Department of Religions & Ancient Civilizations

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

Faculty

*J. E. E. Pettit, PhD (Chair)—Daoism, Chinese religions
*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 Hawaiʻi
*M. Mohr, PhD—Japanese and Asian religions

* Graduate Faculty

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.

Graduate Study

Please see “Programs” section below for more information about our graduate programs.

Programs

Bachelor’s

Master’s

Religious Traditions of Asia and the Pacific, MA

Undergraduate Certificate

Classics, Undergraduate Certificate [requirements forthcoming]

Combined