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Frequently Asked Questions

Prospective Student FAQ

Aloha! Thank you for your interest in the College of Natural Sciences. 

To learn more about the degrees offered, opportunities, or scheduling a meeting with a College of Natural Sciences Advisor

Please contact the SASC Advising Office with any questions by calling our front desk at (808) 956-5911, Monday through Friday 8am-4pm (HST) or emailing us at cnsadvis@hawaii.edu

We suggest you meet with an advisor to discuss which courses will fit in your degree plan. For program requirements and sample 4 year plans, please visit the link below. 

Degree Program Requirement Sheets and Sample 4 Year Plan

Please visit the link below for a list of degrees, minors, and certificates offered by the University of Hawai'i. 

UH Mānoa Degrees, Minors and Certificates Offered

Please visit the UH Manoa credit transfer database to see which courses will provide you will a UH Manoa credit equivalent. 

Credit Transfer Database

We suggest that you visit the UH Manoa Office of Admissions FAQ for quick questions. You may also email them with further questions at manoa.admissions@hawaii.edu

UH Mānoa Office of Admissions FAQ

Applying for financial aid at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa starts with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You must complete the FAFSA annually. Please visit the financial aid office with any questions.

UH Mānoa Financial Aid Services

Please visit our scholarships tab to see available scholarships!

CNS Scholarships

 

UH Manoa offers many on-campus dorming options for students, as well as UH affiliated housing options. For more information, please visit the UH Manoa Student Housing website. 

UH Mānoa Student Housing

Incoming and Current Students FAQ

Please see the list below for general FAQs. If you have more questions, you can visit this FAQ for current students and this FAQ for incoming students.
For anything else you need answered, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at our front desk at (808) 956-5911 and cnsadvis@hawaii.edu.

Welcome to UH Mānoa!

  • Your first step for the College of Natural Sciences is to complete the CNS Registration Preparation Requirements

  • You will likely find the Admissions New Student Checklist helpful.

  • You can also view the Incoming Student Timeline for important information. This timeline will walk you through each month with the actions that should be completed prior to your arrival to UH Mānoa.

Here is a list of your College Advisors. Your advisor can help you with scheduling classes, creating/updating your academic plan, connecting you with campus resources and assisting with any other questions you may have.

Unsure where to go with questions? Start by asking your College Advisor and they will point you in the right direction. 

If you are pursuing one of the following majors, you will also have a Major Advisor to guide you in all things related to your major. You can find major advisor contact information by clicking the “Advisors” tab on the CNS SASC Website. 

Degrees with Major Advisors: 

  • Astronomy
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Information and Computer Science
  • Mathematics
  • Physics

You can schedule an appointment with an advisor directly on our website using STAR Balance. If you have any questions, contact our front desk at (808) 956-5911 Monday through Friday 8am-4pm (HST) or email cnsadvis@hawaii.edu.

Mandatory advising is a 30-minute appointment each semester for all students that have completed less than 60 credits (freshmen and sophomores), transfers (first semester only) and returning students (first semester of return). This is an opportunity to connect with an advisor and review degree requirements, resources, opportunities, and answer any questions you may have.

The College of Natural Sciences will email you during the 4th week of each semester to notify you that it is time to complete your Mandatory Advising. Registration Holds are placed if advising is not completed prior to the deadline.

We recommend scheduling your meeting with your advisor early in the semester!

If you are changing your major to one within the College of Natural Sciences:

  • You can change your major by completing the Major Declaration Form. The Dropbox link to submit the form is at the top of the same page.

  • Keep in mind that you may need to meet with a major advisor (Astronomy, Astrophysics, Mathematics, Physics) prior to completing the major change.

If you are changing your major to one outside of the College of Natural Sciences, you will need to meet with an advisor from the college you wish to change to. Please refer to the UHM Advising Guide

If you are adding a second or third major, you will need to complete the UHM-3 Multiple Majors Application form and submit it to the CNS Dropbox.

Getting involved outside of the classroom can enhance your experience at UH Mānoa. We encourage you to view clubs, organizations, research, internships, study away, scholarships, and other opportunities.

Keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive list- this is just to get you started.

UH Mānoa has resources to help with your success academically, personally, and professionally! Checkout our CNS SASC "Student Resources" tab to get started. Additional Resources below!

Don’t see what you are looking for? Contact an Advisor for assistance! 

Additional resources

Students will need to visit their respective exam’s website.