The Oceania and Pacific Islander Studies (OPIS) minor offers students an opportunity to learn about the histories and contemporary cultures of Oceania through academic coursework and community experiences. As part of the minor, all students undertake a community practicum to gain hands-on experience and to enhance their knowledge of OPI communities. Students who minor find that OPIS provides transformative context to their major, whether it is in a professional field, the sciences, social sciences, or liberal arts. Graduates use their expertise for diverse careers in the public and private sectors, as well as in leading graduate programs.
Declaring a Minor in Oceania and Pacific Islander Studies
Students in good academic standing may declare the minor at any time by meeting with their major adviser. Please see Undergraduate Advising’s Minor page for additional considerations about earning a minor.
Minor Requirements
For additional help planning, refer to our Planning Worksheet or contact our adviser Kai Wise.
The OPIS minor requires a minimum of 25 credits including:
1. Required Introductory Course
5 credits:
- AIS 102 Introduction to American Indian Studies (AUT only)
2. Required Asian Pacific Islander Content Course
5 credits, at least one course from:
- AAS 206 Contemporary Issues of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (WIN only)
- AAS 210 Asian American and Pacific Islander American identity: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture (SPR only)
- ANTH 309 Indigenous Epistemologies & Oceanic Canoes
*If you take more than one of these courses, the additional credits will count toward the elective requirement.
3. Practicum Course
The minor was designed to be not only an academic experience, but to connect students with community work outside the classroom. Examples of Practicum experiences include, but are not limited to:
- Community research or work while studying abroad
- Internship with a local community organization, such as Pacific Islander Health Alliance, Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival, etc.
- Special project with a campus organization such as PSA, PISC, etc.
- Research Family or Community work at the Burke Museum
The OPIS advisor can help you connect with any of these organizations and discuss ideas with you, then help you register for 5 credits of AES 494 Community Practicum and Internship, AIS 497 Internship, or ANTH 489 Anthropology Practicum.
Faculty across campus can serve as your faculty sponsor for the practicum experience. Below is a sample list of faculty who are always willing to work with OPIS students for their practicum work:
- Rick Bonus, AES Professor and Department Chair
- Holly Barker, Anthropology Professor and Burke Museum curator
- Vincent Schleitwiler, AES Professor
- Mike Spencer, Social Work Professor
- Peter Lape, Anthropology Professor
- Christopher Teuton, AIS Professor and Department Chair
- Jean Dennison, AIS Professor
4. Electives
10 credits total: At least 5 credits must be at the 300 level or higher. Any other course that has significant Oceania/Pacific Islander Studies content may be approved by the program advisor. Send a copy of the syllabus to the AIS advisor for course approval.
At least 15 credits of the minor should be at the 300 level or higher. Confirmed course offerings as of 10.24.23 include:
Autumn 2023
- AIS 102 Intro to American Indian and Indigenous Studies
- AAS 360 Critical Filipino American Histories
Winter 2024
- AAS 206 Contemporary Issues of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans
- AAS 300/ANTH 307 U.S. Pacific Islander Contemporary Culture
- AAS 402 Contemporary Asian American Literature
- EDUC 340 Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies
- ENGL 257 Asian American Literature
- SMEA 485 Pacific Tourism (online)
Spring 2024
- ARCHY 325 Archaeology of Islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific
- ANTH 309 Indigenous Epistemologies and Oceanic Canoes
- ENGL 257 Asian American Literature
- SMEA 103 Society and the Oceans (online)
OPIS Elective Credits:
- ARCHY 469 B for SP 22 Dugout and Skinboat Documentation with Peter Lape and Sven Haakanson
- AAS 300/ANTH 307 U.S. Pacific Islander Contemporary Culture
- AAS 320 Hawai‘i’s Literature
- AAS 360 Critical Filipino American Histories
- AAS 385 Asian & Pacific Islander Americans: Race, Law, and Justice
- AAS 392/GWSS 392 Asian American and Pacific Islander Women
- AAS 402 Contemporary Asian American Literature
- Art H 333 Indigenous Body Adornment
- ANTH 306 Pacific Islander Representation
- ANTH 312 Pacific Islander Literature and Film
- ARCHY 325 Archaeology of Islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific
- EDUC 340 Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies
- ENG 257 Asian American Literature
- SMEA 103 Society and the Oceans
- SMEA 485 Pacific Tourism
- CHID 480 for AUT 21 Indigenous Storytelling and Worldmaking in the Global Pacific
Study Abroad Elective Options
UW offers a number of off-campus programs that can qualify for credit in the minor, including in American Samoa, Fiji, Hawaii, the Philippines, Samoa, and Tahiti. You can explore offerings on the UW Study Abroad website.