Honolulu,
HI,
United States
Type
Public
Degrees offered
Bachelor's Degree
PhD in English- Life Writing in Honolulu United States | University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
|
Honolulu United States
Visit institution website
for more information
Qualification
Doctor of Philosophy
Languages
English
Delivery Mode
On-Campus
Tuition (2025)
USD
33,648
Attendance
Full-time
Full-time Duration
36 months
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa serves as a leading hub for life writing studies, housing both the Center for Biographical Research (founded in 1988) and the acclaimed journal Biography: An Interdisciplinary Quarterly (established in 1978).
The English Department provides diverse undergraduate and graduate courses that explore the analysis and creation of life narratives (visit the Creative Writing section for details on autobiography, creative nonfiction, and memoir classes). With life writing now extending well beyond conventional forms like biography and memoir, our academic approach has evolved to embrace interdisciplinary perspectives. UH Mānoa's life writing curriculum examines various narrative formats, from biopics and documentary films to graphic novels, visual arts, testimonio, digital platforms, and autoethnographic works. Our faculty employ multiple critical frameworks, investigating topics such as human rights in life writing or the impact of digital media on personal narratives. Particularly important is our emphasis on Indigenous and decolonizing perspectives, reflecting how regional contexts influence life writing in Hawaii and the Pacific region.
Learners at every stage can develop critical or creative life writing projects with guidance from globally recognized experts. Recent graduate student research is available through this link to MA theses and PhD dissertations.
Additionally, the Center for Biographical Research presents UH Mānoa's longest continuous lecture series - the weekly Brown Bag Biography discussions focused on life writing.
Numerous opportunities exist to participate in life writing at UH Mānoa. Visit the Center for Biographical Research's website to learn more.
Destination of Study
Subjects of Study
Language Requirements
English
IELTS 6.0
Qualification Requirements
Applicants to the Ph.D. program must hold or expect to hold prior to matriculation a Master's degree in English or a closely related field.
The Graduate Admissions Application. Select English as the program. Our
concentrations (e.g., Creative Writing) are not listed on the application's
dropdown menu but you can indicate your concentration in your Statement of
Objectives.
2. The admissions application fee
3. Transcripts from each postsecondary institution you have attended. Unofficial
copies are acceptable for the admissions application, but admitted students must
submit official transcripts in order to enroll at UHM. Graduate Division sets a
minimum GPA of 3.0. If you do not meet this minimum you should address this
in your Statement of Objectives (item 5, below).
4. Certain applicants may be required to submit the following items:
o Residency Declaration Form (applicants who qualify to pay resident rate
tuition)
o Confidential Financial Statement Form (international applicants only)
o Official TOEFL or IELTS exam scores (international applicants only).
(item 5, below). IELTS - 6.0, TOEFL (iBT) - 61, TOEFL PBT-500,Duolingo English Test - 95
The Graduate Admissions Application. Select English as the program. Our
concentrations (e.g., Creative Writing) are not listed on the application's
dropdown menu but you can indicate your concentration in your Statement of
Objectives.
2. The admissions application fee
3. Transcripts from each postsecondary institution you have attended. Unofficial
copies are acceptable for the admissions application, but admitted students must
submit official transcripts in order to enroll at UHM. Graduate Division sets a
minimum GPA of 3.0. If you do not meet this minimum you should address this
in your Statement of Objectives (item 5, below).
4. Certain applicants may be required to submit the following items:
o Residency Declaration Form (applicants who qualify to pay resident rate
tuition)
o Confidential Financial Statement Form (international applicants only)
o Official TOEFL or IELTS exam scores (international applicants only).
(item 5, below). IELTS - 6.0, TOEFL (iBT) - 61, TOEFL PBT-500,Duolingo English Test - 95
Tuition
USD
33,648