Why Major in Asian American Studies?
The Department of Asian American Studies at UCSB is the first autonomous academic department in the United States devoted to the study of Asian Americans and Asian immigrants. As an interdisciplinary major, we offer students the opportunity to learn about Asian Americans from perspectives in both the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Our faculty come from a variety of backgrounds, including history, law, psychology, anthropology, art, literature, and media studies. Students in our program benefit from faculty who are committed to teaching and advising, while helping students explore careers in education, law, business, social work, and more.
To learn more about our program, please send an email to asamst-advisor@ucsb.edu
To speak with the undergrad advisor over the summer, appointments are encouraged. In-person and Zoom appointments are available Monday through Friday. Please email asamst-advisor@ucsb.edu to schedule an appointment.
Major & Minor Requirements
2025-2026 Asian American Studies Major Requirements
2025-2026 Asian American Studies Minor Requirements
Please note that a student's major or minor requirements will be based on the academic/catalog year in which they declared their degree.
To view a description of our courses, please review the UCSB Course Catalog.
To declare the major or minor, please email asamst-advisor@ucsb.edu to file a petition.
GEs in Asian American Studies
Please find the lists below regarding which Asian American Studies classes also count towards UCSB's General Education Requirements.
Advising
Why should I contact my advisor?
There are many areas the advisor can help with! We can assist with questions about the major or minor, AS AM courses that fulfill GE requirements, long-range planning of academic progress, studying abroad, career and academic goals, getting connected with University resources, etc.
How do I contact the advisor?
Email the advisor at asamst-advisor@ucsb.edu.
Please include your name and perm number. Note that due to student privacy laws, we do not send student information to personal emails. Be sure to email from your UCSB email address!
Please allow at least one full business day to receive a response to your email, and sometimes longer during busy times of the quarter (such as the beginning of the quarter).
How do I schedule an appointment?
Both remote (Zoom) and in-person advising are available! To meet with an advisor, schedule an via email. In-person advising is available Monday through Friday at HSSB 5044.
Can I drop in without an appointment?
Of course! While appointments guarantee your meeting time, they are not mandatory. Drop-in hours are from 9 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. Our department office is located at HSSB 5044.
I'm interested in joining the major or minor!
If you would like to join the minor, please download fill out the following form and email it to asamst-advisor@ucsb.edu.
If you would like to join the major, you will find the Change of Major form here on the Letters and Science Advising Website. Please complete this form and email it to asamst-advisor@ucsb.edu. Please note that the process of being officially added to the major can take a couple of weeks.
What if I am a double major?
You will still fill out the same Change of Major form. However, there is another form called the Memo of Understanding, which you can find here. The Memo of Undertstanding is a form in which you map out your academic progress and attest that you understand the requirements for both of your proposed majors. This form must be submitted along with the Change of Major form.
