PACIFIC 200 : Theorising Pacific Studies

Arts

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Broadens and deepens knowledge of the Pacific and fosters critical understandings of how that knowledge is created. Focuses on Pacific approaches as they theorise Pacific Studies alongside other allied disciplines, identifies the influence of Pacific thinkers and refines thinking via the critical analysis of key debates.

Course Overview

Covering a vast expanse of the globe, the Pacific Ocean and Islands 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 world views, languages, and knowledge frameworks; sovereignty, land use, and sacred spaces; transnationalism and globalization; development and aid; creative expression and cultural production; and activism. 

In the first part of the course, Unit 1, we set our foundations with approaches to studying the Pacific. In this section, a particular focus is on how knowledge about the Pacific and its peoples is created, and the emergence of Pacific Studies as a discipline. In Unit 2 we test the depth and breadth of the currents of Pacific thought through the writings of key Pacific thinkers. We employ project-based learning, where student-led research groups choose a Pacific thinker and develop their own projects around the thinker’s work. In Unit 3 we focus on current issues and debates. We may, for example, examine and discuss issues of media and representation; land development and sovereignty; militarism and Pacific solidarity; and cultural revitalisation and renaissance.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: PACIFIC 100 or 45 points in BGlobalSt courses

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of Pacific Studies (Capability 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7)
  2. Identify key contributions of Pacific Studies approaches to research in and with Pacific communities. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)
  3. Create a resource based on a selected Pacific thinker’s work. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)
  4. Understand, analyse, and evaluate selected current issues and/or debates. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Project 25% Group & Individual Coursework
Individual Coursework 75% Individual Coursework

Exam Mode

  • Exam mode A - Remote online non-invigilated exam on Inspera
  • Exam mode B - Remote online invigilation through Inspera Integrity Browser (IIB)
  • Exam mode C - In-person invigilated exam on paper
  • Exam mode D - In-person invigilated exam on computer through Inspera Integrity Browser (IIB)
  • There is no final exam for this course

Further information about exams can be found at https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/about-exams.html

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. To the best of their ability, students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities, including lectures and tutorials, to receive credit for components of the course. In the case of absence, lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials/workshops will not be available as recordings.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning 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.

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

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.

At the end of the 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.

This semester, PAC 200 topics have been adjusted with student feedback.

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.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

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 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.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

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.

Published on 31/10/2024 11:33 a.m.