Mission Statement
Department of Asian and Asian American Studies
Mission Statement
The Department of Asian and Asian American Studies enables students to: (1) explore Asian civilizations and societies from an interdisciplinary perspective; (2) investigate the nature of Asian Pacific migration and the Asian American and Pacific Islander experiences in the United States from a transnational perspective; (3) integrate the study of Asian and Pacific peoples across the Pacific with that of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the United States; and (4) provide linguistic and cultural training in Asian languages and language-related areas. The department’s concentration of expertise provides a nationally unique program designed to enrich students’ learning processes and broaden their horizons.
Department Learning Objectives
- Global Awareness – By learning Asian Languages, students develop respect and openness to those whose culture, religion, and views on the world may be different. Asian language students are able to interact with people of Asian heritage in order to discuss issues and reach solutions.
- Collaboration – Students as collaborators learn from and work cooperatively across cultures with global team members, sharing responsibility and making necessary compromises while working toward a common goal.
- Critical Thinking Skills and Problem Solving – Students as inquirers frame, analyze, and synthesize information as a well as negotiate meaning across languages and cultures in order to explore problems and issues from their own and different perspectives.
- Communication – Students will be well prepared with communication skills to successfully join the workforce of California and the world or to pursue advanced study.
- Technology Literacy – Students as productive global citizens use appropriate technologies when interpreting messages, interacting with others, and to present information, concepts and ideas.