Department of American Studies
Department of American Studies

Minor in Asian Pacific American Studies

Are you interested in learning about Asians and Pacific Islanders in America? Are you curious about one of the fastest growing racial groups in America and how they fit into America's social landscape. If so, the APAS minor is for you. The APAS minor encompasses the following topics:

  • Asian Pacific America, encompassing peoples from East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands
  • Social, historical, political, and economic trends, both transnational and domestic American, that impact Asian Pacific Americans
  • Community-based and individually-lived Asian Pacific American experiences
  • Cultural and textual production by and about Asian Pacific Americans, such as literature, film, visual and plastic arts, digital media, music, and performance
  • A comparative basis for understanding American race relations

Affiliated Faculty

Mrinalini ChakravortyMrinalini Chakravorty
English

Sylvia ChongSylvia Chong
English and American Studies, APAS Director

Shilpa DavéShilpa Davé
American Studies and Media Studies

Sandhya ShuklaSandhya Shukla
English and American Studies

Requirements

The APAS minor is composed of 18 credits (6 courses) drawn from an evolving list of classes in more than 8 departments. Please note that classes used for the minor cannot also double-count for your major.

  • SURVEY: one survey class in Asian Pacific American Studies, such as
    • AMST 3180 / ENGL 3740, Introduction to Asian American Studies
    • ANTH 2610, offered occasionally
  • THEORY/COMPARATIVE: one class on EITHER theories of race and identity, OR on a comparative racial formation:
    • ex: SOC 3410, Race and Ethnic Relations
    • ANTH 2259, Nationalism, Racism, Multiculturalism
    • PLPT 3020/3030, Modern/Contemporary Political Thought
    • SWAG 3810, Feminist Theory
    • AAS 2010 / 2020, Intro to African American and African Studies I / II
    • AMST 3300, Intro to Latinx Studies
    • AMST 3280 / ANTH 2559, Intro to Native American Studies
  • TRANSNATIONAL/DIASPORA: one class on modern (not ancient or classical) Asia
    • most classes that cover 19th/20th/21st centuries in EAST, HIEA, HISA, JPTR, CHTR, SATR, SAST, PLCP, ANTH, or SOC
  • ELECTIVES: three electives drawn from a shifting set of offerings, including but not limited to:
    • AMST 2001, Intro to American Studies
    • AMST 3500 / MDST 3505, Asian American Media Cultures
    • AMST 3630 / ENGL 3924, Vietnam War in Literature and Film
    • AMST 4500 / ENGL 4580, Race in American Places
    • AMST 4500  / ENGL 4580, Critical Race Theory
    • AMST 4500 / ENGL 4560, Post 9/11 American Literature and Culture
    • AMST 4410, Censorship
    • ENGL 4560, Contemporary Women’s Texts
    • ENGL 4561, Modern Love in the U.S.
    • MDST 3407, Racial Borders and American Cinema

Courses that can be used for the APAS minor change every semester, so please consult with the APAS director if you have any questions about previous semester's courses, or any classes not listed here.

Minor Declaration Form

Generally, we prefer that you consult with the current APAS director before you declare, to discuss your course history and course registration plans, as APAS is an interdisciplinary minor and our available course offerings differ drastically from year to year.

To officially declare the APAS minor with the Registrar, please use the general Minor Declaration Form, and follow the instructions included on this document. 

Is there a Major in Asian Pacific American Studies?

At the moment, there is no major in APAS. However, almost all APAS courses count towards American Studies, which allows you to focus on a broad set of classes on race and ethnicity in the U.S. (The only APAS classes that are not part of AMST are the Transnational/Diaspora classes that focus solely on Asia.)

Contact Information

Sylvia Chong
Associate Professor, English and American Studies
Director, Asian Pacific American Studies Minor
108 Bryan Hall
P.O. Box 400121
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4121
schong@virginia.edu