Degree Applicable
Glendale Community College
October 2013
COURSE OUTLINE
Ethnic Studies 123
Asians in America
I.
Catalog Statement
Ethnic Studies 123 is a survey course that examines the experiences of Asian American
groups (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, Korean and others) from the mid-nineteenth
century to the present. The course emphasizes these themes as it considers each
immigrant group: stereotypes, push and pull factors in immigration, labor experiences,
racism and discrimination in American society as applied to Asian Americans,
contributions of Asian Americans to American society, community life before and since
World War II, and problems of the Asian American community today.
Total Lecture Units: 3.0
Total Course Units: 3.0
Total Lecture Hours: 48.0
Total Faculty Contact Hours: 48.0
Recommended Preparation: Eligibility for English 120 or ESL 151.
II.
Course Entry Expectations
Skill Level Ranges: Reading 5, Writing 5, Listening Speaking 5, Math 1.
Prior to enrolling in the course, the student should be able to:
1. analyze short essays (approximately 2-6 pages in length) to identify thesis, topic,
developmental and concluding sentences, as well as transitional expressions used to
increase coherence;
2. evaluate compositions for unity, sufficiency of development, evidence, coherence,
and variety of sentence structure;
3. organize and write an essay which
a. addresses the topic and is directed by a thesis statement
b. has an introduction, body, and conclusion and demonstrates a basic
understanding of essay organization
c. shows some awareness of critical thinking: e.g., linkage of evidence with
assertion, some awareness of pro-con sides to an issue, ability to
compare/contrast two short readings in a focused way
d. develops ideas, moving from general to specific
e. is easy to read and follow
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III.
Course Exit Standards
Upon successful completion of the required coursework, the student will be able to:
1. demonstrate the importance of Asian Americans to the United States;
2. compare and contrast the different experiences of Asian Americans;
3. evaluate the history of the United States from Asian perspectives
4. assess the impact of the loss of an Asian American presence in United States;
5. understand the diversity created due to the presence of Asian Americans in the United
States.
IV.
Course Content
Total Faculty Contact Hours = 48 hours
A. Overview of Asian immigration, 1850 – Present
1. Patterns of Asian immigration
2. Reception of Asians in America; stereotyping
3. Official national policy, state response
4. Institutional and subtle forms of racism; discrimination and prejudice
5. Contributions of Asian Americans
6. Contemporary Issues
3 hours
B. Chinese Americans
1. Factors causing immigration
2. Chinese American laborers in Hawaii in 19th century
3. Chinese Americans on the U.S. mainland in 19th century
4. The building of the American west; the Chinese American contributions
5. Anti-Chinese movement; violence, harassment, legal discrimination
6. Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and its extensions
7. Chinatowns: American ghettos
8. Chinese community organizations
9. Impact of 1965 U.S. Immigration Act on the Chinese community
10. Chinese community today
8 hours
C. Japanese Americans
1. Factors causing immigration
2. Japanese Americans in Hawaii in 19th century to 1907
3. Immigration to mainland U.S.
4. Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1907
5. Discrimination and prejudice in California
6. Contributions to California agriculture, fishing
7. The Immigration Act of 1924, end of Japanese immigration
8. Community life and organization
9. The camp experience in World War II and its post war effects
10. Japanese community today
8 hours
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D. Filipino Americans
8 hours
1. May 1, 1898: The Philippines become an American colony
2. Filipino laborers recruited to work in Hawaii
3. Filipino farm labor movement in the U.S. in 1920’s and 1930’s
4. Exclusion and repatriation attempts
5. Anti-Filipino violence, harassment and discrimination
6. Contributions to agriculture
7. Filipino Americans, 1946 – 1965, the 1965 immigration law
8. The new immigrants, contemporary issues
9. Filipino community today
10. Organizational life and structure within the Filipino community in southern
California
E. Korean Americans
8 hours
1. Korea-Hermit Kingdom
2. Korean laborers immigration to Hawaii in 19th century
3. Korea becomes part of Japanese empire; implications for Korean immigration
4. Korean independence movement in U.S.; Syngman Rhee
5. Korea becomes independent; Korean immigration, 1945-1965
6. 1965 Immigration law and subsequent large-scale Korean immigration
7. Contemporary issues within the Korean community
V.
F. Other Asian American Groups
1. Indochinese
2. East Indians
3. Samoans
4. Pacific Islanders
4 hours
G. Fitting into American Culture
1. Putting culture shock in perspective
2. Modernization of traditional values
3. Systematic learning of the host culture
4. Bicultural competence vs. assimilation
5. Synthesizing the old with the new
6. Under-adaptation/over-adaptation
7. Retaining human elements with those which are culturally unique
8. Opportunity of combining East and West
9 hours
Methods of Instruction
The following methods of instruction may be used in the course:
1. lecture and discussion;
2. multi-media presentations;
3. guest speakers.
VI.
Out of Class Assignments
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The following out of class assignments may be used in the course:
1. research paper using primary sources;
2. class readings;
3. class presentations (e.g. using themes discussed in class, and primary sources, create a
presentation that effectively demonstrates either the struggles or the autonomy of the
Asian American community).
VII.
Methods of Evaluation
The following methods of evaluation may be used in the course:
1. three to five examinations and a final examination to demonstrate course exit
standards;
2. class participation;
3. class presentations.
VIII. Textbook(s)
Zia, Helen. Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People. New
York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2000. Print or Electronic.
13th Grade Textbook Reading Level. ISBN #: 0374527369.
Shen Wu, Jean Yu-Wen, ed. Asian American Studies Now: A Critical Reader. New
Brunswick: Rutgers University Press. 2010. Print.
13th Grade Textbook Reading Level. ISBN #: 0813545757.
IX.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. understand U.S. history from an Asian American perspective;
2. construct an argument using supportive and appropriate sources;
3. identify and critique various political, economic, and social forces that have been key
to the Asian American community and its development within the United States.