Asian American Studies (AAMS) offers an interdisciplinary minor which examines the diverse Asian American/Pacific Islander American experiences from historical, cultural, and political perspectives, including community development and contemporary issues. A minor in this field is becoming more important in building the cross-cultural and transnational understandings needed to be successful in 21st Century career pursuits involving the growing business, service industry, and education opportunities in Asian countries around the world. This prepares students for a variety of careers in counseling, human services, nursing, public administration, journalism, business, law and health professions, and for teaching careers in history, English political sciences, psychology, sociology and elementary education.
A minor in Asian American Studies provides students with concrete opportunities to interact with ethnically diverse members of the Asian and Asian American communities through local collaborations and the China Travel Study Abroad Program. Integrated topics include international communication skills, global leadership in education, Asian and Asian American health, issues, immigration, diaspora, and Chinese culture through literature, film, and media.
A minor in Asian American Studies requires a minimum of 15 credit hours: six hours Cultural Studies required courses plus a minimum of nine hours Cultural Studies elective and/or Social Studies elective courses. Nine of the 15 hours must be in residence, six (6) of which must be advanced. Students must have a 2.00 minimum cumulative grade point average in order to declare this minor. Students must earn a 2.00 minimum cumulative grade point average on courses attempted in the AAMS minor at the University of Houston.