Frequently Asked Questions
What is Asian Pacific American (APA) Studies?
- APA Studies focuses on the experiences, both past and present, of people of the Asian and Pacific Islander descent (Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Hmong, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, South Asian, Samoan, etc.) in the U.S.
What is the specialization and how will it benefit me?
- A specialization is a program of courses that students elect to take in addition to heir major. Once completed, it will appear on your MSU transcript.
- Completion of the APA studies Specialization prepares students for graduate work in Asian American Studies, and demonstrates to potential employers an awareness of racial and cultural diversity. The specialization will also benefit students who wish to learn more about the history and cultures of Asian American communities.
How is this specialization different from Asian Studies?
- Asian Studies focuses on countries in Asia, as oppose to Asian immigrants and people o Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the U.S.
- If you are more interested in courses such as Asian languages, Asian history, or Asian literature, you may wish to look into the Asian Studies Specialization (http://www.isp.msu.edu/asianstudies/undergrad.htm)
How many courses/credits are required to complete the specialization?
- Only 6 courses are required to complete the specialization.
- The specialization requires 17-23 credits to complete (most courses are 3 credits, however some optional courses are 4 or 5 credits).
How will I fit the required courses into my busy schedule?
- The specialization is designed to be flexible, to accommodate a variety of majors and schedules.
- If you plan in advance, you will find that many of the courses can also be used to fill general ed or major requirements (in other words, they are courses you may have to take anyway).
How do I sign up?
-To sign up for the specialization, please contact Dr. Andrea Louie (louie@msu.edu) or Dr. Joe Cousins (jcousins@msu.edu).
- We will be happy to meet with you to advise you on courses to take, and to enroll you in the specialization.