College of Arts, Languages & Letters
Sakamaki A-311
2530 Dole Street
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8299
Fax: (808) 956-9894
Web: www.hawaii.edu/rac/

Faculty

*Graduate Faculty

*D. Harris-McCoy, PhD (Chair)—Greek and Latin literature, intellectual history, magic and divination
*H. J. Baroni, PhD—Japanese and East Asian religions, Buddhism in America
*M. A. Brown, PhD—Hawaiian/Polynesian religions
L. N. Hamasaki, MA—classical language instruction
*R. Lamb, PhD—South Asian religions, Asian monasticism, ethics
*R. J. Littman, PhD—Greek literature, ancient history, ancient medicine, Biblical studies, Egyptian archaeology
*J. Lyon, PhD—Christianity, Hebrew Bible, New Testament, history of religion in Hawai‘i
*M. Mohr, PhD—Japanese and Asian religions
*J. E. E. Pettit, PhD—Daoism, Chinese religions

Degrees Offered: Undergraduate Certificate in Islamic Studies, Undergraduate Certificate in Classics, BA in Religious Traditions & Ancient Civilizations: Ancient Civilizations, BA in Religious Traditions & Ancient Civilizations: Religious Traditions, MA in Religious Traditions of Asia and the Pacific

The Academic Program

The Department of Religions & Ancient Civilizations collectively teaches classes and engages in research relating to humankind’s most pressing concerns: the meaning of existence, our beliefs and values, the nature and role of culture, and our obligation to the past and future.

The Department of Religions & Ancient Civilizations is committed to addressing these issues with their students in an intellectually-rigorous but family-like liberal arts environment. We are deeply committed to the success of our students, at both the undergraduate BA and graduate MA levels, and our curriculum has prepared alumni to succeed in a wide range of fields including cultural stewardship, archival work, politics and diplomacy, law, ministerial work, and advanced academic study

Our department offers a single BA in Religious Traditions & Ancient Civilizations with specialized tracks in (1) Religious Traditions and (2) Ancient Civilizations. The curricula of both tracks provide instruction in the content, tools, theory, and methods needed for the serious study of ancient societies and religion. The Religious Traditions track provides insight into specific religions of the world with an emphasis on the religions of Asia and the Pacific, as well as themes relating to religion and its place in human civilization. Students who take this track will be prepared to enter a range of careers for which their insight into the human need for spirituality will be a valuable asset. The Ancient Civilizations track trains students to think about ancient cultures from a range of perspectives: historical, cultural, linguistic, and archaeological, with an emphasis on the cultures of the Ancient Mediterranean. This degree track will prepare its students to enter fields relating to cultural preservation, library, archive and museum work, education, and more.

The MA in the Religious Traditions of Asia and the Pacific provides graduate students with training both in the broad theory and methods used in the academic study of religion as well as specialized training in the religions (and language(s)) of these regions. The MA curriculum consists of a revolving sequence of 600-level courses on various topics of importance in religious studies, elective courses, and a thesis (Plan A) or special project (Plan B). Alumni of the MA program regularly enter high-caliber PhD programs, and have gone on to careers in a range of academic and non-academic fields.

Undergraduate Study

Bachelor’s Degree

A minimum GPA of 2.5 in courses counted toward the major is required of all students earning their major in this department. At least half the credits required for the major must be taken at UH Mānoa.

BA in Religious Traditions & Ancient Civilizations (Religious Traditions Track)

30 credit hours of course work

  • 3 credit hours from any 100-level REL course
  • 6 credit hours: CLAS/REL 300 and CLAS/REL 304
  • 21 credit hours (minimum 18 credit hours of upper division) from the following list of applicable elective courses with the following distribution requirements:
    • Religious Traditions (6 cr.)
    • Themes in Religion (9 cr.)
    • Other (6 cr.)

Approved elective courses:

Religious Traditions: REL 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 308, 310, 311, 351, 352, 354, 371, 373, 374, 390, 409, 475, 476, 478, 490, 492; CLAS 305, 306; CLAS/REL 301, 302

Themes in Religion: REL 303, 333, 345, 348, 353, 356, 361, 363, 383, 394, 422, 431, 433, 444, 445, 452, 480

Other: Any 300+ REL or CLAS course not used to fill other elective requirements not included on the program sheet may be substituted with advisor and instructor approval.

BA in Religious Traditions & Ancient Civilizations (Ancient Civilizations Track)

30 credit hours of course work

    • 3 credit hours from any 100-level CLAS, GRK, LATN, or SNSK course**
    • 6 credit hours: CLAS/REL 300 and CLAS/REL 304
    • 21 credit hours (minimum 18 credit hours of upper division) from the following list of applicable elective courses with the following distribution requirements:
      • Literature (3 cr.)
      • History (3 cr.)
      • Religious Traditions (3 cr.)
      • Other (12 cr.)

Approved elective courses:

Literature: CLAS 327, CLAS 328

History: HIST 301, 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 362, 433, 434

Religious Traditions: REL 200, 201, 202, 208, 209, 210, 211, 311, 354, 356, 373, 374, 383, 394, 409; CLAS 305, 306; CLAS/REL 301, 302

Other: Any 300+ CLAS, GRK, LATN course; any REL or HIST course listed above and not used to fill other elective requirements; PHIL 211, 212, 414B, 414C; ANTH 381; ART 373.

** 300+ courses not included on the program sheet may be substituted with advisor and instructor approval.
** Students will be allowed to double-count 3 credits of foreign language credits (i.e. in LATN, GRK, or SNSK) towards their HSL and BA requirements.

Graduate Study

Master’s Degree in Religious Traditions of Asia and the Pacific

The department has two graduate program plans leading to the MA degree: a thesis-based track (Plan A) and a project-based track (Plan B). Both plans are designed as two-year programs.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the MA program in religion must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college, university, or its equivalent from a recognized foreign institution of higher learning. Applicants should include a statement of objectives an explanation of how their academic background has prepared them for study in the religion MA program.

Required courses

Under both plans, students will have an opportunity to carry out in-depth research in Asian and/or Pacific religions. 30 credits are required (excluding courses used to fulfill language requirements), including the following six courses (18 credits):

  • REL 600 History and Theory of the Study of Religion (3)
  • REL 601 Sacred Space (3)
  • REL 602 The Study of the Ways Religion is Practiced (3)
  • REL 603 The Study of New Religious Movements (3)
  • REL 604 Indigenous Religions & Decolonial Theories and Methods (3)
  • REL 605 Healing in the Religious Traditions of Asia and the Pacific (3)

Electives

Electives consist of any Religion course (400 level and above, excluding 499), other than those that fulfill program and area requirements. Two complementary graduate courses (3 credits each) from other disciplines may be accepted at the discretion of the thesis advisor and graduate chair. No more than two 400-level courses may be used to satisfy this requirement. Any courses from outside the department must be approved by the graduate advisor or committee chair.

Language

Students are required to complete two years of an Asian or Pacific language closely connected to their research. The choice must be approved by the thesis advisor and graduate chair. The grade for the fourth semester of language study must be a B-minus or better.

This language requirement will be waived for students demonstrating language proficiency by an equivalency exam. An exam will be set by the student’s advisor and assessed by two faculty readers (one from within the department and one from a department in which the language is taught).

Upper-division language courses must be approved by the graduate chair in order to count towards the 30 credits required for an MA. Students cannot use any language course to satisfy both graduate credit and language requirements.

Plan A (Thesis)

Students choosing Plan A will complete an original thesis, demonstrating a mastery of advanced research, analytic, and discursive skills. Plan A students must complete six units of REL 700 (thesis research). A maximum of 3 credits per semester for a total of 6 credits of REL 700, usually taken over two semesters is required. Students must be admitted to candidacy and must complete 12 credits before they can register for REL 700.

Candidates who accumulate the maximum number of thesis research credit hours but fail to complete the thesis must register for a minimum of 1 credit hour of thesis research at the beginning of the term in which all requirements for the degree will be completed.

Advancement to Candidacy: Candidacy may be granted after completing 12 credits toward the degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and the completion of the language requirement. Each candidate must form a committee of three members of the graduate faculty, one of whom is from outside the department. Faculty members reserve the right not to serve on a thesis committee

After submission of a completed thesis to the committee for its consideration, a candidate must undergo an oral examination on the subject of the thesis. Once the final revisions have been submitted, the majority vote of the committee members, including the chairperson, must approve the thesis. A candidate whose thesis does not pass may be re-examined once, provided the thesis passes committee review within one calendar year of the initial examination.

The electronic submission of the thesis is required. Submit a pdf file online via ProQuest ETD. These must be submitted by the specified deadline (see the “Calendar”). One bound copy of the approved thesis is required and shall go on file in the department office.

Plan B (Project)

The Plan B degree program provides students with a nonthesis opportunity for graduate research and study in Asian or Pacific religions. Plan B is designed for students who wish to articulate the results of their research in innovative ways using various available technologies. In place of a thesis, the culminating requirement is an original research project (see below).

Master’s Plan B Procedures

  1. Preliminary conference with the graduate chair for the purpose of determining an advisor, proposed courses to fulfill the requirements, and the foreign language for the degree.
  2. Plan B students must complete three units of REL 688 (Plan B Research).
  3. Candidacy for Plan B students requires a memo from the graduate chair indicating that 12 graduate credits have been taken with a GPA of 3.0 or better and that the student has prepared a preliminary proposal and secured the support of two graduate faculty members from the department to serve on their committee. Committee members will approve, supervise, and evaluate the project as completed in REL 688 (Plan B Research).
  4. Completion of a research project demonstrating a critical understanding of religion in a particular area of Asia or the Pacific or of a topic within the overall region. The project should reveal original insights into selected religious phenomena or area of concentration. Students present the results of their research in innovative ways that utilize the arts, various media, or developing technologies, and thereby show their relevance to scholarly discourse. Research projects will be presented in a public forum during the student’s final semester.