    1. Assess the origins and development of Asian American studies in the social sciences and humanities beginning in the late 1960s.
      1. Understand the history of ethnic studies.
      2. Relate to early emphasis on relating intellectual understanding to community action/change.
      3. Examine perspectives, methods, and limitations of Asian American studies.
    2. Explore an interdisciplinary social sciences approach to develop an understanding of the social, cultural, and political organization of American society.
      1. Examine traditional social sciences perspectives, methods, and limitations in the study of Asian Americans.
      2. Know the interdisciplinary methods of the field include historiography, qualitative approaches,(e.g., ethnography) and quantitative approaches (e.g., statistical analysis) commonly employed in the social sciences.
    3. Evaluate the continuing interactions and dialogue among the social sciences, humanities, and Asian American studies.
  2. Evaluate the historical experiences of Asian Americans and compare racial formations with those of Americans of other ancestries (European Americans, American Indians, Latino Americans, and African Americans).
    1. Use social sciences conceptions such as comparative racialization, racial projects, intersectionality, and Blauner's distinction between voluntary and involuntary incorporation into the U.S. and compare the different racial groups' "mode of entry" and incorporation into the U.S. Consider the argument that Europeans were incorporated as "settlers," Africans as "slaves," American Indians as "savages," Mexicans as "conquered people," and Asians as "cheap labor."
    2. Identify Asian American men and women who advanced the social position of the community, or have been recognized for exceptional talents or service.
  3. Evaluate the contributions of Asian immigrants and compare with those of Americans of other ancestries.
    1. Examine the prominent economic contributions of Asian immigrants in the American West and in Hawaii during the 19th century, especially in such fields as mining, construction, railroad building, fishing, agriculture, and manufacturing.
    2. Examine the social and cultural contributions of Asian immigrants in diverse areas from philosophy to health and medical practices to food habits to sports such as judo and karate.
    3. Compare the economic, cultural, and political contributions of Asian Americans with other Americans of European, Latino, American Indian, and African ancestries.
  4. Analyze the major issues of race, class, gender and their interconnections in American society in the case of Asian immigrant labor.
    1. Analyze how organized labor displaced Asian immigrant labor in the American West.
    2. Assess the origins of domestic policies of Asian exclusion and their impact in limiting the development of Asian American communities, including Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, and Indian. Analyze the social and political dimensions of anti-miscegenation laws, gender imbalance, and the development of early Chinese and Pilipino immigrant "bachelor" societies.
    3. Examine the international context of Japanese exclusion and how "picture brides" allowed early Japanese immigrants to produce a large native-born generation.
  5. Compare the structural (economic, social, and political) and ideological underpinnings of U.S. society from Asian exclusion to the Civil Rights Movement.
    1. Assess the impact of an Eurocentric American society in the promotion of racial antagonism towards Asian immigrants as reflected in:
      1. Aware of the Anti-Chinese Movement of the 1870s
      2. Aware of the Anti-Japanese Movement of the 1910s
      3. Aware of the Anti-Pilipino Movement of the 1930s.
      4. Compare White racial antagonism towards Asian immigrants with that directed against other ethnic and minority groups.
      5. Evaluate the respective roles of elected officials, the mass media, and nativist organizations.
    2. Assess the role of economic competition between Asian immigrants and other Americans as a factor in anti-Asian movements.
      1. Examine the anti-Asian stance of the nascent labor union movement.
      2. Aware of economic opportunism in the internment of Japanese Americans during World War Two.
    3. Assess the role of politics in the anti-Asian movements given the lack of political rights among Asian Americans during this period.
      1. Examine the social status and legal rights of Asian Americans as defined by legislation.
      2. Examine landmark court cases such as George Hall v People (1852).
    4. Identify and assess Asian American community responses to their experiences of subordination, exclusion, and marginalization, including evaluation on community survival strategies.
      1. Accommodation
      2. Self-isolation
      3. Subversion
      4. Resistance
      5. Assimilation
    5. Evaluate the legal responses of Asian American communities during the period of exclusion, such as the U.S. Supreme Court cases of Hirabayashi, Korematsu, Yasui, challenging the constitutionality of the Japanese American internment.
    6. Examine economic, social, and political changes in U.S. society from World War II to the Civil Rights Movement period and how these changes affected Asian Americans, such as the problematic perception of Asian Americans as a "model minority".
  6. Appraise the impact of international relations on domestic policies affecting Asian Americans, especially in the case of World War II.
    1. Assess the domestic treatment of Chinese and Pilipino immigrants in light of America's expansionist policy in Asia prior to World War Two.
    2. Evaluate the extent that a relatively stronger Japan was able to advocate for better treatment of Japanese immigrants.
    3. Assess the importance of China as an American ally in Congress' repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act during World War II.
    4. Compare the impact of American involvement in World War II and the Korean War and their respective impact on different Asian American communities.
  7. Assess the Asian American Movement and immigration reform from the Civil Rights era.
    1. Analyze the social and political origins of the Asian American movement as an offshoot of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
    2. Evaluate the social and historical conditions contributing to the development of a pan-Asian identity and the development of a self-conscious Asian American community.
    3. Analyze the changing race relations and social position of Asian Americans since the Civil Rights Movement and the passage of the 1965 immigration reform.
  8. Apply themes and concepts from Asian American historical experience to understand contemporary issues.
    1. Apply analysis of economic and political factors in understanding racial antagonism today.
    2. Identify Asian American responses to historical circumstances and relate to current Asian American issues.
  9. Explore issues related to personal development and empowerment by drawing upon historical and contemporary Asian American experiences.
    1. Share personal experiences and be able to connect them to a historical and contemporary societal context.
    2. Explore personal development issues such as self-esteem, confidence, and success-- in relation to education, career, and life in general.
    3. Practice interpersonal skills, teamwork, and personal accountability.
    4. Develop abilities in critical thinking, self-expression, decision-making, and leadership.
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