Asian American Studies

A total of 11 graduate and upper division courses (44 units) are required for the degree. Of the 11 courses, eight (32 units) must be graduate level (200- or 500- series). The required course work is outlined below:

1) Four required core courses are Asian American Studies 200A, 200B, 200C, 200D. Core courses must be completed during the first year. Students may only take a core course during the second year with the approval of the graduate faculty adviser.

2) Three breadth 200-level courses taken outside the department. The purpose of breadth courses is to expose students to disciplines outside of Asian American studies that complement their focus or foci of study. Breadth courses should be chosen in consultation with the faculty adviser.

3) Four elective courses (at least one must be a graduate-level course and the other three courses may be graduate or upper division undergraduate courses). Elective courses should be selected to give students additional training in a discipline or a greater understanding of a particular topic. Only two courses in the 500-series may be applied toward the four elective courses and only one of the two may be applied toward the required eight graduate courses. Elective courses should be chosen in consultation with the faculty adviser.

Asian American Studies, M.A. /Public Health, M.P.H.

A maximum of 12 units of course work in Public Health may be applied toward both the M.A. in Asian American studies and the M.P.H.

Asian American Studies, M.A./Social Welfare, M.S.W.

A maximum of eight units of course work in Social Welfare may be applied toward both the M.A. in Asian American studies and the M.S.W.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Option A (Comprehensive Examination). The M.A. degree may be completed through a written comprehensive examination. This examination is administered by a committee consisting of three faculty members chosen by the student. At least two faculty members need to be those who have taught the core series. The third may be chosen by the student in consultation with the faculty adviser. Requirements of the exam option include the following components: (1) designing three original syllabi with accompanying narratives that rationalize the course designs, (2) compiling a comprehensive annotated bibliography based on the content of the three courses, and (3) taking an oral examination based on (1) and (2). The examination is normally offered during the Spring Quarter. Students must notify the student affairs officer of their intention to take the written examination at least one academic quarter before the exam. Students are given two opportunities to pass the examination. Academic credit for examination preparation is given through Asian American Studies 597.

Option B (Individual Project). This option is intended to provide the opportunity to design, research, and complete a creative project (e.g., short-story or poetry collection, art installation, mural, documentary video, film, performance, website, or play script) with significance regarding some aspect of the historical or contemporary experiences of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. A written essay accompanies the creative project. The written essay shall discuss and expound on the theoretical framework, research analysis, and social context of the topics of the creative project, as directed by the faculty committee. This required essay component, as well as any additional accompanying documents of the creative project (e.g., digital versatile/video discs, recordings, typed descriptions), shall be filed with the department. At the beginning of fall quarter of the second year in residence, students are required to constitute a committee of three faculty members and are expected to submit project plans and timetables for approval. After approval and completion of the creative project, the committee conducts an oral examination on its subject, usually in the spring quarter of the second year. Academic credit for the individual project is given through Asian American Studies 597.

Thesis Plan

Option A (Thesis). The thesis is intended to provide the opportunity for independent scholarly research on the historical and contemporary experiences of the Asian American population and should be an original contribution to the field. It should be the length and quality of a publishable journal article. At the beginning of the fall quarter of the second year in residence, students are required to officially nominate a master’s committee of three faculty members through the Graduate Division and are expected to submit plans of research for approval. After approval and completion of the thesis, the committee conducts an oral examination on its subject, usually in the spring quarter of the second year. The approved thesis must be typed and filed according to university regulations governing thesis preparation. Academic credit for thesis research and preparation is given through Asian American Studies 598.

Option B (Field Research Thesis). A field research thesis is recommended for students who are interested in the practical application of what they have learned in their graduate course work or who intend to pursue careers with Asian American community organizations and agencies. At the beginning of fall quarter of the second year in residence, students are required to officially nominate a master’s committee of three faculty members. Nomination of master’s committee is done through the Graduate Division. A chief administrative officer of a client community organization may serve as an unofficial and non-appointed consultant, in which case the officer would not sign the thesis. After the thesis is completed, the committee conducts an oral examination on the written report of the thesis, usually in spring quarter of the student's second year. The approved thesis report must be typed and filed according to university regulations governing thesis preparation. Academic credit for field research is given through course Asian American Studies 598.

Time-to-Degree

The M.A. degree is designed as a two-year program of study. Following admission, an average of six quarters in residence are required to complete degree requirements, assuming no deficiencies need to be addressed through remedial courses outside of regular requirements (e.g., English 33 for international students with an English language deficiency). Course work should be completed during the first four quarters of study. Students should complete the thesis or capstone by the sixth quarter of residency.

MAXIMUM TTD

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

The academic adviser may recommend termination for failure to maintain specified required progress toward the degree, failure of the oral examination, or failure to submit an acceptable thesis. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the full departmental committee.

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