University of Hawaii at Manoa
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Sustainability through Interdisciplinary Studies. The Interdisciplinary Studies Sustainability program allows students to harness the true cross-disciplinary nature of issues relating to sustainability by taking classes from multiple departments across campus, where classes focus on the interconnectivity of human and natural systems. Through this program, students will develop skills to understand social and environmental implications of sustainability in the context of contemporary local, regional, and global challenges. Students can tailor their program around a particular focus of interest, including Sustainable Environmental Policy; Food, Energy, and Water Systems; From Global Issues to Local Action; Sustainable Island Ecosystems; Environmental Justice, Values and Ethics; and Climate Change. This program includes a capstone, which can be completed through an internship or research experience in partnership with a local sustainability-focused organization.

The Bachelor of Science (BS) degree program in Global Environmental Science (GES) is administered by the Oceanography Department in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. Students in the GES program take a scientific and quantitative approach to sustainability concepts and issues, study Earth systems holistically, and complete a faculty-mentored research experience. Recent student research experience locations include Antarctica, Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea, the Hawaiian Islands, the mainland U.S., and oceanographic cruises around the world. Students can select their own environmentally-related curricular area of focus or take advantage of the following GES tracks: Environmental Anthropology, Environmental Health Sciences, Environmental Planning, Sustainability Science, and Sustainable Tourism. The GES program also has two Bachelor’s-and-Master’s combined pathways that allow students to get a GES BS and an accredited MS (in either Planning or Public Health-Epidemiology Focus) within a total of five years. Half of GES graduates go to graduate/professional school and the other half goes into private and government environmental sectors of the workforce.

The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources offers a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM). NREM focuses on preparing students to be natural resources managers and professionals by: developing their understanding of the biophysical aspects of natural resources within a tropical island context; using the latest information, tools, and models to effectively manage resources; teaching students the real economic value of these resources and evaluating the costs and benefits of different management options; and working with the community and stakeholders to implement practical solutions to their resource management challenges and concerns.

https://manoa.hawaii.edu/isr/degrees-and-certificates/

The Certificate in Sustainability is intended for UHM degree-seeking undergraduate students looking for cross-disciplinary education in sustainability that complements their major degree and enables them to become better environmental stewards. Students who complete this certificate will be able to engage in systems thinking and problem solving for the purpose of creating enduring processes for environmental stewardship. Within this certificate, students will develop: 1) an understanding of the interconnectivity of human and natural systems; 2) evidence-based reasoning on the implications of sustainability problems and/or proposed solutions; and 3) an understanding that multiple knowledge systems inform processes for achieving sustainability.The program requires a total of 15 credits, of which 3-6 are lower and 9-12 are upper division.

The Marine Option Program (MOP) is a certificate program open to University of Hawaiʻi students from any field of study who have an interest in the ocean. Students in the MOP certificate program have the opportunity to take marine-related coursework, and to conduct an independent research project or participate in an internship in a marine-related field. The MOP certificate program provides students with experiential education, research opportunities, networking, job opportunities, field trips, and the opportunity to pursue their passion for marine studies.

The College of Engineering offers a Sustainability and Innovation track for students majoring in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Students who want to pursue a specialty track should refer to the curriculum checksheet for alternative senior year course work in consultation with their curriculum advisor.

https://manoa.hawaii.edu/isr/degrees-and-certificates/