Humanities

The University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu’s Bachelor of Arts in Humanities degree emphasizes multi-cultural perspectives (gaining knowledge about other cultures and being able to critically analyze and compare this information), multi-disciplinary perspectives, and writing abilities. Students gain breadth in the Humanities, where multidisciplinary and multi-cultural perspectives are considered important, by taking a number of Humanities Core requirements that focus on these topics.

All students majoring in Humanities are required to complete a capstone course in their concentration of choice (e.g., Senior Project or Practicum). The Division also recommends that students complete two semesters of Hawaiian or a second language.

Certificates in Asian Studies and Music are also offered and may be completed along with any degree program.

Learning Outcomes
Capstone Information
Faculty Profiles

Humanities Concentrations

English

The concentration in English offers students the opportunity to critically and creatively examine literature; artistic expression; cultural, social, and rhetorical analyses; and a wide array of reading and writing practices.

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Film, Media, and Popular Culture

Students enrolled in the Film, Media, and Popular Culture concentration analyze film, television, popular music, and journalistic media by selecting one of three tracks: Film and Television Studies, Music/Theatre, or Journalism/Media Analysis. They also explore the arts through coursework in creative media, creative writing, or music practice.

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Hawaiian-Pacific Studies

The concentration in Hawaiian-Pacific Studies offers a wide array of courses on Hawai‘i and the Pacific Islands, enabling students to gain an overview of Pacific Island peoples and an in-depth knowledge of specific aspects of the cultures of Hawai‘i and the Pacific. The curriculum is designed to provide a good foundation of knowledge that includes art, history, language, literature, and contemporary issues of all Oceania (including Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia) with Hawai‘i at its core.

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History

History is the study of the past based on finding, analyzing, and interpreting recorded evidence. It is a discipline that seeks both to understand the past in its own terms and to explain the present in light of the past.

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Mathematics

The concentration in Mathematics prepares students with a foundation in the liberal arts to serve professional, career-related, and applied fields based on state and regional needs. It is intended to familiarize students with a wide range of areas within the field of mathematics and to instill in them an appreciation for the rigor and structure of the discipline.

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Philosophy

The study of philosophy involves contemplating right and wrong in moral issues, and the practice of forming an argument for debate. Students pursuing a concentration in Philosophy will learn to articulate an understanding of, and appreciation for, the ideas and systems of thought that have influenced cultures and societies throughout history.

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