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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

T. Tengan, PhD (Chair)—identity, gender, indigenous theory and methodology, Hawai'i and the Pacific
I. G. Aoudé, PhD—Hawai'i political economy, Middle East politics, social movements in Hawai'i and the South Pacific
B. Chung, PhD—Chinese diaspora, transnationalism, Chinese Americans, popular culture and music
M. Das Gupta, PhD—South Asians in America, race and gender politics, U.S. immigration policies
U. Hasager, PhD—associate specialist in civic engagement
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, ethnicity, class, diaspora
D. McGregor, PhD—Hawaiian history, social movements in Hawai'i and the Pacific
J. Y. Okamura, PhD—race and ethnicity, minority access to higher education, ethnic relations in Hawai'i, Japanese in Hawai'i, Filipinos in Hawai'i, Asian Americans
F. L. Uperesa, PhD—American ethnic and race relations, racism and ethnicity in Hawai'i

Affiliate Faculty

A. Castanha, PhD—political science (indigenous cultures)
W. Nishimoto, PhD—education (oral history)
L. Petranek, PhD—political science (political economy)
L. Wang, PhD—American studies (immigration law and critical race theory, Asian American politics and public policy, feminist ethnography)

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, class, and gender. The program also offers courses on the history and experiences of specific groups, including African Americans and Native Americans. Among groups in Hawai'i, Chinese, Filipinos, Hawaiians, and Japanese 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 30 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, 333, 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, 375, 381, 390, 392, 397, 399, 410, 418, 420, 443, 455, 456, 460, 480, 492, 493, 495, and 496
  • A 2.0 GPA in ethnic studies and the 6 credit hours of related courses must be approved by a departmental advisor

For information on a Bachelor Degree Program Sheet, go to www.manoa.hawaii.edu/ovcaa/programsheets/.

Certificate

Requirements

  • Complete 18 credit hours in ethnic studies with a 3.0 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, 333, 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, 375, 380, 381, 390, 392, 397, 399, 410, 418, 420, 440, 443, 455, 456, 460, 480, 492, 493, 495, and 496

ES Courses