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Studies & Degrees in Samoan Studies

Samoan studies is the academic study of the Samoan language (gagana Samoa) and of fa'a Samoa, the Samoan way of life: its customs, oratory, literature, history and social organisation. It is a small field, taught mainly in the Samoan islands and in countries with large Samoan communities.

The Samoan Studies Department of American Samoa Community College (ASCC) sums up the content in eight cultural traits: language, knowledge, religion, social organization, political organization, livelihood, trade and exchange, and technology and equipment. The National University of Samoa describes a similar mix in its Samoan language and culture programme: students learn to speak and write Samoan in its many forms and study customary protocols, performing arts, oral history and tradition, and material culture.

What students learn

  • the Samoan language: speaking, writing, reading, listening, translation and interpretation between Samoan and English
  • respectful and formal registers of the language, and Samoan oratory
  • Samoan literature, from oral tradition to contemporary writing
  • cultural practice, such as honorific salutations (fa'alupega) and the 'ava ceremony
  • Samoan and Pacific history, and the history of American Samoa in its regional context
  • culturally grounded research using oral histories and academic frameworks

Courses are aimed both at heritage speakers and at beginners. ASCC, for example, has conversational Samoan courses intended for non-speakers and beginning speakers, alongside intensive courses in formal speaking and writing.

Qualifications and levels

  • Associate degree. ASCC offers an Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in Samoan Studies. The programme has 72 credits of general education over two years, including Samoan language, culture, oratory and history courses, plus 12 recommended programme credits in language and culture.
  • Teaching certificate. The ASCC Certificate of Proficiency with Certification to Teach Samoan Language is for teachers and Samoan language practitioners who already hold at least an associate degree. It has 32 credits and is an intensive one-year programme with a minimum of 810 contact hours. All candidates sit a placement test, and the preferred language of instruction is Samoan. The college notes that the certificate covers knowledge of the language, not teaching methods.
  • Bachelor's, master's and doctorate. Higher levels are taught outside the SpainExchange directory. The Centre for Samoan Studies at the National University of Samoa offers Samoan language and culture as a major in its Bachelor, Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Samoan Studies, and lists a Doctor of Philosophy in Samoan Studies. The University of Auckland in New Zealand teaches Samoan as a subject within its arts degrees.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists one active school for Samoan studies: American Samoa Community College, in American Samoa. Its Samoan Studies Institute is in Mapusaga and also publishes books and offers translation services. ASCC awards associate degrees and certificates, and its general education programme requires every student to show an appreciation of Samoan culture and other Pacific cultures.

Options beyond the associate degree include the National University of Samoa, whose Centre for Samoan Studies also publishes the Journal of Samoan Studies, and the University of Auckland in New Zealand. At ASCC the certificate programme is taught preferably in Samoan, and the degree also includes English literature and composition courses, so beginners should ask which entry courses are open to them.

Careers

Samoan studies leads above all to work that needs the language and a sound knowledge of the culture. The University of Auckland states that knowledge of Samoan can be useful for careers in education, the public service, social services and welfare, business, marketing, journalism, language teaching, interpreting and translation. In American Samoa, the ASCC certificate is designed for school teachers who teach the language. Graduates who want to teach in schools elsewhere need the teaching qualification required in that country.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Samoan before I start?

Not always. ASCC has conversational Samoan courses for non-speakers and beginners. Its teaching certificate, however, requires a placement test, and students who score below a B cannot register for the certificate programme.

How long does the associate degree in Samoan studies take?

The Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in Samoan Studies at ASCC is set out as two years of general education with 36 credits each, 72 credits in total.

Can I take a bachelor's or master's degree in Samoan studies?

Yes, but not at the school in this directory. The National University of Samoa offers a Bachelor, a Postgraduate Diploma and a Master of Samoan Studies through its Centre for Samoan Studies.