2025-2026 UH Mānoa Catalog
Department of American Studies
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College of Arts, Languages & Letters
Moore 324
1890 East-West Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8570
Fax: (808) 956-4733
Email: amstuh@hawaii.edu
Web: manoa.hawaii.edu/amst/
Faculty
*E. Colwill, PhD (Chair)—cultural history, gender and sexuality, African diaspora, literary and cultural studies, slavery and colonialism
*J. Eagle, PhD—film/media, gender studies, U.S. cultural history
*N. Kahanu, JD—public humanities and Native Hawaiian programs
*K. Kosasa, PhD (Retired)—visual and cultural studies, museum studies, critical pedagogy
*L. J. Mariano, PhD—Filipino American studies, diaspora studies, Asian American studies
*B. McDougall, PhD—indigenous studies, literary studies
*D. Ogawa, PhD (Emeritus)—intercultural and Japanese American studies
*R. Perkinson, PhD—Southern and Western history, race and class, crime and punishment, American empire
*K. Sands, PhD (Retired)—religion in America, religion and law, women in religion, Christian history, theory of religion
*D. Stannard, PhD (Emeritus)—social and cultural history, race and racism, colonialism and genocide
*J. Stanton, PhD (Emeritus)—culture and arts
*J. Tripp, PhD—U.S. - East Asia relations, American empire, U.S. and the world, Historic Preservation (U.S., Asia, Pacific)
*M. Yoshihara, PhD—U.S. cultural history, U.S.-Asian relations, Asian American studies, literary and cultural studies, gender studies
* Graduate Faculty
The Academic Program
American Studies is an interdisciplinary field that explores American history, society, and culture. The program has particular strength in examining how American empire within the Pacific and Asia has been built, maintained, and challenged. The department offers a wide array of courses on topics such as race, gender, sexuality, Indigenous issues, slavery, migration, incarceration, labor, war, militarism, environmentalism, social justice movements, law, religion, film, media, music, visual arts, and education.
As the former home of American Quarterly, the flagship journal of the American Studies Association, the department is at the forefront of the latest scholarship in the field.
At the undergraduate level, students learn to think critically and to reflect on how American history, society, and culture have influenced their identities and beliefs. They also develop a strong sense of community and acquire advanced skills in writing and research, problem solving, civic discussion and leadership, effective communication and organization, negotiation, as well as cultural sensitivity and awareness. The interdisciplinary nature of the American Studies major opens doors to a wide range of sectors, including business, law, politics, journalism, government, education, social work, marketing, design, non-profit work, and the arts.
At the graduate level, students acquire advanced understanding of U.S. history, society, and culture and its relationship to the world; the genealogy of American Studies as a field; and theoretical frameworks and methodologies that have shaped the field. They develop expertise in their chosen areas in addition to an overall foundation in the field, and they learn to design and execute rigorous, original research using diverse archives and methods. The graduate program prepares students for careers in higher education as well as such fields as public humanities, museums, libraries, administration, publishing, and media. The department also houses the graduate certificate in Museum Studies.
Affiliations
The department is affiliated with the American Studies Association, American Association of Museums, and Hawaiʻi Museums Association.
Advising
The undergraduate advisor advises all undergraduate majors, and the graduate chair advises all graduate students.
Undergraduate Study
Please see “Programs” section below for more information about our undergraduate programs.
Graduate Study
Application Requirements
Applicants for graduate programs should present an academic record indicating a broad range of study in the humanities and the social sciences with an emphasis on American culture. In addition to the admission requirements of Graduate Division, the applicant should have a copy of his or her latest GRE scores, Statement of Objectives, and letters of recommendation sent directly to the department. Each letter of recommendation should have the “Waiver of Access to Confidential Letters/Statements” form attached to it. Graduate applicants are also required to submit a writing sample, preferably a paper that was written for a graduate course. Applications for graduate admission are considered for either fall (September-December) or spring (January-May) semester. Application deadlines for local and mainland applicants are: February 1 for fall; September 1 for spring. Application deadlines for foreign applicants are: January 15 for fall; August 1 for spring. There is no summer admission to advanced degree programs in Graduate Division. There is an application fee.
Proficiency in a foreign language is not required unless it is necessary for dissertation research. Students having a special career interest in Asia may select courses offered in the Asian studies program to satisfy some degree requirements in American studies.
Courses for the graduate program are to be selected from among the courses listed in the back of the Catalog, from appropriate American studies graduate courses and upper division and graduate courses in related fields. Consent of the departmental graduate chair is required for enrollment in all undergraduate courses and all graduate courses in other fields. The courses listed in the back of the Catalog are numbered and grouped as follows: Master’s Plan B/C Studies; 600- 609, introductory courses; 610-689, fields of study courses; 690-699, special topics courses; and 700-800, thesis and dissertation research. AMST 699V, 700V, and 800V are offered each semester; AMST 600 and AMST 601 are offered annually, and most other 600-level courses are offered once every three years.
ProgramsBachelor’sMaster’sDoctorateGraduate CertificateMinor
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