University celebrates the launch of it’s newest cultural heritage degree program.
By: Daniel Tom, Staff Reporter
California State University, Dominguez Hills is continuing to pave the way for cultural history to be taught on campus. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, the university celebrated its official launch of the new Asian Pacific studies program now being offered to students.
Since 1992, CSUDH has offered classes in the program as a minor. With its upgraded designation, this new degree program now stands with other cultural study programs such as the Africano(a) and Chicano(a) study programs.
The new major was announced by university president Thomas Parham in June. “Our new Asian-Pacific Studies major represents a giant leap forward in expanding our curriculum, affirming the field of instruction and research for our faculty, and providing students with opportunities to discover new information,” Parham says.
This new major makes its way on to campus after the enactment of California Assembly Bill 1460 (AB 1460) which was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in August 2020, requires three units of ethnic study courses for the conferral of degrees.
The program was spearheaded by professors Jung Sun-Park and Mary Lacanlale who feel that the curriculum being offered to students is “timely and necessary as our global environments continue to change” Park said.
Dr. Mitch Avila, the dean of the college of arts and humanities said, “I’m excited to see the creation of this program. It’s vital for the region we’re in and it’s important to engage and explore different cultural heritages”. He adds, he looks forward to the future success of the program.
The Asian-Pacific Studies department will continue its celebration through Thursday. Some of these activities include a panel on Asian culture in the US, alongside an Asian film watch party on Wednesday night, and will wrap up on Thursday afternoon with a panel on social justice and ethnic studies.
For more information or to RSVP for any of these events, visit your ToroLink.
