001 LEC , 11:15 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. , Tu,Th (09/02/2008 - 12/10/2008) ,
BlegH 130 , TCWESTBANK
Meets with: GLOS 3900 section 001, AAS 3920 section 001

Instructor: Swartz,Teresa Toguchi

Grading basis/credits: 3 credit(s), max credits 6

Prereq: [1001, [soph or above]] or instr consent ; soc majors/minors must register A-F

Description: Using sociological data and theory, this course will explore the experiences of Asian Americans. It starts by looking at the experiences of second generation Asian American young adults in order to consider questions about who is viewed as American and the ways in which Asian Americans complicate the racial landscape of the contemporary United States. In this unit we will discuss theories of immigration, identity formation and assimilation. To place these experiences within a broader historical, structural, and cultural context the second unit will overview the history of Asians and Asian Americans in the United States, and will examine the demographics of Asian Americans in the post-1965 period. Here we will explore the diversity of Asian American communities and families, highlighting ethnic, cultural, gender, generation and class variations. The course will then consider the experience of Asian Americans in institutions such as education, media and other popular cultural forms, the economy, and politics. In the final unit of the class, students will apply these theories and data to understanding two specific cases with particular relevance for Minnesota: Hmong immigrant experiences and transnational adoption. Class time will be a mix of lecture, discussion, multimedia, small group work and in-class exercises. The major course assignment will involve students choosing to engage in a semester long community service-learning project with an organization that works with Asian Americans or another research based project on an issue relevant to the course. This course can be applied to the Asian American Studies minor.

Class Time: 40% Lecture, 10% Film/Video, 20% Discussion, 15% Small Group Activities, 10% Student Presentation, 5% Guest Speakers.

Work Load: 50-80 pages reading per week, 2 papers, 2 presentations, 1 special projects, 10 homework assignments, 3 quizzes.

Grade: 20% reports/papers, 25% special projects, 35% quizzes, 10% written homework, 10% class participation.