Undergraduate Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies

Sinclair 108/109
2425 Campus Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-7296
Email: isp@hawaii.edu
Web: manoa.hawaii.edu/undergrad/is/

Director: A. Schiffner

The objective of the Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) Program is to provide students with an opportunity to pursue an integrated course of study that is not restricted to conventional departmental or unit boundaries. The IS Program promotes academic innovation, emerging fields, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The IS program offers a BA degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with different thematic areas of focus. Students pursuing a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies will follow a predesigned or self-designed program of study. Pre-designed IS programs have a course of study articulated by faculty experts from multidisciplinary fields. Self-designed IS programs have a course of study proposed by the student in collaboration with faculty experts.

The BA in Interdisciplinary Studies requires coherent course work from a minimum of three discipline areas under a specific thematic area of focus (i.e. health studies, linguistics, peace studies, social sciences of oceans, sustainability, etc.). Area focus titles are listed on the BA Interdisciplinary Studies diploma and transcript.

IS majors must satisfy the UH Mānoa degree graduation requirements and General Education Core in order to be eligible for a bachelor’s degree. Students must also maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA for the major courses. These courses may not be taken CR/NC, unless mandatory.

For details on admission and IS program options, please contact the ISP Office and visit our website.

Students interested in pursuing an IS degree should contact the Interdisciplinary Studies Office to schedule an orientation with an IS advisor. For information on a Bachelor Degree Program Sheet, go to www.manoa.hawaii.edu/ovcaa/programsheets/.

Environmental Studies

Degrees and Certificates Offered: Undergraduate Certificate in Environmental Studies, BA in interdisciplinary studies (emphasis on environmental studies).

Peace Studies

Degrees and Certificates Offered: Undergraduate Certificate in Peace Studies, BA in interdisciplinary studies (emphasis on peace studies).

Sustainability and Resilience

Degree Offered: BA in interdisciplinary studies (emphasis on sustainability).

Graduate Programs

Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program

John A Burns School of Medicine
BSB 222
651 Ilalo Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Tel: (808) 692-1504
Web: cmbgrad.jabsom.hawaii.edu
Application and admission details can be found on the graduate program website.

Graduate Faculty

R. Allsopp, PhD—cell biology
F. P. Bellinger, PhD—trace elements in brain function
M. J. Berry, PhD—selenoprotein synthesis
W. Boisvert, PhD—immunologic and inflammatory aspects of cardiovascular medicine
Y. Deng, PhD–bioinformatics, biomedical informatics, computational biology, cancer
P. Fei, PhD—tumor suppressors function and cancer susceptibility syndromes
A. Fleig, PhD—excitation-contraction coupling in muscle
B. Fogelgren, PhD—renal physiology, development, and disease
M. Gerschenson, PhD—mitochondrial medicine
D. S. Haymer, PhD—Human forensics and genetic variation in populations
P. Hoffmann, PhD—selenoproteins in inflammation, immunity and cancer
N. G. James, PhD—neurodegeneration, protein interactions
D. M. Jameson, PhD—energetics and dynamics of protein interactions;
L. Le Marchand, MD, PhD—cancer epidemiology, breast cancer risk
A. Lehrer, PhD—filoviruses, vaccine development
O. Le Saux, PhD—genetic disorders, elastin, PXE, gene mapping
L. Loo, PhD—cancer epidemiology, racial/ethnic disparities in cancer risk and mortality
S. Lozanoff, PhD—developmental biology and craniofacial development
Y. Marikawa, PhD—molecular control of the body plan of vertebrate embryos
T. Matsui, PhD—cell signaling in cardiomyocyte cell survival
A. Maunakea, PhD—epigenetics in diseases, autism and cardiometabolic disorders
S. Moisyadi, PhD—mammalian transgenesis and gene therapy
V. R. Nerukar, PhD—viral pathogens, marine virology, molecular epidemiology
R. Nichols, PhD—neurobiology, pharmacology and physiology
J. Owens, PhD—safety and efficiency of gene editing tools
J. Pane‘e, PhD—biomedical research ethics and health consequences of marijuana use
J. Park, PhD—cancer biology, neutrophil function
M. Pitts, PhD—selenoproteins in metabolism and neurodevelopment
N. Polgar, PhD—exocyst activity on Glut4 trafficking in metabolic tissues
G. Presting, PhD—bioinformatics
K. Schunke, PhD—Epigenetics of hypoxia, sleep apnea, diabetic autonomic dysfunction
A. Seale—comparative endocrinology, neurobiology
L. Seale, PhD—comparative endocrinology, metabolic syndrome, obesity
A. J. Stokes, PhD—ION channel proteins in cardiometabolic diseases
R. Shohet, MD—cardiovascular research, hypoxia and gene therapy
M. Tallquist, PhD—heart and lung development and disease, fibrosis
C. Todorovic, PhD—neurobiology of learning and memory
J. Urschitz, PhD—fetal growth disturbances, prenatal biology, in-vivo gene modulation
M. Ward, PhD—spermatogenesis, sex chromosomes, male infertility
W. S. Ward, PhD—tertiary structure of DNA, nuclear structure, and genetic instability
Y. Yamazaki, PhD—sex differentiation of fetal cells, IVF, ICSI
A. Yanagihara, PhD—biochemistry of neuroactive compounds in cnidarians
H. Yang, MD, PhD—mesothelioma detection, prevention, therapy
J. Yew—neurobiology of chemical communications/pheromones

Degrees Offered: MS in cell and molecular biology, MS in cell and molecular biology (neuroscience), PhD in cell and molecular biology, PhD in cell and molecular biology (neuroscience)

The Academic Program

The Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences provides an integrated course of study for students seeking a PhD or MS degree in biomedical-related research. The CMB graduate program includes faculty from multiple colleges and research institutes. Training emphasis is on laboratory skills, original research, and critical thinking.

The CMB program provides fellowships for select PhD students in their first year and additional support with research and teaching assistantships for qualified applicants in subsequent years. The program prepares students for careers in academia, biotechnology, research institutes, and other biomedical endeavors. Master’s students fall into two categories, depending on preparation of a thesis (Plan A) or a capstone project (Plan B).

Application Requirements

Applicants are expected to have at least a bachelor’s degree emphasizing biological or physical sciences with courses in calculus, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and cellular and molecular biology. Applicants with MD degrees are welcome. Results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test should be submitted with the application, and students whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Three letters of recommendation from former instructors or research supervisors, a CMB program graduate express form, personal statement, curriculum vitae, and transcripts from previous universities or colleges attended must also be submitted.

Master’s Degree

The curriculum core of the CMB program is a specialized lecture class, spanning two semesters (CMB 621-622). Additional required courses are CMB 611 Seminar in Biomedical Science (every semester), CMB 626 Ethics in Biomedical Research, CMB 654 Genetics Seminar (annually), and CMB 699 Directed Research. The remaining credit requirements can be fulfilled by specialized courses, seminars, and research as recommended by the thesis committee and research mentor. Following the completion of the two semester core course, the student is expected to pass a qualifying exam, and propose, write, and defend an original research project (MS Plan A) or complete a capstone project (MS Plan B).

Doctoral Degree

PhD candidates can earn a master’s degree en route after completing a comprehensive exam. Formal course requirements beyond the core courses and qualifying exam listed for the MS degree include CMB 699 Directed Research, QHS 601 Fundamentals of Biostatistics, CMB 669 Essentials of Grant Writing, and three laboratory rotations. The student is expected to form a committee, propose, complete, and defend an original research project and publish at least one paper in a peer-reviewed journal during their graduate career.

Neuroscience Specialization

The Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program participates in the interdisciplinary “Area of Concentration in Neuroscience.” This is a graduate “specialization” rather than a free-standing graduate program. CMB students interested in this specialization will take normal requirements for CMB plus CMB 606 Introduction to Neurosciences, and CMB 705 Special Topics in Neurosciences. They will be eligible for graduate degrees in Cell and Molecular Biology (Neuroscience), presuming that their dissertation research includes an emphasis on application of Cell and Molecular Biological techniques to a neuroscience research issue.

Selected Specialized Courses

Molecular Biology

  • CMB 625 Advanced Topics in Genetics
  • CMB 654 Genetics Seminar
  • MICR 625 Advanced Immunology
  • MICR 671 Bacterial Genetics
  • MBBE 691 Advanced Special Topics in MBBE

Neurobiology

  • CMB 606 Introduction to Neurosciences
  • CMB 705 Special Topics in Neurosciences

Communication and Information Sciences

2550 McCarthy Mall
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-5813
Fax: (808) 956-5835
Email: cis-chair@lists.hawaii.edu
Web: www.hawaii.edu/cis

Graduate Faculty

D. D. Suthers, PhD (Chair)—human-computer interaction; social informatics; technology-enhanced learning
N. Asato, PhD—Japanese/Japanese American print cultures; Asian librarianship; censorship
A. E. Auman, PhD—media ethics, news literacy, editing, journalism, and cultural identity
K. S. Aune, PhD—relational management, emotion
K. Baek, PhD—computer vision, neural computation, machine learning
E. S. Biagioni, PhD—networking protocol design
K. A. Binsted, PhD—artificial intelligence, software design for mobile devices, human-computer interaction, human space exploration
W. G. Buente, PhD—information and communication technologies
T. X. Bui, PhD—organizational behavior, international management, electronic commerce, information policy, information systems
P. Buskirk, MFA— transmedia storytelling, digital convergence, indigenous representation
H. Casanova, PhD—high performance computing, distributed systems
H. M. Chen, PhD—e-business, service engineering, businessIT alignment, electronic customer relationship management, multimedia database systems, software engineering, enterprise architecture
W. G. Chismar, PhD—information technology, telecommunications, medical informatics
M. E. Crosby, PhD—human-computer interaction, cognitive science, interface design for searching
E. J. Davidson, PhD—social cognitive aspects of information systems development methods
J. Gasiorek, PhD—social cognition, intergroup and intergenerational communication, research methods
R. S. Gazan, PhD—social aspects of information technology
J. S. Gorbach, PhD— journalism history, media history, literary journalism, film history, cultural history, democratic theory, mass society theory, propaganda theory, Holocaust, Jewish American studies, postcolonialism, war correspondents
A. S. E. Hubbard, PhD—nonverbal communication, conflict andrelational management, deception
P. M. Johnson, PhD—software engineering, high-tech entrepreneurship
F. N. Kazman, PhD—software architecture design and analysis, software visualization, socio-technical congruence, technical debt, software/IT economics
J. Y. Kim, PhD—strategic communication, campaign outcomes, media effects
M-S. Kim, PhD—intercultural communication, persuasion and social influence
H. K. Kramer, PhD—intercultural communications
H-R. Lee, PhD—health and political communication, perusasion and social influence
J. Leigh, PhD—big data visualization, virtual reality, high performance networking, human augmentics, video game design
D. Li, PhD—privacy and security of internet of things, smart grids, software-defined networks
R. Minas, PhD—information systems, virtual teams/collaboration
C. D. Moore, PhD—American politics and government, history of political mobilization
R. L. Neo, PhD—persuasive effects of social media cues on political outcomes; cross-national comparative digital media influence on political expression
M-B. Ogawa, PhD—information ethics, student academic success, school librarian leadership
B. Oppegaard, PhD—medium studies, accessibility, ubiquitous computing, mobile place-based media
D. Pavlovic, PhD—security, theoretical computer science and software engineering, quantum computation
A. Peruma, PhD—software quality, software maintenance and evolution, program comprehension, identifier naming, mobile application quality
G. Poisson, PhD—cognitive informatics, bioinformatics, machine learning
D. N. Port, PhD—software economics, management information systems, software engineering
S. Robertson, PhD—human-computer interaction, digital government and digital democracy
P. Sadowski, PhD—machine learning, data science, artificial intelligence, information theory and data compression
P-M. Seidel, DrEng habil—formal methods, computer arithmetic, computer architecture, algorithms
N. Sitchinava, PhD—algorithms and data structures, parallel and distributed computation, I/O- and cache-efficient computation
S. Still, PhD—bioinformatics/theoretical biology, information theory, machine learning
E. Taniguchi-Dorios, PhD—interpersonal health communication, family communication, cross-cultural communication
P. Y. Washington, PhD—Data science methods and human-centered artificial intelligence for digital health and wellbeing
A. Wertheimer, PhD—information science, library history, JapaneseAmerican print culture
J. S. Winter, PhD—big data governance (privacy, security), artificial intelligence ethics, information policy and planning
B. Xiao, PhD—human-computer interaction, digital platforms, dark side of digitization, and health information systems

Cooperating Graduate Faculty

D. L. Alden, PhD—marketing communications
V. Fan, PhD—health economics, health systems and policy, health financing
C. P. Ho, PhD—instructional technology
M. S. Johansen, PhD—nonprofit management, education and health policy
R.C. Rath, PhD—sound studies, new media, Atlantic world

Affiliate Graduate Faculty

S. Aurigemma, PhD—cybersecurity, information technology management
K. Bergstrom, PhD—digital cultures, game studies, feminist methods
D. Streveler, PhD—medical informatics, international public health, issues in electronic medical record and telemedicine
R. Taylor, PhD—telecommunication/information policy, law

Degree Offered: PhD in communication and information sciences

The Academic Program

The Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Communication and Information Sciences (CIS) offers a PhD degree integrating and drawing faculty from the fields of communication, computer science, library and information science, and management information systems. Because of the broad knowledge base required to support this interdisciplinary approach, the program also draws on such fields as political science, economics, engineering, operations research, and behavioral sciences.

Recipients of the PhD will undertake careers in colleges and universities, industry, government, and private organizations.

Complete details on this program are outlined on the website, hawaii.edu/cis/.

Admission Requirements

Requirements in addition to those set by Graduate Division are:

  • Master’s degree in business administration, communication, library and information science, information and computer sciences, or a closely related field
  • GRE or GMAT scores
  • Knowledge of computing
  • Demonstrated potential for conducting independent research
  • Proficiency in English. Minimum TOEFL scores of at least 6600/250/100 (paper/computer/Internet based TOEFL) are required for admission.

Application Requirements

In addition to the information required by Graduate Division, the following must be uploaded to the Graduate Application Supplemental Documents Upload Website, see www.hawaii.edu/cis/prospective_students/application/:

  • CIS Express Information Form
  • CIS Supplementary Application, including a statement of purpose, samples of relevant published or unpublished work, and skills applicable to teaching or research assistantships
  • Three letters of recommendation

Program Requirements

The student will select one primary and two secondary areas of emphasis from those currently supported: see www.hawaii.edu/cis/focus-areas/. At this printing, the areas are: communication and information theories, community engagement, data science, digital business transformation, human-computer interaction, information policy & planning, and social informatics.

Students must pass comprehensive exams in the chosen three areas of emphasis, publish a research paper, and complete and defend an original dissertation.

Course Requirements

All students are required to complete the following three core courses with a grade of at least a B:

  • CIS 701 Communication/Information Theories of Society (3)
  • CIS 702 Communication/Information Technologies (3)
  • CIS 703 Communication/Information Research Methods (3)

In addition, all students must:

  • pass at least one approved research methods or data analysis course (in addition to CIS 703) with a grade of B or better
  • enroll in CIS 699 while working with a faculty research mentor to publish a research paper
  • enroll in CIS 720 Interdisciplinary Seminar in CIS (1) every semester until graduation
  • enroll in CIS 800 the final semester before graduation.

Courses to be taken in preparation for the comprehensive exams are to be selected from graduate offerings in related disciplines as directed by the focus area examination committees. Please see www.hawaii.edu/cis/current_students/exams/.

Graduate Interdisciplinary Specializations

Graduate specializations offer graduate students the opportunity to complete a course of study utilizing courses and faculty from several different fields. Participants must apply for admission and be admitted to a ‘regular’ graduate program.

Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology

Edmondson 216
2538 McCarthy Mall
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-6476
Fax: (808) 956-9812
Email: eecb@hawaii.edu
Web: hawaii.edu/eecb/

Graduate Faculty

R. Thomson, PhD (Chair)—evolutionary biology, phylogenetics, and conservation
A. Amend, PhD—ecology and biogeography of biotrophic fungal communities
L. Arita-Tsutsumi, PhD—behavioral ecology of insects
K. E. Barton, PhD—evolutionary ecology
B. Bowen, PhD—phylogeography, evolution and conservation, genetics of marine vertebrates
Q. Chen, PhD—field observations, GIS, remote sensing and ecological modeling for addressing key environmental challenges
R. Chong, PhD—evolutionary biology, insect-microbial symbioses
K. S. Cole, PhD—evolution of sexual patterns, behavioral ecology
R. H. Cowie, PhD—evolutionary biology and conservation of land and freshwater snails
C. C. Daehler, PhD—invasive plants, plant-insect interactions
M. J. deMaintenon, PhD—evolution of gastropod organogenetic patterns
D. Drake, PhD—plant ecology, conservation biology, plant-animal interactions
D. C. Duffy, PhD—conservation biology (basic and applied)
M. Hixon, PhD—marine ecology and conservation biology
N. Hynson, PhD—ecological factors that shape plant and fungal communities
T. Idol, PhD—forest soils and nutrient cycling
K. Y. Kaneshiro, PhD—sexual selection and biology of small populations
M. Kantar, PhD—plant breeding, genetic/genomics, domestication, crop wild relatives
M. Knope, PhD—Ecology, evolution and conservation biology of plants and animals; evolution of new ecological strategies
C. M. Litton, PhD—ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry of forested systems
P. B. Marko, PhD—evolution, biogeography and conservation
M. Medeiros, PhD—community ecology, infectious disease
M. D. Merlin, PhD—biogeography, ethnobotany, Pacific natural history
C. Mora, PhD—biogeography, threats to biodiversity, global conservation assessments and methods for macroecology
C. W. Morden, PhD—molecular systematics and evolution of Hawaiian plants
C. Muir, PhD—quantitative evolutionary physiology
N. Nguyen PhD—soil microbial ecology, diversity and systematics
R. Ostertag, PhD—community structure and nutrient dynamics of tropical forests
B. N. Popp, PhD—stable isotope biogeochemistry, primarily in marine systems
M. L. Porter, PhD—molecular evolution, visual system evolution
M. Price, PhD—conservation ecology and genetics
T. Ranker, PhD (Emeritus)—origin and evolution of the flora of oceanic and other islands
F. Reed, PhD—population genetics
D. Rubinoff, PhD—insect systematics, conservation biology, and the evolution of ecological traits
A. R. Sherwood, PhD—evolution, systematics and population genetics of Hawaiian algae
C. M. Smith, PhD—physiological ecology of marine macrophytes, marine ecology
A. D. Taylor, PhD (Emeritus)—population and community ecology and environmental statistics
T. Ticktin, PhD—ethnoecology and conservation biology
R. Toonen, PhD—population biology and larval ecology of marine invertebrates
T. Tricas, PhD—behavior and sensory biology of sharks, rays and reef fishes
A. N. Wright, PhD—population, community, and behavioral ecology, and conservation of reptiles, amphibians, and mammals
M. Wright, PhD—Insect biological control, insect conservation, invasive species management
Z. Zahawi, PhD—tropical ecology with a particular focus in restoration ecology

Affiliate Graduate Faculty

A. Allison, PhD—systematics and population biology
C. Birkeland, PhD—coral reef ecology and management, marine community ecology
S. Conant, PhD (Emerita)—conservation biology, life history and ecology of Hawaiian birds
L. C. Crampton, PhD—ecology and conservation of birds and mammals
N. L. Evenhuis, PhD—systematics and evolution of Diptera
A. M. Friedlander, PhD—nearshore fisheries
R. A. Kinzie, PhD (Emeritus)—aquatic ecology, coral reefs and tropical streams
D. Ragone, PhD—Pacific Island ethnobotany, especially conservation and use of traditional crops, focusing on breadfruit
N. Roensted, PhD—modelling the paleobiogeographical radiations of Hawaiian flora
N. W. Yeung, PhD—phylogenetics and conservation of Hawaiian land snails

The Academic Program

The objectives of the interdisciplinary graduate specialization in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology (EECB) are to:

  • Use the unique opportunities that Hawai‘i offers to integrate tropical population biology and natural history studies with modern laboratory techniques;
  • Provide the interdisciplinary, conceptual, and technical training that will allow our graduates to participate in academic and research programs in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology; and
  • Foster scholarly training in research programs involving expertise in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology

Modern theories of ecology, evolution, and conservation biology share a core of concepts and techniques that span classical academic disciplines. This common core, coupled with the emergence of powerful new technologies, invites cross-disciplinary approaches that generate many of today’s most exciting scientific advances.

The EECB program provides opportunities for students at UH Mānoa to expand their knowledge and gain experience in this integrative discipline. Our interdisciplinary graduate program brings together faculty members and students from graduate programs in the departments of Anthropology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Geography and Environment, Marine Biology, Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Oceanography, Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, and School of Life Sciences–with all their skills and technologies–to provide the training students need to contribute effectively to this research area.

EECB is implemented as a “specialization” within existing graduate programs of the departments whose faculty participate in this program. This means that the primary duties and responsibilities of each EECB student are to satisfy the requirements of their own home academic department. The EECB specialization serves to allow students to expand beyond the traditional departmental boundaries in terms of formulating research questions, choosing thesis/dissertation committee members and taking academic courses. EECB graduate students can be enrolled in either the doctor of philosophy or master of science degree in their home department.

Students accepted to the EECB graduate specialization must already have been accepted into the graduate program of the various departments participating in the EECB program. Course work in statistics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, evolution, and ecology are considered most important for preparing students for graduate studies.

Details on the EECB program and application forms can be found at the EECB website hawaii.edu/eecb/.

Admission Procedures and Policy

Only students that have been accepted and are currently enrolled in a graduate program in one of the cooperating academic departments at UH Mānoa can be admitted. New students applying to UH Mānoa will not be considered until they are accepted and enrolled.

All applicants must submit (by email directly to the EECB Chair):

  • Letter expressing your interest in EECB (up to 3 pages), including, at a minimum
    • information on past academic experience
    • goals for graduate study in general and graduate study in EECB in particular
    • what you feel you can contribute to EECB
    • what you expect to gain by participation in EECB
  • Letter of support from your EECB faculty sponsor

Students enrolled at UH Mānoa may be admitted to EECB in either the fall or spring semester. Application deadlines are February 1 and October 15. Successful applicants are admitted the following semester.

Your original UH Mānoa application may be obtained directly by the EECB office from Graduate Division and does not need to be submitted with your application to EECB.

Admission Criteria

Details can be found on the EECB website: hawaii.edu/eecb/.

Course Requirements for Specialization in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology

Course requirements for ALL EECB graduate students:

  • Complete all degree requirements of the home academic department
  • Participate in EECB activities, particularly the Evoluncheon seminar series
  • One course in ecology at the 600 or 700 level (at least 2 credits with an A or B grade)
  • One course in evolution at the 600 or 700 level (at least 2 credits with an A or B grade)
  • One course in conservation biology at the 600 or 700 level (at least 2 credits with an A or B grade)

Acceptable graduate (600-700 level) courses currently being offered are listed below. Because some offerings change from semester to semester, consult the EECB webpage for an updated list.

In addition to course requirements for the specialization in EECB, each academic department has its own course requirements. Courses from the EECB course list that are taken to fulfill departmental requirements can also be used to fulfill EECB requirements, however, a single course can only satisfy one of the three EECB requirements.

Course Offerings

(Updated November 2018)

New courses or one-time offerings not listed here but approved by the EECB curriculum committee may also count towards the ecology, evolution, or conservation biology requirement. Please check the EECB website for updates and consult with the graduate education committee for exceptions.

Ecology

  • ANTH 606 Anthropology of Infectious Disease (3)
  • BOT 644 Ethnoecological Methods (3)
  • BOT 651 Invasion Biology (3)
  • BOT/ZOOL 652 Population Biology (3)
  • BOT 676 Environmental Physiology Seminar (2)
  • BOT 682 Physiological Ecology of Marine Plants (3)
  • ERTH 639 Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry (3)
  • IS 650 Principles of Applied Evolutionary Ecology (3)
  • MICR 680 Advances in Microbial Ecology (3)
  • NREM 612 Predicting and Controlling Degradation (3)
  • NREM 680 Ecosystem Ecology (3)
  • NREM 682 Restoration Ecology (3)
  • OCN 626 Marine Microplankton Ecology
  • OCN 627 Ecology of Pelagic Marine Animals (3)
  • OCN 628 Benthic Biological Oceanography (4)
  • OCN 629 Molecular Methods in Marine Ecology (2)
  • PEPS 671 Insect Ecology (3)
  • ZOOL 606/L Animal Behavior (2)/Principles of Animal Behavior Lab (1)
  • ZOOL 610 Development and Reproductive Biology (3)
  • ZOOL 620 Marine Ecology (3)
  • ZOOL 623 Quantitative Field Ecology (3)
  • ZOOL 652 Population Biology (3)
  • ZOOL 739 Topics in Ecology (2)
  • ZOOL 780 Foundations of Evolution and Ecology I (4)
  • ZOOL 781 Foundations of Evolution and Ecology II (4)

Evolution

  • ANTH 604 Biological Anthropology Core (3)
  • BIOL 603 Molecular Ecology (3)
  • BOT 661 Hawaiian Vascular Plants (3)
  • BOT 662 High Throughput Sequencing Approaches (3)
  • BOT 669 Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (3)
  • CMB 604 Evolutionary Genetics (2)
  • CMB 650 Population Genetics (3)
  • MICR 671 Bacterial Genetics (3)
  • PEPS 662 Systematics and Phylogenetics (3)
  • TPSS 615 Quantitative Genomics and Evolution (3)
  • TPSS 711 Special Topics (3)
  • TRMD 705 Special Topics in Tropical Medicine (2)
  • ZOOL 606/L Animal Behavior (2)/Principles of Animal Behavior Lab (1)
  • ZOOL 610 Topics in Development and Reproductive Biology (3)
  • ZOOL 780 Foundations of Evolution and Ecology I (4)
  • ZOOL 781 Foundations of Evolution and Ecology II (4)(4)

Conservation Biology

  • ANTH 620H Theory in Social and Cultural Anthropology (3)
  • BOT 651 Invasion Biology (3)
  • BOT/ZOOL 690 Conservation Biology (3)
  • MBIO 715 Marine Conservation Biology (3)
  • NREM 610 Advanced Methods in Wildlife Management & Conservation (4)
  • NREM 611 Resources and Environmental Policy (3)
  • NREM 690 Conservation Biology (3)
  • OCN 621 Biological Oceanography (3)
  • PEPS 675 Biological Control of Pests (3)
  • OEST/SOCS 735 Ocean Policy and Management (3)
  • ZOOL 690 Conservation Biolo gy (3) (3)

Content Varies (but may count towards a specific area, depending the topic)

  • ANTH 620 Theory in Social and Cultural Anthropology (3)
  • BOT 612 Advanced Botanical Problems (V)
  • BOT 620 Perspectives in Modern Botany (2)
  • BOT 654 Advances in Plant Ecology (2)
  • BOT 750 Topics in Conservation Biology (V)
  • GEO 750 Research Seminar: Biogeography (3)
  • GEO 752 Research Seminar: Resource Management (3)
  • GEO 758 Research Seminar: Conservation (3)
  • NREM 691 Advanced Topics in NREM (3)
  • PEPS 691 Special Topics (V)
  • ZOOL 714 Topics in Animal Behavior (V)
  • ZOOL 719 Topics in Systematics and Evolution (V)
  • ZOOL 739 Topics in Ecology (V)
  • ZOOL 750 Topics in Conservation Biology (V)

Neurosciences Graduate Specialization

Graduate Faculty

R. Nichols, PhD (Chair)—neuroscience and physiology, neuropharmacology
M-L. Andres, PhD—neuroscience
F. Bellinger, PhD—neurobiology of selenoproteins
M. Berry, PhD—selenoproteins, antioxidants, and human disease
J-P. Bingham, PhD—biochemistry, peptide synthesis, conus toxins
C. Blanchard, PhD—analysis of stress and defense; psychopharmacology
P. Couvillon, PhD—behavioral neuroscience; animal learning
M. Gerschenson, PhD—mitochondrial medicine
D. Guendisch, PhD—drug development; CNS drugs, chemistry of drug degradation (UHH Pharmacy School)
D. Hartline, PhD—quantitative neurophysiology and simulation of simple networks
M. Hermosura, PhD—neuroscience; cell biology
V. Nerurkar, PhD—tropical medicine and medical microbiology
R. Penner, PhD—electrophysiology, intra and intercellular translation
M. Pitts, PhD— behavioral neuroscience
B. Shiramizu, MD—medicine/pediatrics
V. Stenger, PhD—neurosciences; particle astrophysics
L. Takahashi, PhD—psychology
C. Todorovich, PhD— neurobiology of learning and memory

Neuroscience

The purpose of this specialization is to allow graduate students pursuing masters and doctoral degrees in various disciplines (e.g., medicine, psychology, engineering, computer science, molecular bioscience, etc.) to formally specialize in neuroscience. This is accomplished by taking a minimum of 4 courses plus participate in a “journal club” focusing on neuroscience as approved by the Graduate Chair.

Courses

  • CMB 606 Introduction to Neurosciences (4)
  • CMB 621 Cell Molecular Biology I (4)
  • CMB 622 Cell Molecular Biology II (4)
  • CMB 626/BIOM 641 Ethics in Biomedical Research (2)
  • CMB/PHRM 640 Neuropharmacology (2)
  • CMB 705 Special Topics in Neurosciences (V)
  • PSY 622 Principles of Learning (3)
  • PSY 626 Cognitive Psychology (3)
  • PSY 631 Comparative Cognition (3)
  • PSY 642 Cognitive Development (3)
  • PSY 719 Research in Psychometrics (3)
  • TRMD 607 Neurovirology (1)
  • ZOOL 642 Cellular Neurophysiology (3)
  • ZOOL 712 Topics in Nerve/Muscle Physiology (V)

Marine Biology

Marine Biology Graduate Program
2525 Correa Road, HIG 131A
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-5651
Email: mbiograd@hawaii.edu
Web: mbiograd.manoa.hawaii.edu/

Graduate Faculty

M. J. Donahue, PhD (Co-Director)—HIMB
C. Smith, PhD (Co-Director)—Life Sciences
R. Alegado, PhD—Oceanography
A. Amend, PhD—Life Sciences
J. Beets, PhD—Marine Science at UH Hilo
L. Bejder, PhD—HIMB
M. Belcaid, PhD—ICS
B. Bowen, PhD—HIMB
K. Cole, PhD—Biology
E. DeLong, PhD—Oceanography
S. Donachie, PhD—Life Sciences
J. Drazen, PhD—Oceanography
K. Edwards, PhD—Oceanography
E. Franklin, PhD—HIMB
E. Goetze, PhD—Oceanography
T. Grabowski, PhD—Marine Science at UH Hilo
M. Hixon, PhD—Life Sciences
K. Holland, PhD—HIMB
S. Honarvar, PhD—PCSU
C. Hunter, PhD—Life Sciences
J. Johansen, PhD—HIMB
J. Lemus, PhD—HIMB
P. Lenz, PhD—PBRC
E. Madin, PhD—HIMB
J. Madin, PhD—HIMB
P. Marko, PhD—Life Sciences
L. McManus, PhD—HIMB
M. McManus, PhD—Oceanography
C. Meyer, PhD—HIMB
A. Moran, PhD—Life Sciences
C. Nelson, PhD—Oceanography
A. Pacini, PhD—HIMB
A. Pack—Psychology & Life Sciences at UH Hilo
B. Popp, PhD—Earth Sciences
M. Porter, PhD—Life Sciences
M. Rappe, PhD—HIMB
R. Richmond, PhD—PBRC
Y. Rii, PhD—HIMB
M. Rivera, PhD—HIMB
K. Selph, PhD—Oceanography
A. Sherwood, PhD—Life Sciences
C. R. Smith, PhD—Oceanography
G. Steward, PhD—Oceanography
R. J. Toonen, PhD—HIMB
T. C. Tricas, PhD—Life Sciences
L. Watling, PhD—Life Sciences

Affiliate Graduate Faculty

D. Amato, PhD
A. H. Andrews, PhD
J. Brodziak, PhD
F. Carvalho, PhD
A. M. Friedlander, PhD
T. Grabowski, PhD
M. Hagedorn, PhD
R. L. Humphreys, Jr., MS
M. J. Iacchei, PhD
J. N. Kittinger, PhD
D. R. Kobayashi, PhD
R. K. Kosaki, PhD
M. O. Lammers, PhD
M. Nadon, PhD
T. A. Oliver, PhD
K. A. Peyton, PhD
D. A. Polhemus, PhD
J. J. Polovina, PhD
J. Roughgarden, PhD
T. Work, PhD

Degrees Offered: MS in marine biology, PhD in marine biology

The Academic Program

The Marine Biology Graduate Program at UH Mānoa offers masters and doctoral degrees in marine biology. The program is jointly sponsored by the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology and the College of Natural Sciences and takes advantage of more than 40 faculty members at the university whose research interests span the study of marine organisms, ecosystems, and biogeochemical processes, and how humans affect and manage these systems. It also offers research opportunities with affiliate faculty partners at state and federal agencies, such as NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, and with non-governmental organizations.

The faculty and students in this program have access to one of the largest coral reef habitats in the U.S., including the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the main Hawaiian Islands, and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. The program honors its unique location in the Hawaiian Archipelago by training students in a place-based approach to research with a focus on Hawai‘i, encouraging students to understand their role as scientists in a broader context.

The goal of the program is to produce scientists who are experts in their research areas with a broad-based understanding of the biology, ecology, evolution, and life processes of marine organisms. This program also addresses the growing need, locally and globally, for technically trained scientists, managers, and policy makers who understand the processes governing tropical marine ecosystems and who are comfortable working with diverse communities of stakeholders. Effective management of marine resources is critical under mounting pressure for human exploitation and increasing stress from global climate change.

Admissions Requirements

Marine Biology is an inherently interdisciplinary field, and a range of disciplines may provide appropriate background for the degree. In addition to the requirements set by Graduate Division, we recommend:

  • An undergraduate or master’s degree in Marine Biology, Biology, Marine Science, Biological, Oceanography, Environmental Science, Zoology, Microbiology, Botany, or related disciplines
  • A strong undergraduate background in Biology, Math, Chemistry, Physics, including one year of biology, one year of chemistry, one semester of physics, one semester of calculus, and one semester of statistics
  • Prior research experience

Application Requirements

Students apply and are admitted to either the MS or PhD program. Please see mbiograd.manoa.hawaii.edu/apply.html for additional program application requirements.

Master’s Degree

The master’s degree in Marine Biology requires submission of a thesis and a thesis defense (MS-Plan A). In addition, a minimum of 30 graduate-level credits are required and must be taken for a grade, maintaining a GPA of at least 3.0.

At least 18 of the 30 credits must be graduate course work with a grade of B or better, including the following:

  • 2-credits required class: MBIO 600
  • One Statistics/Data Science Course (3-4 credits): MBIO 612 or OCN 683 or ZOOL 631
  • 8 credits from this list: MBIO 610, 611, 612, 620, 621, 630, 640, 650, 715; OCN 626, 627, 628, 630, 680, 683; ZOOL 625, 631; HWST 631

Other graduate-level courses as agreed on by the dissertation committee and student, with the following conditions:

  • Up to 4 credits of 400-level courses may count toward 18-credits of course work
  • Up to 4 credits of 1-unit seminar (e.g., MBIO 691x) may count toward 18-credits of may count toward 18-credits of course work
  • MBIO 699/700/800 do not count toward the 18 credits

For the remaining 12 credits:

  • Up to 6 credits of MBIO 699 Directed Research may count toward 30-credit requirement
  • 6 credits of MBIO 700 Thesis Research are required and may count toward 30-credit requirement Enrollment in MBIO 700 is required each semester after the student advances to candidacy through graduation

Doctoral Degree

The doctoral degree in Marine Biology requires a comprehensive exam, submission of a dissertation, and a dissertation defense. PhD students are also required to document teaching experience (through a Teaching Assistantship or other approved teaching/mentoring opportunity) and are required to meet Graduate Division’s requirements for doctoral candidates. Applicants may be admitted to the PhD program with or without having completed a master’s degree in a related discipline.

For students admitted to the PhD program with a prior MS in a related discipline, the PhD requires:

  • MBIO 600 with a grade of B or better,
  • At least one credit of MBIO 800 Dissertation Research
  • Enrollment in MBIO 800 is required each semester after the student advances to candidacy through graduation
  • Completion of additional course work indicated by the dissertation committee.

For students admitted to the PhD program without a prior MS in a related discipline, the PhD requires a minimum of 30 graduate-level credits, maintaining a GPA of at least 3.0. At least 18 of the 30 credits must be graduate course work with a grade of B or better, including the following:

  • 2-credit MBIO 600
  • One Statistics/Data Science Course (3-4 credits): MBIO 612 or OCN 683 or ZOOL 631
  • 8 credits from this list: MBIO 610, 611, 612, 620, 621, 630, 640, 650, 715; OCN 626, 627, 628, 630, 680, 683; ZOOL 625, 631; HWST 631)

Other graduate-level courses as agreed on by the dissertation committee and student, with the following conditions

  • Up to 4 credits of 400-level courses may count toward 18-credits of course work
  • Up to 4 credits of 1-unit seminar (e.g., MBIO 691x) may count toward 18-credits of course work
  • MBIO 699/700/800 do not count toward the 18 credits

For the remaining 12 credits of graduate research and/or graduate course work:

  • Up to 6 credits of MBIO 699 Directed Research may count toward 30-credit requirement
  • 6 credits of MBIO 800 Dissertation Research are required and may count toward 30-credit requirement
  • Enrollment in MBIO 800 is required each semester after the student advances to candidacy through graduation

Please check the program’s website for the most up-to-date requirements, course offerings, and admission information at mbiograd.manoa.hawaii.edu/.

Resource Management

Saunders Hall 107
2424 Maile Way
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-7381

Certificate Offered: Graduate Resource Management Certificate

The Academic Program

The Graduate Resource Management Certificate is a cooperative program primarily involving the College of Social Sciences, Department of Urban and Regional Planning (anthropology, economics, geography), College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (natural resources and environmental management), and East-West Center (Program on Environment, Program on Resources: Energy and Minerals). Because of its diverse topical components, multidisciplinary faculty, and practical application throughout Asia and the Pacific, the program is ideal for students who are pursuing graduate studies in traditional disciplines and also seeking expertise in environmental resource management.

This program provides students with specialized training in an area that augments their primary field and develops their pragmatic problem-solving and decision-making skills through analysis of real-world problems. Any student who has previously been admitted as a classified graduate student at UH Mānoa is eligible to apply for admission to this certificate program. Interested applicants should contact their advisor or any representative of the program in the collaborating departments and institutions.

To earn this certificate, students are expected to complete 15 credit hours, at least 9 of which are at the graduate level. For more information, contact the Department of Urban and Regional Planning.