Doctoral Program

In most instances, admission to the PhD program requires that applicants possess an MA degree. However, on occasion an applicant with a BA and exceptionally strong credentials may be admitted directly into the doctoral program.

Preliminary Advising
Upon admission to the program, check with the graduate chairperson, for an explanation of the courses required for the PhD degree. It is important to meet with him/her prior to registration each semester to make sure you are on track and to discuss any problems. Office hours can be obtained from the Department office, (808) 956-8570; email: amstuh@hawaii.edu.

Current Information
At the beginning of each semester, please provide the department office with your current address, e-mail address, and telephone number; update these as required. This information will enable us to get in touch with you as expeditiously as possible; we will try to prevent any unauthorized use of such information as best as we can. We would also appreciate it if you provide us with your current address and e-mail address once you graduate; we often come across employment or fellowship opportunities and we would like to pass these on to you.

Course Work
Required Graduate Course Work
All PhD candidates are required to take AmSt 600, 601, and 602. See the MA guide for details.

A graduate with a doctorate in American Studies is expected to show a depth of knowledge in his or her chosen fields, as well as an ability to see relationships and integration among these fields. Therefore, plan the rest of your course work to fulfill these aims, rather than to pursue a very narrow specialty. The time really to specialize is after passing the qualifying examination, when you begin work on your dissertation.

In addition to AmSt 600-602 students coming into the PhD program will be required to take the following: a minimum of six other graduate courses in American Studies (including one 699 course if the student wishes), and seven courses to be selected from the following options: one or two 400-level courses, additional graduate courses in American Studies, graduate courses in related fields.

Credit/No Credit grades cannot be applied toward the PhD degree requirements. A directed reading/research 699 will be counted as a course only if it carries 3 credits.

Counting 400-Level Courses
Students are permitted to count TWO (2) 400-level courses (except 499) towards their PhD course requirement. All graduate students will be asked to do additional work in these courses beyond what is asked of the undergraduate students.

Directed Readings/Research: American Studies 699(V)
American Studies 699 (V) is a directed readings or directed research course. Such courses are not intended as routine alternatives to regular course offerings but rather as opportunities to explore themes and topics that are not covered in any available course within the American Studies Department or other departments within the University. Students are limited to three credits under the new program. They must first discuss with the graduate chairperson what is to be studied and with whom.

To enroll in a 699, you must obtain the consent of a particular professor with an expertise on the topic you wish to pursue. This professor may be in American Studies or in any department. Shortly after registration, you should pick up from the department office a 699 instruction sheet or do the fillable form below, complete it and return it to the graduate secretary. Signed by you, the professor and the graduate chairperson, this agreement will determine in which particular field you will get credit for the work done.

Directed Reading Course Consent Form
American Studies 699 Course Approval Form

Departmental Examinations
The Qualifying Examination
The qualifying examinations constitute an integral stage in a PhD student's development as a professional scholar. After completing the exams, the student should have laid the groundwork for successful dissertation research, mastered two fields of chosen specialization, and should be prepared to teach general American Studies courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. American Studies students must demonstrate scholarly competence in three fields: a general survey of the discipline, which takes the form of an advanced graduate syllabus, and two more specialized fields of the student's choosing. There is a written and oral component to the examinations. Full-time students should finish their exams within a year of completing their required forty-eight hours of graduate coursework.

DEADLINES

*All materials should be submitted to each member of the student's examining committee and to the Graduate Chair.

PART I: PREPARATION AND APPROVAL OF FIELDS

a) Survey Field, Syllabus: The survey component of the qualifying examinations tests students general mastery of American Studies as an academic discipline. To do so, the student works with a chosen faculty member (field advisor) to produce a detailed syllabus for a year-long (30 weeks) introductory American Studies graduate course. The syllabus should address major themes, events, problems, and concepts in American culture and society from at least the seventeenth century into the present. It should include a reading list of approximately 100 books.

In order to prepare the syllabus, the student should work closely with her/his field advisor and observe the deadlines listed above. First, the student should present a syllabus proposal. It should consist of a preliminary reading list and an introductory essay (~2 pp) that lays out the main themes, questions, and objectives of the mock graduate course.

Once the syllabus proposal has been approved by the field advisor, the student should complete the selected readings and prepare the final version of the syllabus and course description. The final document must be approved by the Graduate Chair and the entire three-person examination committee before the student takes her/his written examinations.

b) Additional Fields: Two additional fields allow the student to develop teaching and research expertise in narrower topic areas related to American Studies. At least one of the fields should help the student prepare for her/his dissertation research. The student should define the scope of her/his chosen fields by working closely with two separate faculty members (field advisors), one for each field.

In general, the scope of a field should be narrow enough to allow the student to master the principal scholarly literature in the topic area and broad enough to define an undergraduate course. Examples include: U.S. Women's History, Race and Ethnicity in America, Asian American History and Culture, Historic Preservation, U.S.-Native American Relations, African American Literature, Hawai'i History, American Arts, American Cinema, American Environmental History, etc. Within each field, students may choose to develop special expertise on a narrower subtopic. For instance, a student preparing for a U.S. Women's History field may choose to place special focus on third-wave feminism; another might emphasize film noir within an American Cinema field, or architectural modernism within a Historic Preservation field.

For each of the two fields, the student should prepare a preliminary bibliography. The scope and content of this reading list should be worked out with the student's field advisor. For most fields, it will consist of at least fifty books. Additionally, each student should prepare a short essay (~2 pp) describing the themes and questions she/he hopes to pursue through the readings. This material should be submitted to the entire committee and the Graduate Chair according to the deadlines listed above. After receiving committee approval for the three fields (Approval form), the student submits this form to the office for her/his files. The student should consult regularly with her/his field examiner as she/he progresses through the reading.

PART II: FIELD EXAMINATIONS
The examination process itself proceeds in three parts. Once the three fields have been approved by the three-person committee and the Graduate Chair, students should schedule their written and oral exams in consultation with the Graduate Secretary. The oral exam must take place within two weeks of the successful completion of the written exam.

a) Syllabus: The submission of the final syllabus constitutes the first component of the written examination. The final syllabus should include an introductory essay (~2 pp), a detailed breakdown of the course, and a complete reading list. The final syllabus should be submitted to the Graduate Chair and each field examiner at least one week before the written examinations.

b) Written exams: After receiving approval for both completed reading lists, the student should consult with the Graduate Secretary to schedule the written examinations for her/his two additional fields of specialization. Each field advisor will prepare two questions for the student (two per field for a total of four questions), which the student must answer within a 96-hour period. There will be no extensions.

To begin the exam, the student should pick up her/his questions from the Department office at 9:00 am on the designated start date (Monday, Thursday, or Friday). A typed, double-spaced hard copy of the completed exam is due in the Department office at 9:00 ninety-six hours (4 days) later. It should be clearly written, analytically sophisticated, organizationally cohesive, and carefully edited. Submissions should be delivered in person, not by fax or email, except by special arrangement with the Graduate Chair.

There is no minimum or maximum length for the written exams, but successful students generally write something like 2,500 words or 10 pages per question for a total of roughly 40 pages (10,000 words).

The committee member in charge of each field determines whether the student has successfully completed that portion of the written exam.

c) Oral exam: The final stage of the qualifying examinations is the oral exam. In order to undertake the oral exam, the student's final syllabus must have been approved and the student must have passed each section of the written exam. Once these requirements have been met, the student can undertake the three-hour oral examination which should have been previously scheduled with the Graduate Secretary.

The oral exam covers all three fields. The first portion deals with the student's proposed American Studies syllabus. The second section is devoted to the two additional fields of specialization. Afterwards, the entire three-person committee meets privately to determine whether the student has failed, passed, or passed with distinction. Upon passage, the student advances to PhD candidacy.

The Oral Comprehensive Examination

Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination but no later than six months afterward, we strongly recommend that you take the oral comprehensive examination. Because this examination is administered by your dissertation committee, you must first form that committee. The committee must include at least one faculty member from another field of study. The chair and the outside member must be full (not associate) members of the regular graduate faculty. Choose your doctoral committee chairperson from among the graduate faculty of the department. Consult both your committee chairperson and the graduate chairperson in constituting the rest of the committee, which will consist of at least five faculty, the majority of whom must be from American Studies (committee needs to be approved by the Dean of Graduate Division at least one month prior to the comprehensive exam). The Graduate Division has an on-line database to help students form thesis and dissertation committees. (http://www.hawaii.edu/graduate/wa/selectmember.php).

The oral comprehensive examination is administered and evaluated by your dissertation committee, and it tests your preparation to undertake the proposed dissertation topic and field. You must submit first to your chair and then to the entire doctoral committee a written proposal outlining your dissertation topic. This should include: the rationale for the study, the current state of knowledge on the topic, and the research methods to be used. All the members of your doctoral committee must approve this written proposal by signing the appropriate form required by the Graduate Division. Submit a copy of this proposal or any subsequent revision to the department office (Moore 324). Graduate Division rules state that any student who fails the comprehensive examination twice will be dropped from the PhD program.

Upon passing the oral comprehensive examination you are entitled to an ABD (All-But-Dissertation) certificate.

The Dissertation
Continuing Enrollment
After admission to candidacy, students must be enrolled each semester (excluding summer session) for course work, thesis, or research credit at regular fees. They must register each semester for at least one hour of credit of AmSt 699 or 800. Students who are not enrolled nor on approved leaves of absence will be regarded as withdrawn from their degree programs. They will be required to apply for re-admission in accordance with the established regulations if they wish to resume their studies.

Work on the Dissertation
Your dissertation should involve a multidimensional approach to the study and understanding of problems in American life. The primary aim of the PhD program in American Studies at UHM is "to develop knowledgeable persons within a creative intellectual system who ask questions and seek answers to the problems of American society."

It is important that you work closely with your committee chairperson at all stages of research and writing, and that you inform all members of the committee each semester about the progress of your work.

You must be enrolled each semester while working on your dissertation. If not enrolled or on approved leave of absence, you will be regarded as withdrawn from the degree program. If you wish to resume your studies, you will be required to apply for readmission in accordance with the established regulations existing at the time you apply.

To guarantee that committee members will have ample time to read and comment on dissertations and that students will have adequate opportunity for final revisions, a completed and polished draft of the dissertation must be in the hands of all committee members at least two months before the oral defense is to be held.

Dissertation Defense
The student must submit the completed dissertation to all committee members with enough advance time for them to read it and to determine whether the dissertation is ready for the defense. While the specific length for this process is to be decided between the student and each committee member, it is generally recommended that the student allow at least one month for this process. The committee chair is responsible for communicating with all the committee members to get their approval to schedule a defense. Once the defense date is scheduled, the student is responsible for submitting the notification of the Graduate Division at least two weeks in advance. The defense is a public event and must be announced in the UH Events calendar.

The oral defense is scheduled when the dissertation is in a form acceptable to the full committee. Consult the Graduate Information Bulletin about deadlines for holding the oral defense each semester.

All members of your committee must be present at the oral defense (which lasts about two hours) and must vote in a private session at its conclusion. For you to pass the oral defense, a majority of your committee must vote "pass." You are allowed to retake the oral defense only by petitioning the graduate faculty concerned and Graduate Division. A candidate who fails the oral defense twice is dropped from candidacy.

Final Reminder for Getting the Degree

1. Before having your dissertation printed out in its final form, be sure to incorporate all revisions and amendments required by your committee, especially the revisions pointed out by the committee at the oral defense. It is highly recommended that you work closely with your chairperson on these revisions as well as on the format of the copy to be submitted to the Graduate Division (Style and Policy Manual for Dissertation).
   
2. Be sure to register in AmSt 800 during the semester you expect to complete your dissertation and graduate.
   
3. Check with the Graduate Division about procedures and requirements for graduation--filing diploma application, fees, attending the commencement exercises, etc.
   
4. You must file a degree application and submit payment at the Cashier's office at the beginning of the semester you plan to graduate.

General Information
Leave of Absence
A leave of absence for a period of time no longer than one calendar year may be granted to students in good standing (GPA of a least 3.0) after (a) completion of at least 1 semester of course work relevant to the degree as a classified graduate student at the University of Hawaii and (b) upon recommendation of the chairperson of the graduate field of study and approval by the Dean of the Graduate Division. The date of return from a leave must be set at the time the leave is requested.

Students not returning from leave on time will be required to petition for readmission to the University in accordance with the established regulations. Students who are readmitted will be subject to the degree requirements in effect at the time of readmission.

Students on approved leave do not pay tuition or fees. No leave should be requested if the student will be using university facilities or faculty or staff services. Time on approved leave is not counted against the seven-year limit for completion of degree programs. Students returning from an approved leave are automatically sent the Biographical Information form, Residency Declaration form, Supplementary Information form (if a non U.S. citizen), and health forms from the Graduate Division Records Office by the established readmission deadline so that registration materials will be prepared.

Time Allowed
Graduate Division rules specify that you are expected to complete all requirements for the doctoral degree within seven years after admission into the program. Those who fail to complete the requirements in the specified time period will be dropped from the program unless an extension is approved by the Graduate Division. A petition for an extension must be submitted to the assistant dean in which plans for completion are spelled out in detail and a commitment to a specific time frame is made. Petitions are prepared by the Graduate Chair after consultation with the student.

Financial Aid
Resources for financial aid within the Department are extremely limited. Each semester the Graduate Division assigns us an alottment for tuition waivers. These are used to enhance programs by attracting good students, to reward students for meritorious achievement in their studies and to offer some financial support to those who need it. Because these awards are provided by the State of Hawaii, priority will be given to residents of the state where feasible. Also members of underrepresented groups within the Hawaii context are especially encouraged to apply. Within these guidelines applicants will be ranked on the basis of academic achievements and financial need. Application deadlines are approximately April 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester. Tuition waivers cannot be renewed if students fail to attain the required grade point average (3.0). Normally, students are not eligible for more than 8 awards (4 years worth).

Graduate Assistantships and Instructorships
A limited number of Graduate Assistantships and Instructorships are awarded each semester. Those filling these positions are asked to assume a good deal of responsibility in teaching basic undergraduate courses on their own. Thus applicants are restricted to candidates who have a substantial background in coursework and a good grasp of American Studies as a discipline. Ordinarily students may be reappointed up to a total of four semesters or eight courses (offerings by such University entities as the Outreach College and Rainbow Advantage). After that time priority will be given to new applicants so that as many people as possible may be given an opportunity to gain teaching experience. The Department has a mentoring program to assist new teachers in planning and teaching their courses.

Job Placement
You are encouraged to start a job placement file early in your graduate career. The Career Services at the University of Hawaii at Manoa will maintain a job placement file for you and put your name into its computerized job bank, matching your job interests with available positions. Career Services also offers help in writing resumes, hints on interview techniques, and advice on job market potential. Interviews with campus recruiters are scheduled. If you are interested, contact Career Services at 956-8136. The office is located in the Student Services Center. Involvement with professional associations while still a student is both rewarding intrinsically and useful in meeting people who can help you find a job after graduation.

Faculty and Graduate Student Meetings
Students are welcome to attend regular faculty meetings except at such times as personnel matters are being discussed. Generally faculty meetings are held on Friday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. in the American Studies Library.

You are invited to join the Hawaii chapter of the American Studies Association, which also functions within this department as the graduate student organization. It works with the faculty on matters such as curriculum and departmental policy and is an important conduit for channeling your concerns to the faculty. Also it is a way of getting to know other students. They can be invaluable sources of information and advice in deciding what courses to take.

Updated 5/30/07