| American Studies
College of Arts and Humanities
Moore 324
1890 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8570
Fax: (808) 956-4733
E-mail: amstuh@hawaii.edu
Web: www.hawaii.edu/amst/
Faculty
*P. Hooper, PhD (Chair)-regional and international studies
*W. Chapman, PhD-historic preservation
*M. Helbling, PhD-literature, ethnicity, and cultural theory
*J. Hughes, PhD-politics and women's studies
*F. Matson, PhD-politics and social science
*D. Ogawa, PhD-Asian American and communication studies
*D. Stannard, PhD-social problems
*K. Tehranian, PhD-culture, arts, environment, and society
*M. Yoshihara, PhD-cultural history, race and gender, United States-Asian relations
Cooperating Graduate Faculty
J. Stanton, PhD-culture and arts
Affiliate Graduate Faculty
S. Armitage, PhD-folklore and regional studies
D. Bertelson, PhD-literature and social thought
H. Kato, PhD-popular culture
J. McCutcheon, PhD-social, cultural, and urban history
W. Murtagh, PhD-historic preservation
B. Riznik, PhD-historic preservation
P. Spickard, PhD-multicultural studies
F. Tang, MA-Asian American relations
*Graduate Faculty
Degrees and Certificates Offered: BA (including minor) in American studies, MA in American studies (including dual AMST/MLISc MA), PhD in American studies, graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation
The Academic Program
Since its inception in the 1930s, American studies (AMST) has offered an integrated multidisciplinary exploration of the historical and contemporary American experience. This involves the study of American popular and high culture; environmental issues; institutional structures, including political and economic institutions; systems of thought and belief; and gender, ethnic, racial, and cross-cultural relationships. A combination of historical, literary, social-scientific, and other methodological approaches is used. In addition to such traditional aims, American studies at the University of Hawai'i at Mƒnoa also explores the role of Hawai'i, the Pacific, Asia, and, to a lesser extent, other parts of the world within the American experience, an objective that imparts a cross-cultural dimension to its program and differentiates it significantly from most other programs in the field.
At the undergraduate level, American studies offers a balanced general education experience, as well as excellent preparation for both advanced study in the field and professional studies ranging from law to travel industry management. Advanced degrees are intended primarily as preparation for college and university-level teaching, but recipients are also engaged in such activities as journalism, library management, business administration, and government service. A dual MA can be taken in cooperation with the Library and Information Science Program. In addition to regular degrees, the graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation is offered as preparation for professional employment in the preservation field.
Affiliations
The department is affiliated with the American Studies Association, National Council of Preservation Education, and National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Advising
The undergraduate adviser advises all undergraduate majors, and the graduate chair advises all graduate students.
Undergraduate Study
Bachelor's Degree
Requirements
Students must complete 30 credit hours, including:
- 6 credit hours from AMST 201, 202, 211, or 212
- 24 credit hours of upper division courses:
- AMST 381 and 382
- 6 credit hours of 400-level American studies courses
- 12 remaining credit hours may include allied humanities and social sciences courses.
Selection must form an orderly pattern around an appropriate theme, and approval of the departmental undergraduate adviser is required.
Minor Requirements
Students must complete 15 credit hours, including:
- AMST 381 and 382
- 9 credit hours of 300- or 400-level American studies electives
Graduate Study
Application Requirements
Applicants for graduate programs should present an academic record indicating a broad range of study in the humanities and the social sciences with an emphasis on American culture. Specific requirements for all graduate degrees and certificate programs are detailed in brochures available from the department upon request. Write to Graduate Chair, Department of American Studies, Moore 324, 1890 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822.
Proficiency in a foreign language is not required unless it is necessary for dissertation research. Students having a special career interest in Asia may select courses offered in the Asian studies program to satisfy some degree requirements in American studies.
Courses for the graduate program are to be selected from among the courses listed in the back of the Catalog, from appropriate American studies graduate courses and upper division and graduate courses in related fields. Consent of the departmental graduate chair is required for enrollment in all undergraduate courses and all graduate courses in other fields. The courses listed in the back of the Catalog are numbered and grouped as follows: 500, Master's Plan B/C Studies; 600-609, introductory courses; 610-689, fields of study courses; 690-699, special topics courses; and 700-800, thesis and dissertation research. AMST 500V, 699V, 700V, and 800V are offered each semester; AMST 600, 601, 602, and 603 are offered annually, and most other 600-level courses are offered once every three years.
Master's Degree
MA candidates are expected to possess the BA degree and have a background knowledge of American culture.
Requirements
MA students may select either the Plan
A or Plan B program. Students must complete 33 credit hours as follows:
Plan A (Thesis)
- 6 credit hours of AMST 700
- 18 credit hours in courses numbered 600 and above, including AMST 600, 601, 602, 603 and a graduate seminar course
- 9 credit hours in a chosen field of specialization
- oral examination
Plan B (Non-thesis)
- 18 credit hours in courses numbered 600 and above, including AMST 600, 601, 602, 603 and a graduate seminar course
- 15 credit hours in a chosen field of specialization
- written and oral examinations
More specific requirements are detailed in materials available upon request from the department. |
