Asia, Pacific, and Diaspora Studies (BA)

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Offered by the Department of Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies , College of Arts and Sciences , the Asia, Pacific and Diaspora Studies (BA) is dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of Asia and the Pacific, as well as their diasporic communities in a dynamic global context. Students critically examine historical and contemporary formations of global culture by extensive and intensive study of people, cultures, and ideas that move in and across Asia, the Pacific, and their diasporic communities spanning the Americas and beyond. Students explore the history and legacies of imperialism, colonialism, as well as gender/sexuality, class, and ethnicity/racial relations within and across local, national, and global frameworks. The program offers a lively academic study through interdisciplinary curriculum, internships, international exchange programs, and study abroad.

Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major requires a grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) and the approval of the program director.

University Requirements

120 credit hours with minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 2 )
Completion of all requirements for a major (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 9 )

AU Core Requirements

Completion of AU Core foundation requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.2-8.6 )
Completion of AU Core Habits of Mind requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.7 )
Completion of AU Core integrative course requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.8-8.11 )

For additional information, see AU Core Curriculum .

Major Requirements

36 credit hours with grades of C or better, including at least 18 credit hours at or above 300-level

Course Requirements

Foundation (9 credit hours)

Complete 9 credit hours from the following with at least 3 credit hours from each area:

Asia

Pacific and Diaspora

Concentration (9 credit hours)

Complete 9 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill Foundation, or other coursework approved by the program director:

Knowledge and Power (3 credit hours)

CRGC-360 Knowledge and Power: Critical Interdisciplinary Theory and Method (3)

Interdisciplinary Electives (12 credit hours)

Complete 12 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill Concentration, or other coursework approved by the major advisor:

Capstone (3 credit hours)

CRGC-460 Capstone Research Seminar (3)

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Admission to a Combined Bachelor’s / Master’s Program and Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for more information.