University of Hawaii at Manoa

What you'll study

This MA focuses on the study of Chinese philosophical traditions — including Confucianism, Daoism, Chinese Buddhism, and modern Chinese intellectual movements — alongside methods of comparative and historical philosophy. Students read primary texts in translation and, where possible, in the original classical Chinese, and engage with secondary scholarship across philosophy, religious studies and intellectual history.

• Core topics: classical Confucian and Daoist thought, Buddhist philosophy in East Asia, metaphysics, ethics, and political philosophy as they appear in Chinese sources.
• Textual and language study: training in classical Chinese reading and philological methods to support direct engagement with primary materials.
• Methodology and theory: hermeneutics, comparative philosophy, and contemporary analytic/continental approaches applied to Chinese texts.
• Research components: research seminars, a substantial writing requirement (thesis or equivalent), and a capstone examination or defence depending on the programme option.
• Interdisciplinary electives: options to take courses through the Center for Chinese Studies, Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, religion, history, or political science to contextualise philosophical study.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a recognised bachelor’s degree in philosophy or a closely related discipline, with a strong academic record. Successful applicants typically demonstrate preparedness for graduate-level work in philosophy and relevant language training where applicable.

• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
• A statement of purpose outlining academic interests, proposed areas of study within Chinese philosophy, and research goals.
• Academic references, usually two or three letters from instructors or supervisors familiar with the applicant’s scholarly potential.
• A writing sample that shows ability to engage with philosophical texts and construct sustained arguments; samples that include engagement with non-Western sources are advantageous.
• International applicants must meet the university’s English language requirements via recognised tests or exemptions.

Career prospects

Graduates from the programme move into a range of careers that value advanced interpretive, linguistic and research skills. Many continue to doctoral study in philosophy, religious studies or East Asian studies.

• Academic careers: PhD programmes, teaching at secondary and tertiary levels, or research positions focused on Chinese thought.
• Public and cultural institutions: museums, cultural heritage organisations, and centres for Asian studies where expertise in Chinese culture and texts is valuable.
• Policy, diplomacy and international organisations: roles requiring cultural literacy and regional expertise in the Asia–Pacific context.
• Publishing, translation and editing: careers involving scholarly or literary translation, editorial work on academic texts, or cultural journalism.
• Private sector and NGOs: consultancy, education programme development, and cross-cultural communication roles.

Why study at University of Hawaii at Manoa

The University of Hawaii at Manoa offers a distinctive environment for the study of Chinese philosophy because of its location at the crossroads of the Asia–Pacific and its long-standing institutional strengths in Asian studies. Faculty and affiliated centres provide access to interdisciplinary expertise in Chinese history, language instruction, and area studies.

• Strong interdisciplinary network: collaboration opportunities with the Center for Chinese Studies and East Asian language and culture departments enhance research breadth and access to specialised courses.
• Language resources: programmes and courses supporting classical and modern Chinese language study strengthen primary-text research capability.
• Regional advantage: Hawai‘i’s connections across the Pacific facilitate scholarly exchanges, visiting scholars, and community links with Asian cultural institutions.
• Support for research: library collections, archives and research seminars tailored to East Asian and comparative philosophical scholarship.