Ethnic Studies

College of Social Sciences
2560 Campus Road, George Hall 301
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8086
Fax: (808) 956-9494
Email: esdept@hawaii.edu
Web: www.ethnicstudies.hawaii.edu

Faculty

I. G. Aoudé, PhD (Chair)—Hawai‘i political economy, Middle East politics, social movements in Hawai‘i and the South Pacific
M. Das Gupta, PhD—South Asians in America, race and gender politics, U.S. immigration policies
P. Ho, PhD—Chinese American experience, Chinese diaspora, transnationalism and urban anthropology
N. Kent, PhD—political economy in Hawai‘i and the Pacific, American ethnic relations
R. Labrador, PhD—Filipino culture, history and politics in Hawai‘i and the U.S., culture, race, ethnicicity, class, diaspora
D. McGregor, PhD—Hawaiian history, social movements in Hawai‘i and the Pacific
J. Y. Okamura, PhD—Japanese in Hawai‘i and the U.S.
N. Sharma, PhD—processes of racial and ethnic formation in North America, U.S. immigration policy, international migration and transnational studies
T. Tengan, PhD—identity, gender, indigenous theory and methodology, Hawai‘i and the Pacific
E. J. White, PhD—African American experience

Degree and Certificate Offered: Certificate in Ethnic Studies, BA in ethnic studies

The Academic Program

The Department of Ethnic Studies (ES) is an interdisciplinary program with emphasis on undergraduate education. Initiated in 1970, ethnic studies combines traditional and contemporary methodologies with new perspectives on issues of race, ethnicity, and class. The focus is Hawai‘i with its rich legacy of multiethnic heritages, but the research, teaching, and service components also involve the U.S. as a whole and comparative studies of societies around the globe.

Ethnic studies provides introductory and advanced courses on theories and practices of ethnicity, race, and class. The program also offers courses on the history and experiences of specific groups, including African Americans and Native Americans. Among groups in Hawai‘i, Caucasians, Chinese, Filipinos, Hawaiians, Japanese, and Koreans are subjects of separate courses. There are also courses dealing with critical topics such as ethnic identity, land tenure, social movements, and labor history.

Students may earn a BA or the Certificate in Ethnic Studies. Graduates have gone on to successful work in public service, social service, business, law, labor organization, education, and other fields that require sensitivity to people and their backgrounds.

Undergraduate Study

Bachelor’s Degree

Requirements

Students must complete 36 credit–hours, including:

ES 101 and 380
12 credit hours on the history and social dynamics of ethnic groups from ES 221, 305, 306, 330, 331, 332, 333, 335, 338, and 339
12 credit hours on the history, theories, and problems of ethnic groups and ethnicity in the framework of social, economic, and political change from ES 301, 310, 318, 320, 340, 350, 360, 365, 370, 372, 373, 381, 390, 392, 399, 410, 418, 420, 443, 455, 456, 480, 486, 492, 493, and 495
6 credit hours of related courses approved by a department advisor
A 2.0 GPA in ethnic studies and the 6 credit hours of related courses must be approved by a departmental advisor

Certificate

Requirements

Complete 18 credit hours in ethnic studies with a 2.0 GPA
ES 101 (301 may be substituted)
6 credit–hours on the history and dynamics of ethnic groups from ES 221, 305, 306, 330, 331, 332, 333, 335, 338, and 339
9 credit-hours on the history, theory, and problems of ethnic groups and ethnicity in the framework of social, economic, and political change from ES 301, 310, 318, 320, 340, 350, 360, 365, 370, 372, 373, 380, 381, 390, 392, 399, 410, 418, 420, 440, 443, 455, 456, 480, 486, 492, 493, 495

ES Courses

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Please note: This Catalog was prepared to provide information and does not constitute a contract. The University reserves the right to change or delete, supplement or otherwise amend at any time and without prior notice the information, requirements and policies contained in this Catalog.