Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
ASAMD010.
Course Title (CB02)
Contemporary Asian American Communities
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 the experiences of various Asian cultural groups in America. The commonalities and uniqueness of Chinese Americans, Vietnamese Americans, Filipino Americans, Indian Americans, Japanese Americans, Korean Americans, as well as other Asian American groups, will be examined with a focus on processes and consequences of racialization. New perspectives on such issues as historical legacies, stereotypes and profiling, cultural identity, generational change, occupational challenges, community advocacy, and empowerment will be gained.
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 the fulfillment of the Intercultural A.A. degree. This course is UC and CSU transferable. This course focuses on contemporary issues to inform students of the state of race relations and other important community issues that impact their local communities.

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 D022.)

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

Field observation and field trips

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Assignments

  1. Reading
    1. Read supplemental assignments.
    2. Read textbook assignments.
  2. Writing
    1. Write papers such as an analysis of a contemporary Asian American issue, personal reflections, a report, an advocacy letter.
    2. Other writing requirements will include written portions of midterm, final exam, or group project.
  3. Participation in Asian American community event and/or research of a current Asian American community social issue for writing assignment.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. A final exam with essay questions discussing content from lectures and readings to evaluate the student's ability to analyze major issues.
  2. Analytical essays of community experiences to evaluate ability to reflect and analyze.
  3. A major group research project requiring substantial research of an Asian American contemporary 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 a significant 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
Dhingra, Pawan & Robyn Magalit Rodriguez. Asian America: Sociological and Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 2nd Edition. Polity Press, 2021.
Lori Kido Lopez, Asian American Media Activism, New York Univesity Press, 2016.
Cathy J. Schlund-Vials, Linda Trinh, Kevin Scott Wong, editors, Keywords for Asian American Studies, New York University Press, 2015.
Flashpoints for Asian American Studies, Edited by Cathy Schlund-Vials. Fordham Universoty Press, 2017.
Zhou, Min and Anthony Ocampo. Contemporary Asian America: A Multidisciplinary Reader. Third Edition. New York: New York University Press, 2016

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Aoki, Andrew and Okiyoshi Takeda. Asian American Politics. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2008.
Ling, Huping. Asian America: Forming New Communities, Expanding Boundaries. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2009.
Chan, Sucheng. In Defense of Asian American Studies: The Politics of Teaching and Program Building. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2005.
Chan, Sucheng. Vietnamese Americans 1.5 Generations: Stories of War, Revolution, Flight and New Beginnings. Temple University Press, 2006.
Espiritu, Yen Le. Asian American Panethnicity: Bridging Institutions and Identities. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1992.
Fong, Timothy. Contemporary Asian American Experience: Beyond the Model Minority. New York: Prentice Hall, 2009.
Hsu, Madeline. The Good Immigrants: How the Yellow Peril Became the Model Minority. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2015.
Lee, Jennifer and Min Zhou. The Asian American Achievement Paradox. New York: The Russell Sage Foundation, 2015.
Lee, Robert. Orientals: Asian Americans in popular culture, Asian American history and culture. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1999.
Lien, Pei-te. The making of Asian America through political participation. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2001.
Louie, Steve, and Glenn Omatsu. Asian Americans: The Movement and the Moment. Los Angeles: UCLA Asian American Studies Center Press, 2001.
Maeda, Daryl. Rethinking the Asian American Movement. New York: Routledge, 2012
Maramba, Dina and Rick Bonus, eds. The "Other" Students: Filipino Americans, Education, and Power. Information Age Publishing, 2013.
Min, Pyong Gap, ed. Asian Americans: Contemporary Trends and Issues. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press, 2006.
Nakanishi, Don T., and James S. Lai. Asian American politics: law, participation, and policy, The spectrum series. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 2003.
Ong, Paul, ed. The State of Asian America: Trajectory of Civic and Political Engagement. A Public Policy Report. Los Angeles: Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, 2008.
Oren, Tasha, Shilpa Dave, and Leilani Nishime, eds. Global Asian American Popular Cultures. New York: New York University Press, 2016.
Tewari, Nita and Alvin Alvarez,eds. Asian American Psychology: Current Perspectives. New York: Psychology Press, 2009.
Wu, Frank. Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White. New York: Basic Books, 2002.
Zia, Helen. Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of An American People. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2000.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Explore the social sciences through the field of Asian American studies.
  • Assess the historical context of inequalities faced by Asian immigrants to derive a critical understanding of contemporary anti-Asian racism, racial relationality and racial formations after the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
  • Appraise as political, social, and cultural constructions the origins of the Asian American movement, the formation of an Asian American identity and community, the introduction of Asian American studies.
  • Analyze perennial issues facing minority groups using the case of Asian Americans: Stereotypes, occupational barriers and glass ceilings, political empowerment, lack of social services, youth problems, anti-Asian sentiment, backlash, and hate crimes.
  • Assess the development of the Asian American community from a global perspective, especially the impact of post-1965 immigration law changes.
  • Evaluate the changing structure of Asian American families, redefinition of gender roles, and activism related to Asian American women.
  • Evaluate current media issues related to Asian Americans and the effectiveness of community responses.
  • Explore issues related to personal development and empowerment by drawing upon contemporary Asian American experiences.

CSLOs

  • Analyze significant issues and events in the contemporary Asian American Pacific Islander community, with an awareness of Asian American history.

  • Research a significant issue related to contemporary Asian American Pacific Islander community.

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

Outline

  1. Explore the social sciences through the field of Asian American studies.
    1. Assess the origins and development of Asian American studies as a "new" social science started in the late-1960s, especially its emphasis on an ethnic perspective and community service. Evaluate the role of the community in initiating Asian American studies, and its emphasis on addressing issues with direct implications for community improvement. Examine perspectives, methods, and limitations of Asian American studies.
    2. Introduce an interdisciplinary social science approach to develop an understanding of the social-political organization of U.S. society. Examine traditional social science perspectives, methods, and limitations for the study of Asian Americans.
    3. Evaluate the continuing interactions and dialogue between the traditional social sciences and the newer interdisciplinary Asian American studies.
  2. Assess the historical context of inequalities faced by Asian immigrants to derive a critical understanding of contemporary anti-Asian racism, racial relationality and racial formations after the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.
    1. Summarize the history of unequal laws affecting Asian Americans, especially during the period of Asian exclusion from the 1870s to World War Two.
    2. Compare the history of Asian Americans "cheap labor" with other "minorities of color" such as African Americans "slaves", Latino Americans "conquered people", and Native Indians "savages".
    3. Assess the changing global and domestic conditions of the post-World War Two period preceding the Civil Rights Movement.
    4. Analyze the vexed and changing racialized position of Asian Americans since the Civil Rights Movement, especially in relation to other racial groups.
  3. Appraise as political, social, and cultural constructions the origins of the Asian American movement, the formation of an Asian American identity and community, the introduction of Asian American studies.
    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. Appraise the demographic profile of the Asian American community today.
    4. Assess the social and political development of Asian American community-based organizations.
    5. Assess the development of Asian American culture as manifested in literature, music, art, theatre, and film.
  4. Analyze perennial issues facing minority groups using the case of Asian Americans: Stereotypes, occupational barriers and glass ceilings, political empowerment, lack of social services, youth problems, anti-Asian sentiment, backlash, and hate crimes.
    1. Analyze media portrayals of Asian Americans and the Model Minority Myth.
    2. Assess Asian American opportunities and inequalities through economic phenomena such as labor market segmentation, a polarized occupational structure, and glass ceiling challenges in job promotion.
    3. Analyze Asian American participation in electoral politics and challenges to political empowerment.
    4. Assess social services available to Asian Americans in such areas as health services, youth services, elderly services, occupational training, community advocacy.
  5. Assess the development of the Asian American community from a global perspective, especially the impact of post-1965 immigration law changes.
    1. Analyze the social and political context of the 1965 Immigration Act which resulted in record levels of contemporary immigration from Asia.
    2. Analyze the impact of contemporary immigration on the Asian American community, from war refugees to elite immigrants from thriving Asian economies.
  6. Evaluate the changing structure of Asian American families, redefinition of gender roles, and activism related to Asian American women.
    1. Evaluate the role of the family in social and economic adaptation among Asian Americans.
    2. Identify the various social stresses affecting the changing Asian American family.
    3. Assess the changes in gender roles and gender expectations.
    4. Assess women's issues in the different areas of Asian American studies, social advocacy, and community services.
  7. Evaluate current media issues related to Asian Americans and the effectiveness of community responses.
    1. Historical images from Hollywood, news media, and popular culture.
    2. Contemporary images from Hollywood, news media, and popular culture.
  8. Explore issues related to personal development and empowerment by drawing upon 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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