Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Ethnic Studies

The 30-credit Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies equips students to explore diverse intellectual interests through courses on the histories and social dynamics of various ethnic groups. The program covers topics such as migration, land tenure, social movements, social inequality and justice, labor history, and the politics and relations of ethnicity, race, and gender in Hawai‘i, Oceania, and the United States.

Students gain the skills needed to work effectively in global and multicultural communities, preparing them for careers in education, social services, government, business, law, culture, labor organizations, communications, and nonprofit management.

Contact Us

esdept@hawaii.edu

(808) 956-8086

ES Courses

Descriptions Availability

Additional Details

The degree requires completion of the following:

  • 30 credit hours
  • Minimum “C” grade (not “C-”) in all ethnic studies courses.

Students must complete two introductory courses (6 credit hours)

  • ES 101 - Introduction to Ethnic Studies (3) DS
  • ES 380 - Field Work in Ethnic Studies (V)

Students must complete 12 credit hours from:

Group 1 - History and Social Dynamics of Various Major Ethnic Groups

  • ES 221/SUST 222 - Hawaiians (3) DS
  • ES 233 - Filipinos in Diaspora (3) DS
  • ES 305 - African American Experience I (3) DS
  • ES 306 - African American Experience II (3) DS
  • ES 318 - Asian America: Survey (3) DH
  • ES 330 - Japanese in Hawaiʻi (3) DH
  • ES 331 - Chinese America: History, Politics, and Representation (3) DH
  • ES 333 - Filipinos in Hawaiʻi (3) DH
  • ES 338 - American Indian Experience (3) DH
  • ES 365 - Pacific/Asian Women in Hawaiʻi (3) DS
  • ES 373 - Filipino Americans: History, Culture and Politics (3) DS
  • ES 440 - Contemporary Diasporas in Comparative Perspective (3) DS
  • ES 443 - Filipino Americans: Research Topics (3)
  • ES 470 - Latinx Experience in Hawai‘i (3) DS
  • ES 486 - Peoples of Hawaiʻi (3) DS

Students must complete 12 credit hours from:

Group 2 - History, theories, and problems of ethnic groups & ethnicity, frameworks for social, economic, and political change.

  • ES 213 - Race, Class, Gender in Popular Culture (3) DS
  • ES 214 - Introduction to Race and Ethnic Relations (3) DS
  • ES 301 - Ethnic Identity (3) DS
  • ES 308 - Race, Indigeneity, and Environmental Justice (3) DS
  • ES 310 - Ethnicity and Community: Hawaiʻi (3) DS
  • ES 320/SUST 321 - Hawaiʻi and the Pacific (3) DH
  • ES 340/SUST 341 - Land Tenure and Use in Hawaiʻi (3) DH
  • ES 345 - The Sounds of Race and Inequality (3) DH
  • ES 350/SUST 351 - Economic Change and Hawaiʻi's People (3) DS
  • ES 360 - Immigration to Hawaiʻi and US (3) DH
  • ES 370 - Ethnic Literatures of Hawaiʻi (3) DL
  • ES 372 - Asian American Literature (3) DL
  • ES 375 - Issues of Diversity in Higher Education (3) DS
  • ES 381 - Social Movements in Hawaiʻi (3) DS
  • ES 390 - Gender and Race in US Society (3) DS
  • ES 391 - Oceanic Gender, Sexual and Kinship Identities (3) DH
  • ES 392 - Change in the Pacific—Polynesia (3) DS
  • ES 395 - Multiethnic Popular Culture: Hip Hop (3)
  • ES 399 - Directed Reading/Research (V)
  • ES 400 - Ethnic Studies in the Digital World (3) DS
  • ES 410 - Race, Class, and the Law (3) DS
  • ES 418 - Women and Work (3) DS
  • ES 420 - American Ethnic and Race Relations (3) DS
  • ES 422 - Mixed Race Identities, Multiracial Experiences (3) DH
  • ES 425 - Filming Social Change (3) DS
  • ES 450 - Food, Culture, and Empire in U.S. and Hawai‘i (3) DS
  • ES 455 (B) - Topics in Comparative Ethnic Conflict—Middle East (3) DS
  • ES 455/SUST 445 (C) - Topics in Comparative Ethnic Conflict—Hawaiian sovereignty in Pacific context (3) DS
  • ES 456 - Racism and Ethnicity in Hawaiʻi (3) DS
  • ES 457 - Politics of Men and Masculinity in U.S. Culture (3) DS
  • ES 460/SUST 461 - Global Ethnic Conflict (3)
  • ES 480 - Oceanic Ethnic Studies: Theories and Methods (3) DS
  • ES 492 - Politics of Multiculturalism (3) DS
  • ES 493 - Oral History: Theory and Practice (3) DH
  • ES 495 - Hawai‘i's Labor History (3) DH
  • ES 496 - Special Topics in Ethnic Studies (3)

See Bachelor Degree Program Sheets and Sample Four Year Academic Plans.

General Education Designations

  • DH: Diversification-Humanities
  • DL: Diversification-Literatures
  • DS: Diversification-Social Science

See the UH Catalog for more information.

By participating in the Ethnic Studies undergraduate program, students can cultivate:

  • An ability to work effectively within global and multicultural communities.
  • An ability to effectively discuss controversial topics.
  • An ability to think logically and critically.
  • An ability to apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations through service learning and civic engagement.
  • Excellent skills in oral and written expression.
  • Strong research skills.
  • Involvement with community-based projects.
  • Awareness and understanding of popular mainstream culture and trends.
  • Knowledge of issues relevant to culture and society.

Professions that value the skill and knowledge cultivated by the Ethnic Studies undergraduate program include:

  • Business - management, sales and marketing, human resources, public relations.
  • Communications - documentary film production, photography, journalism, writing, publishing.
  • Cultural & Labor Organizations - outreach, programming, research, archiving, curating.
  • Education - teaching, research, counseling, student affairs, library and information science.
  • Government - policy analysis, law-making.
  • Law - legal representation, arbitration, judiciary.
  • Nonprofit - program management and development, policy analysis, fundraising.
  • Social Services - administration, program management, grant writing, outreach, counseling.