Author

Donna Choi

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.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

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