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Degree, Minors and Certificates Offered


General Information

Undergraduate Programs

Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences


Departments

American Studies

College of Arts and Humanities
Moore 324
1890 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8570
Fax: (808) 956-4733
Email: amstuh@hawaii.edu
Web: manoa.hawaii.edu/amst/

Faculty

*Graduate Faculty

*W. Chapman, PhD (Chair)—historic preservation
*E. Colwill, PhD—Atlantic history, gender and sexuality, African diaspora, literary and cultural studies, slavery and colonialism
*J. Eagle, PhD—film/media, gender studies, U.S. cultural history
*V. Gonzalez, PhD—American empire, tourism and militarism, gender and sexuality, ethnic and cultural studies
*N. Kahanu, JD—public humanities and Native Hawaiian programs
*K. Kosasa, PhD—visual and cultural studies, museum studies, critical pedagogy
*L. J. Mariano, PhD—Filipino American studies, diaspora studies, Asian American studies
*B. McDougall, PhD—indigenous studies, literary studies
*D. Ogawa, PhD—intercultural and Japanese American studies
*R. Perkinson, PhD—Southern and Western history, race and class, crime and punishment, American empire
*K. Sands, PhD—religion in America, religion and law, women in religion, Christian history, theory of religion
*D. Stannard, PhD—social and cultural history, race and racism, colonialism and genocide
*J. Stanton, PhD—culture and arts
*M. Yoshihara, PhD—U.S. cultural history, U.S.-Asian relations, Asian American studies, literary and cultural studies, gender studies

Affiliate Graduate Faculty

A. Kikumura-Yano, PhD—Japanese-American studies, Asian American studies, museum studies
K. Yamazato, PhD—American literature and culture

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, Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies

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 UH Manoa 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, graduate certificates are offered in historic preservation and museum studies.

Affiliations

The department is affiliated with the American Studies Association, American Association of Museums, Hawai‘i Museums Association, National Council of Preservation Education, and National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Advising

The undergraduate advisor 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:

  • 9 credit hours of AMST core courses, including AMST 383, 483, and 484
  • 12 credit hours of AMST electives, of which at least 9 must be upper-division AMST courses
  • 9 remaining credit hours may include upper division courses in either AMST courses and/or allied humanities and social sciences courses (no more than 3 credit hours of 499 may be counted). Allied courses must be approved by the undergraduate advisor or be listed in the “pre-approved” allied course list on the department website.

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

Minor Requirements

Students must complete:

  • 15 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. In addition to the admission requirements of Graduate Division, the applicant should have a copy of his or her latest GRE scores, Statement of Objectives, and letters of recommendation sent directly to the department. Each letter of recommendation should have the “Waiver of Access to Confidential Letters/Statements” form attached to it. Graduate applicants are also required to submit a writing sample, preferably a paper that was written for a graduate course. Applications for graduate admission are considered for either fall (September-December) or spring (January-May) semester. Application deadlines for local and mainland applicants are: February l for fall; September l There is no summer admission to advanced degree programs in Graduate Division. There is an application fee.

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: 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 699V, 700V, and 800V are offered each semester; AMST 600, 601, and another graduate course to be specified by the graduate chair 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 30 credit hours as follows

Plan A (Thesis)

  • 3 core courses, including AMST 600, 601, and 603
  • 2 AMST graduate seminars
  • 3 AMST graduate seminars or electives
  • 2 Capstone (Thesis) AMST 700
  • thesis defense

Plan B (Non-thesis)

  • 3 core courses, including AMST 600, 601, and 603 or substitute (Students may waive AMST 603 with the permission of the graduate chair, and substitute a course in an appropriate area of specialization
  • 3 AMST graduate seminars
  • 4 AMST graduate seminars or electives
  • written and oral examinations in two fields

More specific requirements are detailed on the American studies website at: manoa.hawaii.edu/amst/ma-program/.

Doctoral Degree

PhD candidates are expected to possess the MA degree in American studies or its equivalent and should have a scholarly attainment of a high order and widespread intellectual interests. In most instances, admission to the PhD program requires applicants to possess an MA degree. However, occasionally an applicant with a BA and exceptionally strong credentials may be admitted directly into the doctoral program.

Requirements

Students must complete 45 credit hours including:

  • 3 core courses, including AMST 600, 601, and 603
  • 4 or more AMST graduate seminars
  • 5 or more AMST graduate seminars or graduate electives in other disciplines in a chosen field of specialization (one 400-level course permitted)
  • up to 9 credits of AMST 650

In individual cases and at the discretion of the graduate chair, some non-core requirements may be waived.

Students must also complete:

  • A qualifying examination with written and oral components
  • An oral comprehensive examination administered by the dissertation committee
  • A dissertation of high quality and its successful oral defense

Certificate

Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation

Candidates for the Certificate in Historic Preservation must possess a BA degree. The Certificate in Historic Preservation combines course work and applied experience.

Requirements

Students must complete 15 credit hours of graduate course work:

  • 3 credit hours of AMST 645 Historic Preservation (cross-listed as ANTH 645)
  • 3 credit hours of AMST 675, Preservation: Theory and Practice (cross-listed as ARCH 628 and PLAN 675)
  • 3 credit hours of AMST 695, Historic Preservation Practicum
  • 6 credit hours in field of specialization

A maximum of 6 credit hours may be applied to the Historic Preservation Certificate and to another degree, pursued concurrently, subject to approval from the director of the certificate program, the director of the concurrent graduate program, and Graduate Division. Internships are usually undertaken with local firms and organizations that have a preservation interest or with individuals who are qualified to direct independent work in preservation. The program concludes with a formal colloquium presentation. More information is available on the Historic Preservation Program’s website at manoa.hawaii.edu/amst/historic-preservation/.

Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies

Candidates for the Certificate in Museum Studies must possess a BA degree. The Museum Studies Graduate Certificate Program provides an opportunity to learn about museums, acquire professional experience, and develop research skills.

Requirements

Students must complete 18 credit hours of graduate course work:

  • 3 credit hours of AMST 683, Museums: Theory, History, Practice
  • 3 credit hours of AMST 684, Museums and Collections
  • 3 credit hours of AMST 685, Museums and Education
  • 3 credit hours of AMST 686, Museum Studies Practicum
  • 6 credit hours of electives

A maximum of 6 credit hours may be applied to the Museum Studies Certificate and to another degree, pursued concurrently, subject to approval from the director of the certificate program, the director of the concurrent graduate program, and Graduate Division. Internships are usually undertaken with local museums and related institutions or organizations and under the direction of a supervisor qualified to direct independent work in a museum related project. The program concludes with a formal colloquium presentation. For more information, see manoa.hawaii.edu/amst/museum-studies/.

AMST Courses