PACIFIC 200 Pacific Studies - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Builds students' core knowledge of the Pacific, introducing key debates and interdisciplinary methods in Pacific Studies. The course tackles critical concerns in the Pacific Islands' region, including those of its peoples, transnationalism and globalisation, government and economy, health, wellbeing and climate.

Course Overview

Covering a vast expanse of the globe, the Pacific Islands and Ocean is an area of interconnected regional societies and identities. In this course, we build students’ core knowledge by introducing key debates and interdisciplinary methods, drawing on different media and texts produced within and outside the Pacific. In approaching the region as the global Pacific, we learn about local issues and challenges within a global context, including those of its peoples, transnationalism and globalisation, government and economy, health, wellbeing and climate.

In the first part of the course, we test the depth and breadth of the currents of Pacific thought through the writings of key Pacific thinkers. Employing a 'flipped classroom,' student-led research groups choose a Pacific thinker on which to focus and develop their own projects around the thinker’s work. In the second part of the course we have integrated Unit 2 on approaches to studying the Pacific with Unit 3 on current issues and debates. Here, case studies highlight the localized and global aspects of current debates. For example, in our study of Disney’s Moana and Pacific scholar Vilsoni Hereniko’s Moana, we examine representation of the Pacific by the corporate culture industry and indigenous artistic productions, with consideration of wider debates about cultural appropriation. The case of Mauna Kea and the Thirty Meter Telescope highlights visions of development and land use across the Pacific, including the treatment of sacred sites and the way Pacific islands have been used to advance scientific projects. Grounded in the poetry of Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, we build our understanding of climate change, its specific and pressing impacts on Pacific societies, and activism by organizations like Pacific 350.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: PACIFIC 100 or 45 points in BGlobalSt courses

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Develop students’ knowledge of the contemporary Pacific Studies, including distinctive ways of studying/analysing the Pacific that incorporate Pacific knowledge frameworks and worldviews. (Capability 1.1)
Demonstrate an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of Pacific Studies. (Capability 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3)
Identify key contributions of Pacific Studies approaches to research in and with Pacific communities. (Capability 1.1, 1.3 and 2.3)
Create a resource based on a selected Pacific thinker’s work. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)
Understand, analyse, and evaluate selected current issues and/or debates. (Capability 1.3, 2.3 and 4.1)
Demonstrate critical analysis skills. (Capability 1.3, 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Project	25%	Group & Individual Coursework
Test	15%	Individual Test
Issue Response	10%	Individual Coursework
Final Exam	40%	Individual Examination
Tutorials	10%	Individual Coursework
5 types	100%

Next offered

This course will be offered again in Semester I 2021

Learning Resources

Required readings will be available via Canvas/Reading List from the Library.

Workload Expectations

Being prepared for class is an essential part of research, learning and teaching. Being unprepared prevents you from learning; it also inhibits the work of others, and the class, and prevents your full development as a student in the course. This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week on each 15 point course that they are enrolled in, including class time and personal study and assignment preparation. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly.

Other Information

Attendance. The number one predictor of success in this course (and many others) is class attendance. It is expected that you will attend all lectures and tutorials. Occasional absences for illness or emergency are acceptable, but chronic absence will make it difficult for you to do well in or even pass this class.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement

PACIFIC 200 : Pacific Studies

Arts

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)