Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
ASAMD012.
Course Title (CB02)
Asian Americans and American Ideals, Institutions and Politics
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
A survey of the historical and contemporary political experiences of Asian Americans and their pursuits for immigration, equality, citizenship, political identity, racial justice, homeland independence, cross-racial/ethnic coalition-building and incorporation into the U.S. political system will be covered in this course.
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 fulfill the Certificate of Achievement in Asian American Studies. This course is UC and CSU transferable. It is a course that applies an interdisciplinary lens to the intersection between American politics and policy issues and the impact and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.

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

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

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 political and institutional experiences.
    2. Other writing requirements will include written portions in either midterm or final exam.
    3. A group and/or individual research project(s) related to Asian American historical, political and/or policy issues.

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 to evaluate ability to discuss significant issues related to Asian American politics or other course themes.
  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
Nakanishi, Don, and James Lai. Eds. 2003. Asian American Politics: Law, Participation, and Policy. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Chang, Gordon. Ed. 2001. Asian Americans and Politics: Perspectives, Experiences, Prospects. Woodrow Wilson Center Press and Stanford University Press. (Chang)
Ancheta, Angelo. 2006. Race, Rights and the Asian American Experience. Rutgers University Press. 2nd Edition.
Aoki, Andrew and Takeda, Okiyoshi. Asian American Politics. Polity: 2009.
Lien, Pei-te. 2001. The Making of Asian America Through Political Participation. Temple University Press.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Zia, Helen. 2000. Asian American Dreams. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
Wu, Frank. 2002. Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White. New York: Basic Books.
Takaki, Ronald. 1989. Strangers from a Different Shore. Boston: Little, Brown.
Liu, Eric. 1998. The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker. New York: Random House.
Chang, Michael. 2004. Racial Politics in an Era of Transnational Citizenship. Lexington Books.
Lien, Pei-te, M. Margaret Conway, and Janelle Wong. 2004. The Politics of Asian Americans: Diversity and Community. Routledge.
Louie, Steve, and Glen Omatu. Eds. 2001. Asian Americans: The Movement and the Moment. UCLA Studies Center Press.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Examine social sciences and humanities through the field of Asian American studies.
  • Evaluate the historical experiences of Asian Americans and compare with those of Americans of other ancestries (European Americans, American Indians, Latino Americans, and African Americans).
  • Evaluate the experiences and contributions of Asian immigrants and compare with those of Americans of other ancestries.
  • Examine early Asian American history and the struggle for legal rights and recognition.
  • Evaluate the period of incorporation of Asian Americans post-1965 into mainstream U.S. political culture.
  • Examine Asian Americans in mainstream American politics.
  • Examine contemporary political/policy issues in Asian American community.

CSLOs

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

  • Research a significant issue related to Asian Americans and government and politics.

  • Awareness and engagement through an Asian Pacific American community and politics activity.

Outline

  1. Examine social sciences and humanities through the field of Asian American studies.
    1. Assess the origins and development of Asian American studies in the social science and humanities beginning in the late 1960s.
      1. The history of ethnic studies.
      2. Emphasis on community action.
      3. Examine perspectives, methods, and limitations of Asian American studies.
    2. Introduce an interdisciplinary social science approach to develop an understanding of the social, cultural, and political organization of American society.
      1. Examine traditional social science perspectives, methods, and limitations in the study of Asian Americans.
      2. The methods of the discipline include understanding historiography, various 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 with those of Americans of other ancestries (European Americans, American Indians, Latino Americans, and African Americans).
    1. Use social science conceptions such as 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 experiences and 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. Compare the economic, cultural, and political contributions of Asian Americans with other Americans of European, Latino, American Indian, and African ancestries.
  4. Examine early Asian American history and the struggle for legal rights and recognition.
    1. Investigate struggle for equality/equal protection in Supreme Court cases like Yick Wo v. Hopkins and Korematsu vs. United States.
    2. Analyze struggle for naturalization rights including cases such as Takao Ozawa vs. United States and United States vs .Bhagat Singh Thind.
    3. Analyze the impact of immigration laws on Asian Americans as a whole.
  5. Evaluate the period of incorporation of Asian Americans post-1965 into mainstream U.S. political culture.
    1. Review the 1965 immigration law and subsequent demographic and population shifts in the population as well as resulting increased empowerment.
    2. Assess the naturalization and political participation of Asian Pacific immigrants.
    3. Examine the Asian American movement and activism including Third World Strikes and development of ethnic studies departments in higher education.
  6. Examine Asian Americans in mainstream American politics.
    1. Analyze Asian Americans and voting behavior.
    2. Evaluate prospects for mobilization and pan-ethnicity within the broader community.
    3. Evaluate campaign finance scandal of 1990's and impact on Chinese Americans.
    4. Examining the case of Wen Ho Lee and enduring stereotypes and racial profiling of Asian Americans.
    5. Assess retail politics and Asian Americans: elections, campaigns, elected officials.
  7. Examine contemporary political/policy issues in Asian American community.
    1. Assess Affirmative Action policies as they relate to Asian Americans in higher education.
    2. Investigate the struggle for Japanese American redress following World War II and incarceration.
    3. Assess the phenomena of redistricting and prospects for Asian American political empowerment.
    4. Examine recent demographic changes in population.
    5. Assess contemporary prospects for empowerment and predicting the future of Asian American politics.
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