Asian American Studies

About the Department

AAS students at the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center

The Asian American Studies department emerges out of social justice struggles in solidarity with multiple oppressed communities.  It is dedicated to academic and community-based goals, including promoting learning and intellectual growth; stimulating professional development; enhancing and empowering Asian/Pacific Islander communities across local and global scales; and highlighting social, economic, political, legal, and cultural issues within existing and emerging communities to envision and effect just alternatives and social transformation.

Founded in 1990, AAS is a vibrant interdisciplinary department that offers a major/double major and minor in Asian American Studies. Many AAS graduates work in a number of diverse fields, including education, entertainment, journalism, social work, community service, business and law.  Please check out our academic program page for more information on our courses and for advisement information.

See our Archives page for more history of the department, including pictures from our events.