Asian American Studies

Faculty

LEI X. OUYANG, Chair of the Music Program in the Department of Music and Dance and Associate Professor of Music, Swarthmore College
SHU-WEN WANG, Associate Professor and Chair of Psychology, Haverford College; Co-Director of Asian American Studies

BAKIRATHI MANI, Professor, Department of English Literature, Swarthmore College; Co-Director of Asian American Studies³
HEEJUNG PARK, Associate Professor of Psychology, Bryn Mawr College
VIVIAN TRUONG, Assistant Professor of History, Swarthmore College
GINA VELASCO, Associate Professor and Director of Gender and Sexuality Studies, Haverford College

CHERYL SHARP, Administrative Coordinator

³Absent on Leave, 2023-2024.

The Academic Program

The Tri-College Asian American Studies Program enables students to think, read, and write about sociocultural issues relating to the experiences of Asian immigrants and Asian Americans in the United States today. The program centers Asian American perspectives and contextualizes Asian American experiences within the broader field of critical race and ethnic studies, including Black studies, Latinx studies, and Indigenous studies.

Our courses discuss the relation between race, ethnicity, and identity; migration and acculturation; intergroup relations; power and privilege; stereotyping and discrimination; diaspora; and globalization. Studying the experiences of Asian Americans helps students to learn more about themselves and their relationships in an increasingly multiracial and multicultural world.

Our program proudly brings together faculty, students, courses, and events across three campuses: Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr, and Haverford Colleges.

Course Minor

The interdisciplinary curriculum of Tri-College Asian American Studies is designed to help students develop an understanding of Asian American experiences, histories, and cultures. The program offers a course minor that can complement any major in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Students can minor in Asian American Studies by completing six courses across three fields during their four years at Swarthmore. The three fields include:

a) Asian American Studies “Core” Courses
These can be found in the course catalog as ASAM.

b) Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies
Select courses from BLST, EDUC, ENGL, and LALS are eligible. Additional courses may be considered for the Comparative requirement by approval of the Program Co-Director.

c) Transnational/Global Connections with Asia
Non-language courses from ASIA are eligible. Additional courses may be considered for the Global Asias requirement by approval of the Program Co-Director.

Applying for the Minor

To complete the 6 course credits necessary towards the Asian American Studies Course Minor , students should take at least 3 Asian American Studies Core Courses; at least 1 comparative race and ethnic studies course; and 1 transnational/global connections with Asia course, with 1 remaining course to be taken in either of the first 2 fields. The total 6 courses should cross over at least 2 divisions of the College. Up to 2 credits can overlap with your course major. The Program Co-Director is happy to discuss any combination of prospective courses with you.

Please note that while we encourage students to take classes across Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges to build a larger sense of Asian American Studies curricula and community, students are not required to do so. Sophomores interested in minoring in Asian American Studies are especially encouraged to contact the Co-Director to discuss their interests in the program.

Introductory Course Recommendations

We encourage all students to begin the minor by taking an Asian American Studies Core course (listed as ASAM). We offer these courses every semester at Swarthmore and across the Tri-Colleges, and no prior knowledge of Asian American Studies is required to take these courses.

Honors Minor

Tri-College Asian American Studies does not currently offer an Honors Minor. Students who plan to complete an Honors major and are interested in a special honors minor in Asian American Studies should contact the Program Co-Director.

AP/IB Credit

No AP or IB credit is applicable towards Tri-College Asian American Studies.

Off-Campus Study and Transfer Credit

Up to 1 course taken off-campus or as a transfer student may be eligible towards the completion of the minor in Tri-College Asian American Studies.

A transfer credit course will usually count towards the Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies requirement or the Transnational/Global Connections with Asia requirement.