Pacific Studies (BA)
Major Credit Hours - 42 Credit Hours
Two Minors - 24-30 credit hours
GE Core + Religious Education - 24 credit hours
General Electives - 24-30 credit hours
Total Credit Hours to Graduate - 120 credit hours
***
Effective Jan. 2026
Last Revision 4/27/2026
Faculty Unit Assignment: Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts
Sponsoring Program: Pacific Studies
Holokai Category: Arts & Humanities
Program Requirements
Required Core — 15 Credits
| Course Number | Title | Semester Offered | Credit Hours | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAIS 105 | Introduction to Pacific Studies | F, W, S | 3.0 | |
| PAIS 200 | Place and Positionality on Native Lands | F, W, S | 3.0 | PAIS 105 |
| PAIS 310 | Indigenous Pacific Research Methodologies | F, W | 3.0 | PAIS 105 |
| PAIS 341 | Migration and Diaspora | F, S | 3.0 | PAIS 105 |
| PAIS 490R or | Senior Tutorial or | F, W, S | 3.0 | Permission of instructor |
| PAIS 496R or | Student Research or | F, W, S | 3.0 | Permission of instructor |
| PAIS 399R | Internship in Pacific Studies | F, W, S | 3.0 | Permission of instructor |
PACIFIC STUDIES ELECTIVES — 18 Credits
(must take 12 credits of 300 level or above)
| Course Number | Title | Semester Offered | Credit Hours | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAIS 220 | Pacific Social Development | F, W | 3.0 | PAIS 105 or IPB 121 |
| PAIS 250 | Polynesian Dance and Performance | F, W, S | 3.0 | |
| PAIS 275 | Pacific Wood Carving | F, W, S | 3.0 | |
| PAIS 320 | Peace and Conflict in the Pacific (if not taken as a core course) | Variable | 3.0 | PAIS 105 or IPB 121 |
| PAIS 330 | Sovereignty and Self Governance in Oceania | F, W | 3.0 | PAIS 105 |
| PAIS 331 | Women in Oceania | F, S | 3.0 | PAIS 105 |
| PAIS 340 | Anti-Racism and Belonging: Pacific Dialogue | F, W | 3.0 | PAIS 105 |
| PAIS 350 | Resistance in the Pacific: Writing, Music and Poetry | F, W | 3.0 | PAIS 105 |
| PAIS 375 | Sustaining Oceania: Climate and Resource Stewardship | W, S | 3.0 | PAIS 105 |
| PAIS 390R | Special Topics in Pacific Studies | F, W, S | 3.0 | |
| LANG 100/200/300 | HAWN/MAOR/SAMN/TONG (Pacific Languages Only) | Variable | 3+ |
Electives — 9 Credits
(must take 6 credits of 300 level or above)
| Course Number | Title | Semester Offered | Credit Hours | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANTH 210 | Contemporary Pacific | F | 3.0 | |
| ANTH 360 | Museum Studies | F | 3.0 | ANTH 105 or HUM 151 or HUM 251 |
| ANTH 385 | Archaeology and Oceania | S | 3.0 | ANTH 105 or PAIS 105 |
| ANTH 391 | Narrative, Identity, & Culture | F | 3.0 | PAIS 105 or ANTH 105 or COMM 110 or HUM 151 or HUM 251 or IPB 121 or PAIS 105 |
| ENGL 342 | Pacific Literatures | W | 3.0 | ENGL 251 or ENGL 315 or HUM 251 |
| GEOG 471 | Geography of the Pacific | W | 3.0 | |
| FILM 218 | Basic Video Production | F, W, S | 3.0 | |
| HIST 250 or | History of Eastern Oceania or | W - even years | 3.0 | |
| HIST 252 | History of Western Oceania | S - odd years | 3.0 | |
| HIST 362 | History of the Pacific | S | 3.0 | |
| HIST 367 | Cultural History of Surfing | S | 3.0 | |
| HUM 301 | Cultures of Oceania | F | 3.0 | |
| HWST 312 | Malama 'Aina-Land Responsibility | F, W, S | 3.0 | |
| HWST 380 | Malama Wa'a-Sea Responsibility | Variable | 3.0 | HWST 101, 312 or permission of instructor |
| IPB 311 | NGOs and Conflict Transformation | F | 3.0 | PAIS 105 or IPB 121 |
| IPB 352 | Intercultural Conflict Dynamics | F | 3.0 | IPB 121 or PAIS 105 |
| POSC 322 | Oceanic Governments and Politics | W | 3.0 |
Additional Program Requirements
No grade lower than a C- is allowed within the major requirements.
Program Descriptions
Pacific Studies at BYU–Hawaii is an interdisciplinary program that explores the histories, cultures, and contemporary experiences of Pacific peoples and Oceania. Students engage with a wide range of subjects, including identity, language, Indigenous knowledge, social change, environmental stewardship, and the arts, gaining a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the region and its global diasporas.
The program emphasizes both critical inquiry and meaningful application. Through community engagement and service-learning opportunities, students connect their academic studies to real-world contexts across Oceania and into our global society.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completing a major in Pacific Studies, students will:
- Demonstrate competence in core Pacific Studies knowledge (history, geography, language, traditions, values, arts, literature, politics, perspectives) and cultural practices (protocols, ceremonies, day-to-day lifestyles).
- Develop information literacy skills to evaluate and utilize primary and secondary sources, and critically analyze findings of Pacific Island Studies sources.
- Conduct research and develop critical thinking skills to identify resources, analyze issues, and create solutions in Oceania.
- Demonstrate knowledge of indigenous Pacific world views, languages, values, and viewpoints through verbal and written expressions.