Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Spring 5-1-2009
Capstone Advisor
Dennis Kinsey, Ph.D
Honors Reader
Tae-Sun Kim, Ph.D
Capstone Major
Public Relations
Capstone College
Public Communications
Audio/Visual Component
no
Capstone Prize Winner
no
Won Capstone Funding
no
Honors Categories
Professional
Subject Categories
Public Relations and Advertising
Abstract
We now live in a globalizing society. It is important to understand the world around us and the history that gives us the present. As the United States is often deemed “the melting pot” of cultures, it is essential for its citizens and residents to understand the cultures that make up this country. It is, therefore, more of an obligation than a privilege for institutions of higher education to have the resources and means of teaching its students, or future leaders, about the society they live in.
So why Asian and Asian American studies? By 2020, the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population in the U.S. is expected to reach 20 million. Asian American experiences in particular have shaped a large part of American history and currently play a huge role in its present and future.
Studying Asian and Asian American courses will give students a stronger understanding of the multi-racial character of the United States, as well as the opportunity to make connections among other ethnic and minority groups. The Asian studies aspect of the program is a necessary supplement to better understand the roots of the Asian American experience.
As mentioned previously, a practical reason for an Asian/Asian American studies program is the reality of our global society. Many employers now find individuals with strong multicultural perspectives as desirable candidates. Students of Asian and Asian American studies will be better prepared for fields in business administration, government, education, law, and many more.
Syracuse University is currently in the process of developing an Asian/Asian American Studies minor. Due to the fact that the program is not yet officially established, there is a strong need to raise awareness about the minor. In order to do so, this capstone project compiled a great amount of research into a public relations campaign proposal to promote Asian and Asian American Studies at Syracuse University. In addition, the capstone project includes further research necessary for a public relations campaign. The primary research in this project consists of outlines of Asian and Asian American studies programs at similar universities and an analysis of the development of the minor at Syracuse University thus far.
The conclusions made in this project are drawn from personal conversations with student and faculty members, student documents, and research through academic publications and media articles.
I chose this topic because it was of great personal interest to me. I wish that I had had the opportunity to study courses with topics that I could identify with on a personal level. Much of my race awareness has come from personal experiences such as serving as a leader in the Korean American Students Association and with previous internships. I have high hopes for the future of this program and I believe that the student body at Syracuse University is in desperate need of it.
Recommended Citation
Choi, Donna, "An Analysis of Asian and Asian American Studies A Public Relation Campaign Proposal, a Comparative Look at Other Universities, and The Program at Syracuse University" (2009). Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All. 471.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/471
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