The Minor in Anthropology is for students who must complete 15 credits of upper-division (300+) Anthropology courses, including one theory and one upper division methods courses.
The Minor in Medical Anthropology seeks to understand the social and cultural context of health and illness by examining conceptions of self and body, narratives of affliction, and practices of treatment.
The Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology is the study of human social, cultural and biological diversity. Specializations include Applied Archaeology, and Ecological and Medical Anthropology, with a focus on Asia and the Pacific.
There are three Anthropology BAM programs to choose from – Biological Anthropology Track (Plan B), BA in Anthropology and MA in Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology Track (Plan B), and BA in Anthropology and MA in Anthropology, Applied Cultural Anthropology in Hawaiʻi, the Pacific, and Asia.
The Master of Arts in Anthropology instills anthropological fundamentals in Archaeology, Biological and Cultural Anthropology, as well as additional core competencies in the applicant’s elected subfield. The Department also offers alternative terminal MA tracks in Applied Archaeology and Applied Cultural Anthropology.
The Master of Arts in Applied Archaeology in the Pacific and Asia offered by the Department of Anthropology is designed for professional, non-academic archaeologists and others who seek to be effective advocates for the study and preservation of historic sites in Hawaiʻi, Oceania and Asia.
The Master of Arts in Applied Cultural Anthropology in Hawaiʻi, the Pacific and Asia is designed for professional, non-academic archaeologists and others who seek to be effective advocates for the study and preservation of historic sites in Hawaiʻi, Oceania and Asia.
The PhD program in Anthropology focuses on the design and implementation of individualized problem-oriented anthropological research under the guidance of world-class faculty. It involves coursework, a lengthy period of field and/or laboratory research, and a dissertation. Anthropology PhD degree-holders find employment in higher education, government, non-profit and private sector research, outreach and policy making.
The Bachelor of Arts in Communication emphasizes both critical and applied skills. Students complete four foundation courses that provide a breadth of understanding of the field of Communication. Students then take electives across three areas of specialization to deepen their understanding in one or more subfields. The program culminates with a senior capstone project in which students conduct original research, launch a persuasive campaign or design a creative project. Three focus areas are Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Policy; Communication in Communities; and Media Arts.
The Master of Arts in Communication works within sociocultural and sociotechnical perspectives to educate students in key areas of communication: social media, strategic communication, intercultural communication, emerging information and communication technologies, journalism, and communication policy and planning.
The minor in Communicology allows undergraduates to complement their major with a stronger understanding of human communication processes and functions. As with the major in Communicology, students explore creating understanding, interpersonal relationships, and persuasion. They examine these areas in a focused number of contexts relevant to their major. All majors can benefit from a minor in Communicology because employers name communication skills and the ability to get along with others as essential skills in employees.
COMG BA students develop a scientific understanding of human communication with a curriculum focusing on its central processes and functions. Students explore creating understanding, interpersonal relationships, and persuasion and its extension in various communicative contexts, such as intercultural, group, conflict, deception, leadership, instructional, family, and health. Students learn to communicate effectively with others by making appropriate adaptations for the audience, situation, and purpose; explain communicative behavior; make compelling arguments; identify and respond to challenges in communicating with others; and conduct ethical communication research, including finding and evaluating information and collecting, assessing, and reporting data.
Communicology BAM students develop a scientific understanding of human communication. The program focuses on how people understand, relate, and influence each other and provides opportunities to explore extensions of these topics in intercultural, group, conflict, deception, leadership, instructional, family, and health contexts. Students learn to communicate effectively, to help others be more effective communicators, and to ask and answer questions about human communication.
The Communicology MA program focuses on the dynamics of human interaction: how people understand, relate, and influence each other. Located in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, at a “crossroads” between the East and West, the program emphasizes the role of different cultural perspectives and social identities in communication and how people can create understanding and communicate effectively.
The Minor in Economics focuses on the discovery, refinement and dissemination of economic knowledge, with emphasis on policy issues involving Hawaiʻi and the Asia-Pacific region. Areas of expertise include international economics, population economics, labor economics, economics history, health economics, experimental economics, microeconomics, econometrics, macroeconomics, economic development, public economics and environmental/resource economics. From raising living standards to designing policies that preserve the environment, the study of economics provides powerful tools for understanding the most pressing policy issues of the day.
The Bachelor of Arts in Economics focuses on the discovery, refinement and dissemination of economic knowledge, with emphasis on policy issues involving Hawaiʻi and the Asia-Pacific region. Areas of expertise include international economics, population economics, labor economics, economics history, health economics, experimental economics, microeconomics, econometrics, macroeconomics, economic development, public economics and environmental/resource economics. From raising living standards to designing policies that preserve the environment, the study of economics provides powerful tools for understanding the most pressing policy issues of the day. FULLY ONLINE degree option available.
Our Fully Online BA Degree Completion Program in Economics equips you to understand and address pressing social issues and policy problems, including economic challenges in Hawaiʻi, the United States, and the Asia-Pacific region. Customize your studies to fit your schedule while enhancing your quantitative analysis and research communication skills. Join us on this transformative journey to make a positive impact by harnessing the power of economics for meaningful change, all from the comfort of your own home.
The Bachelor of Arts in Economics, with a concentration in Quantitative Economics (QEC), prepares students for careers in a variety of professional fields. The QEC curriculum also provides students with empirical skills that serve as excellent preparation for graduate schools.
The combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Economics is available to Economics majors at UH Mānoa. The five-year program is designed for current and prospective professions in the U.S. and abroad who seek to develop and fine-tune analytical skills in theoretical and quantitative methods. BA-MA students enjoy the support of faculty with expertise in a variety of fields, including international economics, population economics, labor economics, economics history, health economics, experimental economics, microeconomics, econometrics, macroeconomics, economic development, public economics, and environmental/resource economics.
The public and private sectors need professionals with solid skills in economics and data analysis. Demand for such professionals is higher than ever before due to the increasing availability of socioeconomic data and advanced new quantitative methods. The Economics MA Program provides current and prospective private- and public-sector professionals from the U.S. and abroad with sophisticated data analytic tools, underpinned by solid training in economic fundamentals. Students in the program can draw on faculty expertise in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, economic development, international economics, and public policy. They learn how to address issues in public finance, labor, and health, as well as resource and environmental economics.
The PhD program in Economics trains students in theoretical and empirical skills, and exposes them to a broad range of policy issues to prepare them for careers in academia, business or government. The small size of the program, approximately 10 new PhD students each year working with 21 full-time faculty members, promotes strong collaboration between students and faculty. Students enjoy the support of faculty with expertise in a variety of fields, including international economics, population economics, labor economics, economics history, health economics, experimental economics, microeconomics, econometrics, macroeconomics, economic development, public economics and environmental/resource economics.
The undergraduate certificate in Ethnic Studies prepares students to pursue a wide range of intellectual interests through courses in the histories and social dynamics of different ethnic groups. It covers a wide range of topics including migration, land tenure, social movements, social inequality and social justice, labor history, and ethnic, race and gender politics and relations in Hawaiʻi, Oceania and the U.S. Students gain the ability to work effectively within global and multicultural communities in such areas as education, social services, government, business, law, cultural and labor organizations, communications and nonprofit management. FULLY ONLINE certificate option available.
The Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies prepares students to pursue a wide range of intellectual interests through courses in the histories and social dynamics of different ethnic groups. It covers a wide range of topics including migration, land tenure, social movements, social inequality and social justice, labor history, and ethnic, race, and gender politics and relations in Hawaiʻi, Oceania, and the U.S. Students gain the ability to work effectively within global and multicultural communities in such areas as education, social services, government, business, law, cultural and labor organizations, communications and nonprofit management.
The combined Bachelor’s in Ethnic Studies and Master’s in Educational Administration is a five-year program designed for students who are interested in entry and mid-level administrative positions in higher education.
The combined Bachelor’s in Ethnic Studies and Master’s in Educational Foundations is a five-year program designed for students who want to make a positive impact on education policy, practice and research.
The undergraduate certificate in Geospatial Information Science is offered by the Department of Geography and Environment. It provides students with practical geospatial information science skills and offers a systematic set of courses that focus on the acquisition, processing, generation, visualization, analysis, management and dissemination of geospatial data. Students majoring in natural resource management, earth and ocean sciences, biophysical and social sciences find the certificate of particular interest.
The Minor in Geography and Environment focuses on the study of places and the relationships between people and their environment, including the examination of how cultural and political economic institutions interact with the natural environment, ways that locations and places impact people, and how these relationships change over time. It offers students an interdisciplinary academic training to study critical issues that face modern society, such as globalization and its regional implications, climate change and its effects, resource use and sustainability, cultural change and environmental consequences, geopolitics, and the use of geospatial technologies.
The Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environment focuses on the study of places and the relationships between people and their environment, including the examination of how cultural and political economic institutions interact with the natural environment, ways that locations and places impact people, and how these relationships change over time. It offers students an interdisciplinary academic training to study critical issues that face modern society, such as globalization and its regional implications, climate change and its effects, resource use and sustainability, cultural change and environmental consequences, geopolitics, and the use of geospatial technologies.
The combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Geography and Environment is a five-year program that focuses on the study of places and the relationships between people and their environment. Topics areas include the examination of how cultural and political economic institutions interact with the natural environment, ways that locations and places impact people, and how these relationships change over time. Students enhance their skills to think politically about the world and learn how to produce quality scholarship and analysis.
The Master of Arts in Geography and Environment attracts students who must demonstrate a breadth of coursework in the areas of human geography, environmental geography, geospatial technologies, and statistics or an equivalent quantitative course.
The PhD program in Geography and Environment imparts an understanding of the standards of concepts and methodologies of professional geographers. Students develop a basic understanding of the discipline of geography, its relationship with cognate fields, and its contribution to knowledge; detailed understanding of at least one specialty within the discipline of geography; ability to conduct independent research of a professional quality; and ability to communicate the results of research in both oral and written forms.
The Journalism major emphasizes both critical and applied skills. Students learn to gather, organize, analyze and understand information about the world around them, and are trained to share it responsibly and ethically across multiple media platforms including social media. The program stresses the importance of independent, responsible news media to ensure an informed citizenry and the right to self-governance in a democracy.
The undergraduate certificate in Peace Studies offered by the Matsunaga Institute, equivalent to a minor at UH Mānoa, broadens students’ perspectives and strengthens critical thinking on the issues of war and peace, justice and human rights, and governance. Students focus on the fundamentals of peace and conflict resolution, skills that are highly valued by employers in a wide range of professional fields, making it an excellent complement to many popular majors. FULLY ONLINE certificate option available.
The graduate certificate in Conflict Resolution offered by the Matsunaga Institute allows graduate students and working professionals to study the theory and practice of conflict resolution. They develop skills that are valued in a wide range of professions, including public administration, business, law, education, social work, urban planning and human resource management. The certificate may be pursued as a separate academic program or earned concurrently with a JD, MA, MPA, MS, MEd, MBA, MPH, MSW, PhD or other graduate degrees.
The Minor in Political Science touches the fields of international relations, political theory, comparative politics, Asian politics, futures studies, indigenous politics and public policy. There is a shared preoccupation with the critique of dominant historical forces and centers of power. Students gain a basic understanding of the law and how legal systems affect aspects of daily lives. They also develop analytical skills that complement the studies of literature, history, performance, philosophy and other branches of the humanities.
The Bachelor of Arts in Political Science focuses on political processes, governance and theories of political life, with students gaining critical knowledge of political and legal systems that shape society. The Department is a standout in the fields of international relations, political theory, comparative politics, Asian politics, futures studies, indigenous politics and public policy. Students become critical thinkers and problem-solvers who can understand how political power shapes — and can be shaped by — individuals, communities, social movements, corporations, nations and other forces.
The combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Political Science is a five-year program that focuses on political processes, governance, and theories of political life while imparting critical knowledge of political and legal systems that shape society. It is designed for students seeking to enhance their skills to think politically about the world and learn how to produce quality scholarship and analysis.
The Master of Arts in Political Science focuses on political processes, governance and theories of political life, with students gaining critical knowledge of political and legal systems that shape society. The Department is a standout in the fields of international relations, political theory, comparative politics, Asian politics, futures studies, indigenous politics and public policy. Students become critical thinkers and problem-solvers who can understand how political power shapes — and can be shaped by — individuals, communities, social movements, corporations, nations and other forces.
The PhD program in Political Science encourages the pursuit of specialized interests and a broadened understanding of political phenomena. Creative and analytical skills are further developed to think critically, conduct research and provide original scholarship. The program is a fertile environment for students bringing a wide variety of backgrounds to the study of politics, and who have the competence to initiate investigations and work independently.
The Minor in Psychology imparts the subject’s fundamentals. Students gain the opportunity to adapt their academic journeys to particular interests. It is also an excellent way to advance career opportunities and to increase the chances of being admitted to a graduate or professional school.
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology offers a broad coverage of the topic, flexibility in choosing courses, and sufficient background in the major to enable outstanding students to qualify for graduate programs. The curriculum for the degree is also appropriate for those intending to go into law, business, education or master’s level fields such as counseling, rehabilitation or social work.
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology offers a research-oriented program of study, including an in-depth exploration of psychological principles and sufficient background to enable outstanding students to qualify for graduate programs with a focus on laboratory research. The curriculum is useful for students planning to attend medical school, and those interested in pursuing biomedical professions or other research careers.
The combined Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Educational Psychology is a five-year program designed for students with personal and professional interests in the psychological bases of behavior in general, and specifically in human learning and development in the context of education.
The Master of Arts in Psychology offers a broad understanding of the subject across a range of psychological disciplines. Students also receive training in research methods and statistics in preparation for developing and conducting their own research projects. The emphasis on using scientific methods serves to enhance critical thinking and reasoning skills, and results in rigorous research projects that add to the theoretical body of knowledge in each field. Projects may also contribute to real-world settings by translating knowledge into practices that promote health and well-being throughout the lifespan.
The PhD program in Psychology offers the opportunity to gain research experience and training in areas of interest. Students engage in research with faculty advisors, as well as develop and conduct their own research projects. The degree is appropriate for students seeking academic or research positions, or those interested in careers in the mental health or medical fields.
The Master of Public Administration offers students a comprehensive foundation in a field that is designed to build leadership in public service in Hawaiʻi, the continental U.S. and the Asia-Pacific region. The program’s format emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, collaborative teaching and a learning community experience that is designed to help students gain the knowledge, skills and values that are important for public service leadership.
The graduate certificate in Public Administration is a 15-credit, year-long commitment designed for individuals seeking to better understand their public service organizations. It is also appropriate for those wishing to explore public administration prior to committing to the full MPA degree program.
The graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management offered by the Public Administration Program is a 15-credit, year-long commitment, which may be taken in conjunction with the MPA degree. It provides the tools and framework necessary to meet the increasing challenges facing the nonprofit sector. The distinctive and interdisciplinary coursework draws students from diverse areas of interest, including social work, law and business.
The Minor in Sociology focuses on how society organizes itself, how various groups interact and the consequences of these processes. Students gain basic sociological knowledge and can supplement and enhance a chosen major through the study of related topics.
The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology looks at how society organizes itself, how various groups interact and the consequences of these processes. Sociology’s subject matter includes marriage and family patterns, race and ethnic relations, demography, social change, class structure, formal organizations including bureaucracies, value systems, conflict, deviant behavior, medical sociology and aging, criminology, and the people and institutions of other societies.
The Master of Arts in Sociology looks at how society organizes itself, how various groups interact and the consequences of these processes. Sociology’s subject matter includes marriage and family patterns, race and ethnic relations, demography, social change, class structure, formal organizations including bureaucracies, value systems, conflict, deviant behavior, medical sociology and aging, criminology, and the people and institutions of other societies. Providing a solid foundation in sociology theories and methods, the MA program can open doors to a variety of occupations and serve as a strong complement to professional or academic training in other fields.
The PhD program in Sociology provides systematic exposure to qualitative and quantitative theories and methods of social research. The program is unique in its faculty expertise and research on the sociology of Hawaiʻi, Asia and the Pacific, and four additional key focus areas. Graduates gain a firm foundation in sociological theory, methods and research as they prepare to engage in professional research and university teaching.
The combined Bachelor’s in Global Environmental Science and Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning is oriented toward students seeking to engage with and develop solutions to environmental problems utilizing planning tools, approaches and policies.
The graduate certificate in Planning Studies offered by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning allows students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in a related field to become acquainted with planning skills and activities. Students enrolled in graduate programs in architecture, economics, engineering, geography, political science, public health, social work and sociology are eligible. Earners of this graduate certificate may increase their competence in planning as it relates to their major area of study. An individual student’s program may be designed to build upon his/her educational background and professional interests.
The graduate certificate in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance offered by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning provides an academic course of study aimed at building disaster risk reduction competence and professionalism. Combining existing courses across campus that provide disciplinary perspectives on hazards, disasters and risk reduction — with focused coursework and seminars in core areas of disaster management and humanitarian assistance — results in a rigorous and productive graduate level curriculum. Students graduating with recognized skills in disaster risk reduction will find career opportunities in the public and private sectors, from local to international arenas.
The professional certificate in Urban and Regional Planning is designed for planning practitioners and working professionals in public policy, economic development, environmental conservation and many other fields related to planning. It is open to those currently working in the public, private or voluntary sector who do not have a planning degree but are interested in formal education in urban and regional planning and any of its sub-fields. The program allows professionals to continue working full-time by offering a selection of evening as well as daytime courses. Certificate students may attend classes or make arrangements with the instructor to take courses through real-time distance learning when available.
The Master of Urban and Regional Planning program responds to the global need for cooperative responses to environmental crises, resource scarcity and socio-political conflicts. Its interdisciplinary curriculum covers all areas of planning with particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region, environmental planning and sustainability, participatory community planning, housing, and disaster management.
The PhD program in Urban and Regional Planning provides training in advanced research in urban and regional planning. Graduates are expected to pursue academic appointments at institutions of higher education and to achieve higher levels of professional practice in the public and private sectors.
The undergraduate certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies focuses on specific achievements of women, the many factors that determine the status of women across cultures and through time, and analyze theories and assumptions about women that relate to their particular majors. FULLY ONLINE certificate option available.
The undergraduate certificate in Queer Studies offered by the Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies encourages students to explore and challenge the histories of sexuality and gender normativity across multiple political and cultural contexts as it relates to their specific interests. The certificate program is distinct in that it examines sexuality with a focus on Hawaiʻi, Asia and the Pacific from a transnational, interdisciplinary, and intersectional perspective.
The Bachelor of Arts in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies offers two BA tracks: a student-designed special concentration within the field of women’s studies, or a general focus on the broad field of women’s studies. Students work in close consultation with faculty to design and develop the academic experience that best fits their interests, goals and needs. The aim of both tracks is to promote a coherent program of study in contemporary interdisciplinary scholarship in feminist and gender studies. A key purpose of the major is to provide an integrated academic experience for students interested in transnational feminist scholarship and gender issues, while offering flexibility and freedom in planning the degree. FULLY ONLINE degree option available.
Our Fully Online BA Degree Completion Program in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies offers a transformative learning experience. Tailor your studies to fit your schedule while exploring feminist and gender issues and addressing complex problems through interdisciplinary and transnational scholarship. This program fosters a comprehensive understanding of our diverse world using social science approaches. Develop the knowledge and skills for positive social change, all from the comfort of your own home.
The advanced graduate certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies provides a rigorous, integrated, interdisciplinary and relevant educational experience for students whose education and career objectives can be enhanced by a creative, critical and scholarly feminist lens of analysis. Students may pursue the graduate certificate while simultaneously working toward a master’s or doctoral degree in another field, or as a standalone certificate program.
The undergraduate certificate in Law and Society is an interdisciplinary approach that allows students who have an academic or pre-professional interest in legal education, socio-legal studies, criminology and law enforcement to explore legal phenomena from different disciplinary perspectives. Instructors are drawn from the realms of political science, American studies, anthropology, business, communications, economics, ethnic studies, Hawaiian studies, history, law, philosophy, sociology and women’s studies. The program is designed to provide a multidisciplinary framework to enhance the study of law within cultural and social science perspectives.
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences of Oceans is a collaboration between the College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies. Geared toward working adults who have completed their general education or earned an Associates Degree, the Social Sciences of Oceans degree is an accelerated online program offered in five-week segments with one course at a time. Students learn about the complex problems related to oceans and island societies. Major courses span the Social Sciences, including Anthropology, Economics, Ethnic Studies, Geography and Environment, Political Science, Sociology and Urban and Regional Planning.
The Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Resolution is offered by the College’s Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Studies program. Students gain basic skills and knowledge in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, and work with faculty advisors to develop a coherent, multidisciplinary course of study that aligns with their interests, needs and goals.
The graduate certificate in Ocean Policy is an interdisciplinary approach to the increasingly complex management of oceans. Effective handling of ocean issues depends on an understanding of the natural environment, the technology that facilitates the exploration and development of the ocean environment, and social factors that govern these activities. Individuals, organizations and governments must be prepared to assess the legal, environmental, socio-political and economic implications of policy decisions.
The graduate certificate in Renewable Energy and Island Sustainability delves students into the breadth and depth of the energy and sustainability curriculum. Classes in different colleges give a broad perspective on energy sustainability. In addition to taking courses and attending a REIS seminar class, students will conduct a capstone project to obtain greater depth in an energy research area.
The PhD program in Communication and Information Sciences is a collaborative effort involving the School of Communication, Department of Information and Computer Sciences, Department of Information Technology Management, and Library and Information Science program. Students draw on interdisciplinary expertise to develop integrative advances in the communication and information sciences.
The Telecommunications and Information Resource Management (TIRM) Graduate Certificate program provides professionals with updated knowledge, skills and abilities for managing telecommunication networks, services and other information resources. Offered in an accelerated format for working professional and students, the program focuses on developing skills and understanding in the areas of Health Information Technology (HIT); Information Resource Policy, Planning and Management; and HIT and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Development and Services.