College of Social Sciences
2560 Campus Road, George Hall 301
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8086
Fax: (808) 956-9494
Email: esdept@hawaii.edu
Web: ethnicstudies.manoa.hawaii.edu

Faculty

* Graduate Faculty

*R. Labrador, PhD (Chair)—Filipino culture, history and politics in Hawai‘i and the U.S., culture, race, ethnicity, class, diaspora, hip hop
*E. Caldwell, PhD—African American studies, the Black diaspora in East Asia, comparative Black-Asian relations, mixed race studies, militarism, empire, and visual media culture
M. K. Y. Danico, PhD—Korean and Asian diasporas, oral history, social justice, culture, identity, and representation
*M. Das Gupta, PhD—Asian America, race and gender politics, U.S. immigration policies, social movements
U. Hasager, PhD—anthropology, Hawai‘i and the Pacific (Director of Civic Engagement for the College of Social Sciences)
K. Kajihiro, —Japanese and Okinawan diasporas, imperialism, demilitarization, social and political movements
*R. Rath, PhD—sound studies, new media, Atlantic world, digital ethnic studies
*T. Tengan, PhD—Indigenous theory and methodology, Hawai‘i and the Pacific, militarism, masculinity studies, gender and oral history

Affiliate Faculty

E-R. Cachola, PhD—information studies (militarism in the Pacific/ Asia/U.S., settler colonialism, decolonization)
A. Castanha, PhD—political science (Indigenous cultures)
J. Darrah, PhD—sociology (race and ethnicity, urban sociology)
S. P. Haglund, PhD—political science (Latin American studies, Indigenous studies, international and domestic public policy)
R. Hsu, PhD—English (Asian American and Asian diaspora literary and cultural studies, race and ethnicity)
W. Kauai, PhD—political science (race, law, and the political history of Hawai‘i)
L. Petranek, PhD—political science (political economy)
C. Quemuel, PhD—education administration (Filipina/o Americans, Asian Americans, women, inclusion and diversity in higher education, student affairs in higher education, domestic violence and sexual violence)
J. Rosa, PhD—history (20th-century Hawai‘i, Asians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S.)

Emeritus Faculty

I. G. Aoude, PhD—Hawai‘i political economy, Middle East politics, social movements in Hawai‘i and the South Pacific
N. Kent, PhD—political economy in Hawai‘i and the Pacific, American ethnic relationships
J. Y. Okamura, PhD—race and ethnicity, minority access to higher education, ethnic relations in Hawai‘i, Japanese in Hawai‘i, Filipinos in Hawai‘i, Asian Americans

Degree and Certificate Offered: Certificate in Ethnic Studies, BA in Ethnic Studies, BA Ethnic Studies/MEd Educational Administration, BA Ethnic Studies/MEd Educational Foundations

The Academic Program

The Department of Ethnic Studies (ES) is an interdisciplinary program with an emphasis on undergraduate education. Initiated in 1970, the Department of Ethnic Studies advances new knowledge at the intersections of race and ethnicity with indigeneity, class, gender, and sexuality in Hawai‘i, the U.S., and Oceania. The focus is Hawai‘i and Oceania with the rich legacy of multiethnic heritages. Our faculty’s research, teaching, and service also involve the U.S. as a whole and comparative studies of ethnicity and race across the globe. We are the globally leading center of Oceanic Ethnic Studies, an intellectual, cultural and activist project for innovative research and social justice initiatives grounded in the indigenous knowledges, compassionate social values, and biocultural perspectives of Hawai‘i and the Pacific.

Ethnic studies provides introductory and advanced courses on theories and practices of ethnicity, race, class, and gender. The program also offers courses on the history and experiences of specific groups, including African Americans and Native Americans. Among groups in Hawai‘i, Chinese, Filipinos, Hawaiians, and Japanese are subjects of separate courses. There are also courses dealing with critical topics such as ethnic identity, land tenure, sustainability, immigration, social movements, and popular culture.

Students may earn a BA or a Certificate in Ethnic Studies. Graduates have gone on to successful careers in education, social work, law, public service, labor and community organizing, and other fields that require an understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Undergraduate Study

Bachelor’s Degree

Requirements

Students must complete 30 credit hours, including:

  • 6 credit hours from ES Core: ES 101 and 380
  • 12 credit hours from Group 1 on the history and social dynamics of various major ethnic groups in: ES 221, 233, 305, 306, 318, 330, 331, 333, 338, 365, 373, 440, 443, 470, and 486
  • 12 credit hours from Group 2 on the history, theories and problems of ethnic groups & ethnicity, frameworks for social, economic and political change in ES 213, 214, 301, 308, 310, 320, 340, 345, 350, 360, 370, 372, 375, 381, 390, 391, 392, 395, 399, 400, 410, 418, 420, 422, 425, 450, 455B, 455C, 456, 457, 460, 480, 492, 493, and 496
  • Minimum “C” grade (not “C-”) in all ethnic studies courses

For information on a Bachelor Degree Program Sheet, go to programsheets/.

Certificate

Requirements

Students must complete 15 credit hours, including:

  • 3 credit hours from ES Core: ES 101 (ES 301 may be substituted)
  • 6 credit hours from Group 1 on the history and social dynamics of various major ethnic groups in ES 221, 233, 305, 306, 318, 330, 331, 333, 338, 365, 373, 440, 443, 470, and 486
  • 6 credit hours from Group 2 on the history, theories and problems of ethnic groups & ethnicity, frameworks for social, economic and political change in ES 213, 214, 301, 308, 310, 320, 340, 345, 350, 360, 370, 372, 375, 380, 381, 390, 391, 392, 395, 399, 400, 410, 418, 420, 422, 425, 450, 455B, 455C, 456, 457, 460, 480, 492, 493, 495, and 496
  • 9 out of 15 credits must be in upper division courses (300- 400 level courses)
  • A minimum “C” grade (not “C-”) in all ethnic studies courses

4+1 BAM BA Ethnic Studies and ME Educational Administration

Combined Bachelor’s & Master’s Degree (BAM) Pathways afford a way for highly motivated students to efficiently complete a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in a shorter time frame by double-counting course work (3 courses) at the undergraduate tuition rate. In most cases, pathway students graduate with the Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree within 5 years (total).

The pathway in Educational Administration is well suited for students interested in entry and mid-level administrative positions in higher education (e.g., student affairs, student services, housing, financial aid, admissions).

4+1 BAM BA Ethnic Studies and ME Educational Foundation

Combined Bachelor’s & Master’s Degree (BAM) Pathways afford a way for highly motivated students to efficiently complete a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in a shorter time frame by double-counting course work (3 courses) at the undergraduate tuition rate. In most cases, pathway students graduate with the Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree within 5 years (total).

The pathway for Educational Foundations is well suited for students interested in becoming an educator or research scholar intent on making a positive impact on education policy and practice.