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The Master of Arts in Pacific Islands Studies stands as the sole program of its type across the United States. Designed for scholars of the region, it encourages students to move beyond traditional academic disciplines and discover creative methodologies for examining critical matters in the Pacific Islands. Alongside coursework, the MA program offers two pathways: thesis or portfolio. The thesis track involves producing an academic, research-focused paper on a Pacific-related subject, typically chosen by those aiming for doctoral studies in humanities, social sciences, or interdisciplinary fields. Alternatively, the portfolio option allows students to showcase expertise in a specific area of Pacific Islands studies through a research-based project that may blend creative elements with academic critique. Alumni have advanced to doctoral or professional programs in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Hawaii, and mainland US, while others have found careers in diverse sectors such as education, social services, publishing, and cultural institutions like libraries and museums.