Pacific Islands Studies, Minor

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The Pacific Islands Studies minor is offered for students who wish to further their knowledge of Pacific Islands as a complement to their major studies.

All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade, and each must be passed with a minimum grade of “C” or better.

Courses for the minor cannot be used to fulfill requirements for the student’s major. Students are encouraged to take PACS 108 before beginning the minor.

For more information, contact the Department of Pacific Islands Studies Undergrad Advisor, Dr. Julie Walsh at jwalsh@hawaii.edu.

Requirements

Core Courses (Required Courses)

These foundational courses provide an introduction to the history, culture, and contemporary issues of the Pacific Islands.

PACS 301 - Pacific Communities in Hawaiʻi Credits: 3
PACS 302 - Contemporary Issues in Oceania Credits: 3

Elective Courses

Students are required to choose elective courses that explore various aspects of Pacific Islands Studies, including art, language, politics, sociology, and the environment.

Choose two courses from PACS 300+ offerings and/or 300+ Pacific Languages (Chamorro, Hawaiian, Maori, Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan; for the most current list of approved languages, please speak with an academic advisor). Credits: 6

Capstone Course

Students will complete a capstone project (community-based research paper) as part of the minor program. This typically involves an in-depth exploration of a specific topic related to Pacific Islands Studies.

PACS 401 - Pacific Islander Collaborative Research Credits: 3

Additional Notes

All courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade and each must be passed with a minimum grade of “C” or better.
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all courses related to the minor.
12 of the 15 credits must be taken at UH Mānoa.

Suggested Course Sequence

Year 1 / Semester 1: PACS 302 /PACS 301
Year 1 / Semester 2: PACS 301 /PACS 302
Year 2 / Semester 1: Elective 1 (PACS 300+ or 300+ Pacific language)
Year 2 / Semester 2: Elective 2 (PACS 300+ or 300+ Pacific language)
Year 3 / Semester 2: PACS 401 (Capstone)