← Asian American Studies (ASIANAM)

Hardest courses in Asian American Studies

Plan ahead for courses where students have earned lower grades.

Lowest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.

Find your fit

8 courses

Ranked courses have at least 100 recorded letter grades.

Introduction to the historical, sociological, anthropological, political, and cultural study of Americans of Asian ancestry. Covers Asian American history, identity ideologies, and coalitional politics.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Victor Jew

The course required significant reading and grading primarily on three mini papers and a take-home final. Some students felt the workload was excessive for a 3-credit class.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

Sociological analysis of ethnic/racial conflict and movements in the U.S., covering relations among major groups and others.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Natalia Savelyeva

A student noted that there were a lot of assignments and writing tasks in the class.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

Examines how Hmong participation in the U.S. Secret War in Laos shaped their experiences in America, focusing on social, cultural, and political self-definition and contributions to U.S. society.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Alexander Hopp

The workload involved reading a lot for weekly discussions and completing papers and a final project, though students described the material as fun and engaging.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

Special topics course covering themes in Asian American Studies such as activism, public policy, history, poverty, family, law, immigration, diaspora, refugeeism, gender, and sexuality.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Jan Miyasaki

Assessment included two exams and four reaction papers, all weighed equally, with clear rubrics and sample exam questions provided by the instructor.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2023–Fall 2025

Examines specific themes in Asian American life and culture, including comparative community analyses, history, and concerns of groups like Korean, Hmong, and Chinese Americans.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Lisa Ho

The class involves mandatory attendance and a heavy volume of reading and writing. Some students felt the workload was more intensive than typical for a three-credit course.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

Traces the role of Asia and Asians in American literature and culture, including Chinese and Japanese influences on modernism and distinct cultures produced by Asian immigrants.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Timothy YU

The class required two essays with multiple prompt options, but weekly discussion posts accounted for a significant portion of the final grade.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2025

Explores Asian-derived movement techniques and exercises in the US context, focusing on constructing and expressing ethnic and cultural identity.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Peggy Choy

Students reported that success required consistent attendance, completing required reading and video-watching, and practicing outside of class, while noting that points could be deducted for small details.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

Variable-topic course in Asian American literature emphasizing critical thinking, questioning assumptions, and participation in a multicultural society.

Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources

Past student reviews · Timothy YU

One reviewer noted they could have skipped readings, while essay expectations were described as very clear.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025