Pacific Islands Studies Certificate

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Co-Coordinators:
Kali Fermantez, Ph.D. (fermante@hawaii.edu)
Fiona McCormack, Ph.D. (fionam@hawaii.edu)
Office: Social Sciences Division Office, UCB 308
Phone: (808) 974-7460

Professors:
James O. Juvik, Ph.D.
Sonia Juvik, Ph.D.
Peter R. Mills, Ph.D.

Associate Professor:
Seri Luangphinith, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors:
Kathryn Besio, Ph.D.
Kali Fermantez, Ph.D.
Kathleen L. Kawelu, Ph.D.
Fiona McCormack, Ph.D.

Junior Specialist:
James P. Mellon, M.A.

The interdisciplinary Pacific Islands Studies Certificate Program is an adjunct to a student’s academic major. Students will have an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of Pacific Islands environments, cultures, and economy through a series of discipline-based courses and a capstone seminar. Course work in the certificate program focuses on the Pacific as a complex region of island states and territories with common regional concerns and reviews the problems and prospects of Pacific Islands peoples in the contemporary world.

The Certificate in Pacific Islands Studies

21 semester hours

1. Required courses:
   • ANTH 200b (3) Cultures of the World: Regional Survey: (b) Oceania
   • ANTH/GEOG 435 (3) Senior Seminar in Pacific Studies
   • Choose TWO courses out of the following three options:
     • ANTH 357 (3) Change in the Pacific
     • GEOG 335 (3) Geography of Oceania
     • Either HIST 316 or 317 (3) Pacific History I or II
   • AND chooseONE course from the following three options:
     • HWST 175 (3) Introduction to the Music of Polynesia
     • ENG 430 (3) Pacific Islands Literature
     • A course on Pacific art (3)
2. Electives:
   • Six semester hours of discipline-based Pacific courses or internships with Pacific content, subject to the approval of the Pacific Islands Studies faculty. Students may also take discipline-based directed study from a participating Pacific Islands Studies faculty member. Discipline-based courses relating to Pacific Islands topics and allowing the student to focus research papers on the Pacific may be approved for credit toward the certificate by a vote of participating faculty. Other appropriate courses may be included from time to time. Please see program coordinator for specific changes.