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The Center for Pacific Islands Studies at the University
of Hawai'i at Mānoa (UHM) is committed to the production and
dissemination of a wide range of knowledge about Oceania.
The center focuses on the island societies of this vast region,
and the dynamic cultural, social, and political interactions
that link them to each other as well as to the rest of the
world. It seeks to understand the many worlds of Oceania through
multiple conceptual lenses, drawn selectively from a range
of academic disciplines and from the knowledge systems of
the region itself. The center promotes active, student-centered
approaches to learning and encourages creativity in research
and representation of island issues.
 With
a core and affiliate faculty of about 40 members, and access
to one of the finest collections of Pacific materials in the
world, the center offers interdisciplinary programs of study
leading to the MA and the Graduate
Certificate in Pacific Islands studies.
The MA program is intended for students of the region who
wish to transcend established disciplinary boundaries and
to explore innovative approaches to learning, research and
representation. It is the only program of its kind in the
United States. Students may select either the thesis option
or the MA portfolio option. Students who choose the first
option complete a scholarly research-based thesis on a Pacific-related
topic. Normally, this is the preferred option for those planning
to enter a doctoral program in the humanities, social sciences,
or interdisciplinary studies. Students opting for the MA portfolio
demonstrate mastery of a specialty area within the field of
Pacific Islands studies through an integrated program of activities
including course work, research and writing. Both options
allow for the inclusion of artwork, creative writing, multimedia
or performance components in dialogue with the scholarly text
required for the MA project (thesis or portfolio), to better
communicate the scholarly work.
Some of the recent graduates of the Pacific Islands studies
program are pursuing doctoral or professional degrees in Australia,
New Zealand, Europe, Hawai'i and the U.S. mainland; others
are employed in a variety of fields, including education,
social work, publishing, as well as library and museum work.
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Students may select either the thesis option or the MA portfolio
option:
- The thesis option requires 24 credits of course work,
six credits of thesis research, a written thesis and defense
of the thesis.
- The MA portfolio option requires 24 credits of course
work and six credits of PACS 695 Master's Project.
Also required are an essay or research report (25 pages
or more), and a substantial performance, multimedia, artistic
or written product.
- The MA written exam is required for both options.
- Prior to graduation, students are required to demonstrate
a second-year level of competence in an indigenous, pidgin/creole
or administrative language of the Pacific. (Contact the
program for details.)
Courses
To view a listing of courses offered, visit www.catalog.hawaii.edu/courses/departments/pacs.htm.
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