The following is intended to serve as a guide as well as a checklist in planning your work toward the BA degree. For other matters not covered by this guide, consult the department's undergraduate adviser Theodore Gonzalves, Moore 333, telephone (808) 956-8700. Click here for course listings, course descriptions and other information.

Preliminary Advising
Upon declaring your major, feel free to consult the undergraduate adviser for an explanation of the courses required for the BA degree. It is required that you meet with him/her prior to registration each semester to make sure you are on track and to discuss any problems. Office hours will be posted on advisor's door and can also be obtained from the department office, Moore Hall 324, (808) 956-8570, amstuh@hawaii.edu.

Planning Your Program
The purpose of the BA program is to introduce students to an interdisciplinary study of American culture and society. It provides a broad liberal arts education as well as excellent preparation for further graduate work in many fields and professions. At present, former students of American Studies are teachers, lawyers, social workers, administrators,writers, journalists, editors, politicians, business executives, and officers in the foreign service.

Required Course Work for Majors
For a BA in American Studies, students must complete 30 credit hours, including:
* 21 credit hours of upper division AmSt courses, including AMST 381, 382, and 481
(Note: 381 offered only in fall and 382 and 481 offered only in spring)
* 9 remaining credit hours may include allied humanities and social sciences courses (no more than 3-credit hours of 499 may be counted). All course grades to be applied to the major requirements must be a C or better.

Pre-Approved 'Allied' Courses

Completing Your Work
In the semester BEFORE the expected date of your graduation, consult with the undergraduate adviser to fill out the "Goldenrod" form showing completion of course work for the BA in American Studies. Upon completion of the "Goldenrod" form with our departmental adviser, be sure to have the department office make a copy of this form for your department files.

Student Academic Services-Online Forms

Departmental Registration
Please provide the department office your current address, telephone number, and email address. 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 email and mailing address once you graduate; we often come across employment or fellowship opportunities and we would like to pass these on to you.

Job Placement
You are encouraged to start a job placement file. The Career Services at the University of Hawai‘i 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 (808) 956-8136. The office is located in the Queen Liliuokalani Center for Student Services Center 212. 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.

Financial Aid
Each semester the College of Arts and Humanities assigns the department a small number of tuition waivers for students with a minimum 3.5 grade point average, who complete 30 credits at Manoa and who enroll for a minimum of 12 credits.

Mail and Lockers
Please keep the department office informed of your current address, phone number, and email address since announcements are usually sent by email. However, each major and minor has a mail folder in the department office (Moore Hall 324) where messages, mail, papers, announcements, and other information may be left. You should check your email and mail folder regularly for announcements, papers, etc. Lockers are available for your use for a semester outside Moore Hall 324 by signing up in the department office at the beginning of each semester.

Becoming Part of the Department
You are welcome to attend all meetings of the faculty except when personnel matters are discussed. Ordinarily meetings are held on Friday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. in the American Studies Library, Moore Hall 323. Notices are posted in the department office in Moore 324.


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updated May 30, 2007