The Program

The Asian & Asian American Studies Certificate provides students from all majors and backgrounds the opportunity to develop deeper understandings and critical analyses of historical and emerging political, economic, and cultural connections and intersections between Asia and the U.S., particularly as they relate to Asian Americans.

As students take courses taught in different departments related to both Asian Studies and Asian American Studies, the Certificate also gives students:

An understanding of different racial/ethnic groups & international issues, and
Interdisciplinary and multi-method research and critical analysis skills.

Both of these will give students a competitive advantage in their courses at UMass, in whatever career they enter once they graduate, and the skills to thrive in today's increasingly diverse, globalized, and transnational society and world.

Requirements

Students complete a total of 22 credits (or 8 courses) that typically involves completing:

Two required courses:

Asian Studies 312 "Bridging Asia and Asian America" (usually taken toward the beginning of their studies at UMass)
Asian Studies 491A - "Senior Seminar" (usually taken toward the end of their studies at UMass)

Two courses in Asian Studies and two courses in Asian American Studies, then choosing one of these as their area of concentration, then taking two more courses in that concentration area.

With the approval of the Program Director, students may substitute courses offered by other colleges in the Five College community or taken through study abroad. A minimum grade of C is required in all courses. No courses may be taken Pass/Fail.

For students choosing the Asian Studies concentration:

Courses must cover at least two different cultural heritages, e.g., China and Viet Nam
No more than 6 credits may be taken in any one department
No more than two language courses may count toward the 22-credit total

Students choosing the Asian American Studies concentration are required to take at least one of the following courses:

English 204, "Introduction to Asian American Literature"
History 253, "Asian-Pacific American History, 1850-Present"
Sociology 240, "The Asian American Experience"
Sociology 326, "Asian Americans in Media and Popular Culture"
Sociology 330, "Asian Americans and Inequalities"

Advising

Although no formal enrollment is required, students are urged to contact the Program Director periodically to discuss their plans for meeting requirements and to monitor their progress.

Upon successful completion of all requirements, the Program Director submits students’ names to the Registrar’s office to confirm completion of the certificate program. Students then receive a certificate suitable for framing and their official transcripts include the designation “Completed requirements for the University of Massachusetts Asian & Asian American Studies Certificate.”