Welcome from the Director

Larry Shinagawa

People of Asian and Pacific Islander ancestry make up more than half of the world's population and more than five percent of the United States population. In our increasingly interdependent world, most of us interact with Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) as business partners, professional colleagues, teammates, family members and friends.

Yet many people, including many APAs, do not understand the rich diversity of cultures found in a Census category that includes people from more than 30 Asian and 25 Pacific Islander groups. That is why the Asian American Studies Program (AAST) offers both an undergraduate certificate and undergraduate minor for students who wish to develop a specialization in Asian American Studies alongside their major degree pursuits, whether in business, the sciences, or liberal arts.

History, sociology, politics, film, literature, art, public policy, and more are studied in our classes. Our newest course offerings focus on Filipino Americans and South Asian Americans, but all APA groups are featured in our research and classwork.

Using interdisciplinary courses, experiential learning, and independent studies, our students learn about the many APA communities in the D.C. metro area and nationwide. Field trips, distinguished guest speakers, and oral history projects, like the one we currently are doing with the Smithsonian Institution, keep our curriculum grounded in the reality of the APA experience.

Please call, email or stop by our office and ask us how you can get involved in Asian American Studies. We welcome your insights, your ideas and your participation.

Sincerely,