Health Professions at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Dietetics (Bachelor’s and Master's Degree)

Registered dietitians, or RDs, are experts in applying the science of nutrition to assessing or developing plans involving the diets of individuals and the community as a whole. RDs often provide nutrition counseling, develop diet plans, and educate people about nutrition. They can also work in large-scale food service operations and ensure that they are sanitary, cost effective, and capable of meeting the nutritional needs of the target population. Clinical RDs can specialize in nutrition-related diseases (such as diabetes) or the health of different age groups.

• “Registered Dietitian,” “Professional Dietitian,” and “Dietitian” are protected by law
  • Only those who have met the educational requirements and qualifications mandated by their state can use the title
• “Nutritionist” is not protected, and can be used by people with different levels of training.

Work Setting

RDs can work in a variety of settings, including clinics, hospitals, food service and processing, private practice, government and non-profit organizations, and education. The job description of an RD is highly dependent on the setting they work in.

• Job Outlook

Related Careers:  dietetic technician, food service management, health education, public health nutrition, and nutrition research.

Years of Schooling Required to Become a Dietitian:

4½+ years of education

• Bachelor’s Degree (~4 years);
• Certificate or Master’s Degree (1-2 years, optional);
• Internship (½-1 year).

Degree Conferred

The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (AND) is the accrediting body for all registered dietitian (RD) programs.

To become an RD:

• Must hold a bachelor’s degree, graduate degree, or certificate of completion from an ACEND-accredited didactic program
  • Students with a non-dietetics bachelor’s degree may opt to complete a certificate or master’s degree instead of completing a second bachelor’s
  • Some schools also offer coordinated programs, which combine a bachelor’s or master’s degree and the internship into a single program.
• Complete an ACEND-accredited internship
• Satisfy state licensure requirements

Internships

Graduates of accredited didactic programs are eligible to apply for internships.

• Requires a competitive application process
• At least 1200 hours of supervised practice under an RD

An internship can also be obtained through the UH Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP) program

• Offers the opportunity for twelve UH Mānoa dietetics graduates who were not accepted to mainland internship programs to complete an internship in Hawai`i.
• UH Manoa Dietetics website

Specialties

RDs interested in specializing can apply for specialty certification from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Areas for specialization include gerontological nutrition, sports dietetics, pediatric nutrition, and renal nutrition.

The Licensing Examination(s)

• Registration Examination for Dietitians
  • National exam administered by the CDR
  • May be required for licensure depending on the state
• Students who have completed a dietetics internship or coordinated program are eligible to sit for the exam.
• A list of state licensure agencies is provided by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
• Upon completion of required training and licensure, dietetic professionals hold the title of “Registered Dietitian” (RD)

All dietitians must be licensed to practice. 

Becoming an RD in Hawaiʻi

Contact Information

For UHM Dietetics Program information, transfer credit evaluations, and academic plans:
CTAHR Undergraduate Advising
3050 Maile Way
Gilmore Hall
Honolulu, HI 96822

Website: https://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hnfas/Undergraduate/Dietetics-BS
Schedule an appointment: https://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ugstudies/
Email: ctahradv@hawaii.edu

For information regarding the dietetics internships within the program:
Dietetics Program Director:  Dr. Monica Esquivel
1955 East West Road
AgSci 314 L
Honolulu, HI 96822

Phone: 808-956-8691
Fax: 808-956-4024
Email: monicake@hawaii.edu

Medical Technology (Bachelor’s Degree)

Medical technology, also known as clinical laboratory science (CLS), is a healthcare profession in which practitioners help diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases by performing laboratory procedures including venipuncture and microscopic examinations.

• The field encompasses many disciplines
  • Microbiology (isolating and identifying organisms and testing antimicrobial agents)
  • Immunohematology (blood banking)
  • Clinical chemistry (measuring chemical components of blood and bodily fluids)
  • Hematology and hemostasis (diagnosing disorders using a microscope and cell analyzers)
  • Others (e.g., urinalysis, serology, immunology, molecular diagnostics).

Work Setting

Practitioners, called medical laboratory scientists (MLS), work in hospitals or clinic laboratories, but many also work in reference labs, physicians’ offices, research and DNA laboratories, medical examiners’ offices and crime labs, veterinary clinics, and laboratory industries. Some practitioners go on to pursue careers as forensic scientists, researchers, educators, or health administrators.

• Job Outlook.

Related Careers: medical laboratory technician (MLT), forensics, pathology (MD or DO), and biomedical research.

Years of Schooling Required to Become a Medical Laboratory Scientist:

4+ years of education

• Bachelor’s Degree (4-5 years).

Degree Conferred

• Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT)
  • Related professionals under the umbrella of clinical laboratory science
  • Complete an associate’s degree (2 years) prior to earning a national certification as an MLT.
• Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS)
  • Complete a bachelor’s degree prior to earning a national certification as MLS

Some programs, including UHM’s, offer articulated degrees in which students with an MLT degree and/or certification can complete a bachelor’s degree without retaking overlapping courses.

• Consult with a Medical Technology academic advisor regarding the steps required for you to become an MLS.

Post-Baccalaureate Program/Options

In some universities, post-baccalaureate degrees (masters and doctorate) are available for MLS who desire advanced training. Becoming a laboratory director usually requires a doctorate in a related field, such as the biological sciences, chemistry, management, or education.

The Licensing Examination(s)

• Graduates of accredited programs are eligible to sit for the national certification exam
• Offered by American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
• Some states, including Hawai`i, also require professional licensure.
  • State laws on licensure vary but usually include minimum competency requirements, continuing education requirements, and licensing fees

In Hawai`i, medical technologists must be licensed to practice.

Contact Information

UHM’s Department of Medical Technology
Office: Biomedical Sciences C-206
Phone: (808) 956-8557
Website: http://medtech.jabsom.hawaii.edu/
Mailing address: 1960 East-West Road; Honolulu, HI  96822

KCC’s Medical Laboratory Technician Program
Health Sciences Department
Phone: (808) 734-9270
Website: https://www.kapiolani.hawaii.edu/academics/programs-of-study/medical-laboratory-technician-program/
Mailing address: 4303 Diamond Head Road, Kauila 122; Honolulu, HI 96816

For advising at UHM, contact:
Violet Nxedhlana, PhD, MLS (ASCP), Program Director
Biomedical Sciences C-206
Phone: (808) 956-8557
Email: violetnx@hawaii.edu

*Students interested in the BS in Medical Technology are urged to contact the Department advisor to learn about the new 2+2 MLS curriculum. There is a nation-wide shortage of qualified medical laboratory professionals. Please call or stop by the office to make an appointment with an advisor.

Pre-Veterinary Medicine Program

Veterinarians work with animals to help animals, and even people, live longer, healthier lives. Veterinarians diagnose and treat sick and injured animals, prevent animal diseases, improve the quality of the environment, ensure food safety, prevent the transmission of animal diseases to humans, and advise animal owners, including livestock companies, individual pet owners, etc.

Veterinary medicine continues to expand rapidly and now offers 22 specialties: anesthesiology, animal behavior, dentistry, dermatology, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, laboratory animal medicine, microbiology, nutrition, ophthalmology, pathology, pharmacology, poultry veterinary medicine, private practice, preventive medicine, radiology, sports medicine and rehabilitation, surgery, theriogenology (reproduction), toxicology, veterinary practice, and zoological medicine. 

Work Setting

Veterinarians work in a wide variety of areas, including private practice, zoos, private industry, mobile services, research laboratories, government institutions, the military, wildlife organizations, racetracks, and circuses. Veterinarians work in public health, inspection, and regulatory agencies, and in government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US Department of Agriculture, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although most veterinarians are in clinical practice, some also choose to conduct research or teach in higher education.

Related Careers: animal health technician, animal research, animal science, animal training and breeding, animal welfare, environmental management, hospital administration, marine biology, veterinary assistant, veterinary technician, and wildlife preservation.

Veterinary Technicians and Assistants

• Assist the veterinarian in providing high quality care to animals and people
• Tasks: gain background histories during appointments, handling laboratory results, monitoring animals in treatment, and other needed tasks
• Most states require veterinary technicians to be licensed from an accredited veterinary technology program
  • Windward Community College (WCC) offers a veterinary technology and assisting program
    • Awards a Certificate of Achievement in Veterinary Assisting and/or Associates in Science in Veterinary Technology after completion of the program.
    • WCC Website.

Years of Schooling Required to Become a Veterinarian:

8-13 years of education

• Undergraduate Preparation (~4 years);
• Veterinary Medical School (4 years);
• Internship (1 year, optional);
• Residency (2-4 years, optional).

Many schools require a bachelor’s degree. Although not all schools list a bachelor’s degree as a requirement for admission, few students are admitted without one. For those schools that do not require a bachelor’s degree, completing a bachelor’s degree is highly recommended. Admission to medical schools is highly competitive, and a bachelor’s degree significantly strengthens a student’s application and provides students with greater options for advancement and career opportunities.

• “Choosing a Major for Professional Schools in Health” 

Degree Conferred

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) OR
• Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD)

Both degrees are equivalent with respect to licensure and professional practice.

2015-2016 Admissions Cycle Matriculation Statistics:

Based on data acquired by the National Association of Academic Advisors for Health Professions (NAAHP).

What to Expect in Vet School

• Year 1 & 2: in classrooms and laboratories studying the basic sciences, including anatomy, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, and physiology
• Year 3 and/or 4: devoted primarily to clinical rotations

Internships and residencies are available for veterinarians who wish to gain advanced training or specialization. 

• In their senior year, veterinary students can apply through a matching program for an internship in either
  • Small-animal medicine
  • Large-animal medicine
  • Surgery
• Veterinarians can often command a higher starting salary after completing an internship
  • Most prestigious internships are at veterinary medical colleges or large private veterinary hospitals.
    • Ranking for internship is based upon academic performance and faculty recommendations.

Veterinarians who have completed an internship or who have two years of private practice experience can apply for residency programs.

• Residencies are 2- to 4-year programs that provide further specialization in 11 areas: internal medicine, surgery, cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, exotic small animal medicine, pathology, neurology, radiology, anesthesiology, and oncology.
• Some residencies combine research and graduate studies to confer a master’s degree.
• Upon successful completion of residencies, veterinarians are certified by the appropriate veterinary medical specialty board.

The Licensing Examination(s)

• North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) is an examination for veterinary medical licensure in the United States.
• Fourth year of veterinary medical school
• To sit for the exam, students must submit two applications
  • One to the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (NBVME)
  • One to the licensing board of the state in which they intend to practice (if required)

All veterinarians must be licensed to practice.

Contact Information

Pre-Veterinary Program Advisor
Jenee Odani, DVM, DACVP
Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
1955 East-West Road, Ag Sci 314I

Website: https://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hnfas/Academics/PreVeterinary
Email: jsodani@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 956-3847

Public Health (Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Degrees)

The Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) defines public health as, “the science and art of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention.

“Public health is concerned with protecting the health of entire populations. These populations can be as small as a local neighborhood, or as big as an entire country. Public health professionals try to prevent problems from happening or re-occurring through implementing educational programs, developing policies, administering services, regulating health systems and some health professions, and conducting research. Public health professionals also analyze the effect on health of genetics, personal choice, and the environment in order to develop programs that protect the health of your family and community.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), public health in the twentieth century dramatically increased the quality of life and average lifespan of Americans by developing programs for vaccination, motor vehicle safety, workplace safety, controlling infectious diseases, family planning, ensuring safer and healthier food supplies, and fluoridation of water, to name a few.

• Public health encompasses a wide variety of disciplines, such as biology, sociology, mathematics, anthropology, public policy, medicine, education, psychology, computer science, business, engineering, and more
• No single pathway to public health and there is no “typical” public health job

Students pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree choose an area of specialization, or concentration.

• Schools vary in which concentrations they offer, but all accredited schools offer the five core disciplines.

Core Disciplines

Behavioral Sciences/Health Education focuses on ways that encourage people to make healthy choices

• Include the development of community-wide education programs that range from researching complex health issues to promoting healthy lifestyles in order to prevent disease and injury.

Biostatistics identifies health trends that lead to life-saving measures through the application of statistical procedures, techniques, and methodology.

Environmental Health studies the impact of our surroundings on our health and how to reduce environmental risk factors.

Epidemiology investigates the cause of disease and controls its spread.

• Do fieldwork to determine what causes disease or injury, what the risks are, who is at risk, and how to prevent further incidences.
• Spot and understand the demographic and social trends that influence disease and injury and evaluate new treatments.

Health Services Administration/Management combines politics, business, and science in managing the human and fiscal resources needed to deliver effective public health services

• Studies health care systems, health care reform, health care law, financial management, clinic management, and policy analysis.

Additional Concentrations:

International/Global Health addresses health concerns among different cultures in countries worldwide.

Maternal and Child Health improves the public health delivery systems specifically for women, children, and their families through advocacy, education, and research.

Nutrition examines how food and nutrients affect the wellness and lifestyle of populations

• Combines education and science to promote health and disease prevention

Public Health Laboratory Practice tests biological and environmental samples in order to diagnose, prevent, treat, and control infectious diseases.

• Practitioners include bacteriologists, microbiologists, and biochemists

Health Policy works to improve the public’s health through legislative action at the local, state, and federal levels.

Public health professionals work in both public and private sectors, including local, state, or federal health departments, non-profit organizations, pharmaceutical companies, health insurance companies, and universities.

Related Careers: social work, health administration, law, medicine, and dentistry.

Years of Schooling to Become a Public Health Professional:

4+ years of education

• Bachelor’s Degree (~4 years);
• Master’s Degree (~2 years); and/or
• Doctorate (~4-5 years).

The public health curriculum varies from school to school, but often includes courses in each of the five core disciplines, courses within the area of concentration (sometimes called the major), electives, practicum experiences, and a final, culminating experience, often conducted in a work environment.

Degree Conferred

Schools of public health offer a variety of degrees, which can be separated into two categories: professional or academic.

• Professional degrees are oriented toward practice in public health settings
  • Master of Public Health (MPH)
  • Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
  • Master of Health Administration (MHA)
• Academic degrees are oriented toward careers in research or university teaching
  • Master of Science (MS)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  • Doctor of Science (ScD)

Combined Degree Programs

Because public health incorporates such a broad spectrum of disciplines, many students pursue a public health degree in tandem with a second degree related to their intended area of specialization.

• Joint/dual degrees can be completed simultaneously or sequentially.
• Some of the most common joint/dual degrees include
  • MPH/MSN (nursing),
  • MPH/MPP (public policy)
  • MPH/MD (medicine)
  • MPH/DDS (dentistry)
  • MPH/JD (law)
  • MPH/MBA (business administration).

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Office of Public Health Studies (OPHS) currently offers the following degree programs:

*The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Health is intended as a generalized health science degree to prepare students for graduate studies in public health, medicine, and other health professions.

• Still able to obtain careers with a Bachelors in public health.

Note: If students want to pursue a career in a specific concentration of public health, the typical entry-level degree for public health practice is a MPH or any other variation of such degree (MSPH, MS, etc.)

** The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree provides a set of skills and principles essential for students who intend to apply their training in a professional setting, provide leadership in a specific health specialty, and improve and protect the health and well-being of populations

• MPH degree will include coursework in a number of public health disciplines, such as administration, epidemiology, environmental health, and behavioral health
• Master of Science (MS) in Public Health degree prepares practitioners for a career that includes research in a specific aspect of public health.
  • Provides a set of skills in research design, data collection, analysis and application of research in public health intended to improve and protect the health of populations
  • Degree is suited for students with good quantitative and/or qualitative skills and an interest in the science of public health and a comprehensive research experience
  • Usually requires completion of a research project

Contact Information

University of Hawai`i Office of Public Health Studies
1960 East-West Road
Biomed D204
Honolulu, HI 96822

Phone: (808) 956-8577
Website: http://manoa.hawaii.edu/publichealth/
Email: pubhlth@hawaii.edu

Social Work and Welfare (Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral Degrees)

Social work promotes individual and collective well-being through advocating for justice, providing effective programs and services, and enhancing individual and family development. Founded on principles of human rights and social justice, social work’s primary responsibility is to the most vulnerable groups and individuals of our society. Social workers view differences among people as enriching the quality of life for all.

• Help people prevent and overcome social and health problems such as poverty, mental illness, child abuse and neglect, elder abuse and neglect, emotional instability, illness, economic uncertainty, domestic violence, homelessness, and drug abuse
• Enhance opportunities for individuals, especially for those who have been historically oppressed
• Seek to maximize individuals’ and groups’ participation in society using theories of human behavior, relationships, and social systems
• Work directly with individuals, couples, families, and groups to make the most effective use of their abilities and to identify and overcome obstacles preventing them from participating fully in society
• May also work with communities, organizations, and social systems to improve services and to administrate social and health programs
  • When adequate services do not exist in a community, social workers sometimes develop new services.

Work Setting

• Wide variety of settings, including hospitals and clinics, schools, public welfare departments, family and child welfare agencies, mental health clinics, gerontology and geriatric programs, legal administration, immigrant and refugee centers, private practice, and so on
• Wide variety of formats, from assisting individuals to advocating for specific populations, from home visits to office appointments, from working with people to filing reports
• Some also teach or conduct research in academia

Related Careers: counseling, clinical psychology, occupational therapy, law, health administration.

Years of Schooling Required to Become a Social Worker:

4-11+ years of education

• Bachelor’s Degree (4-5 years);
• Master’s Degree (2-3 years);
• Doctorate (3+ years).

Upon graduation from a social work program, students are awarded either the

• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
• Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work

Depends on the program in which they enrolled. All graduates of accredited programs are eligible for licensure and professional practice, although certain areas of social work are restricted to those with advanced degrees.

Degree Conferred

• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) provides students with the knowledge, skills, and values of the profession, integrated with a liberal arts education
  • Prepares students for beginning-level generalist practice and for advanced study in social work.
• Master of Social Work (MSW) prepares students for advanced practice or specialization
  • Required to provide certain services such as therapy or to work in certain settings such as psychiatric hospitals or mental health clinics.
• Doctor of Social Work (DSW) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work prepare social workers for leadership roles in social work and social welfare
  • Both require additional years of study in areas such as clinical practice, administration, and research
  • DSW is oriented toward clinical practice 
  • PhD is oriented toward research or teaching

The Licensing Examination(s):

• Licensure requirements for social workers are set by individual states, and vary depending on applicants’ degree level
• Most states require, in addition to state-based requirements, that students obtain a passing score on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Examination, a national licensing exam

Most social workers must be licensed to practice.

Contact Information

UHM’s Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work
Gartley Hall
2430 Campus Rd
Honolulu, HI 96822

Phone: (808) 956-7182
Fax: (808) 956-5964
Website: http://www.hawaii.edu/sswork/

To schedule an advising appointment with a Pre-BSW Peer Advisor, contact: sswadmit@hawaii.edu or call the phone number listed above.

Communication Sciences and Disorders: SLP (Master's Degree)

"Making effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all" (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) 

The University of Hawai`i at Mānoa Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (UH CSD) offers a Master of Science (MS) degree in CSD with an emphasis in speech-language pathology (SLP). Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.

UH CSD is the only graduate education program in the state of Hawai`i that is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Work Setting

• In diverse settings including early intervention, school, hospital, rehabilitation, and private practice
• Participate on teams to collaborate with other professionals such as physicians, psychologists, teachers, and social workers, as well as caregivers and family members, to provide person-centered comprehensive care.

For more information on job outlook, refer to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Related Careers: speech and hearing sciences, counseling, education.

Education and Training 

• Entry level requirements include a
  • Minimum of a master’s degree in CSD
  • Passing score on the Praxis exam in SLP
  • 9-month clinical fellowship
• MS degree program at the UH is typically completed in 2 years of full-time enrollment across 6 semesters including summer sessions.
• Clinical education is a strength of the UH CSD program
  • On-campus practicum in the University Health Partners of Hawai`i Speech and Hearing Clinic (UHPSHC) and clinical rotations at off-campus facilities in Hawai`i provide students with a breadth and depth of supervised clinical experiences to gain knowledge and skills in preparation for entry into the profession.

For more information on the MS plans of study, refer to the Communication and Disorder in UH at Manoa 2021-2021 catalog

Degree Conferred 

• Master of Science (MS) with emphasis in SLP.

What to Expect in an SLP Program

• Students are admitted to the UH Mānoa MS program in CSD as cohorts each fall semester for full-time enrollment
• Graduates of CAA-accredited programs are educated with a core set of knowledge and skills required for entry into independent professional practice.
• Didactic courses include research methodology and evidence-based practice to evaluate and treat communication and swallowing disorders
• Clinical education includes supervised clinical observations and mentored clinical practica

The Licensing Examination(s)

• Most states require SLPs to be licensed by ASHA, Praxis examination, administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS)
  • Scores are submitted to the national American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) as part of the application for ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP for Speech-Language Pathology)
• To become licensed in Hawai`i
  • Complete an accredited graduate-level degree and the CFY
  • Obtain national ASHA certification
  • Take a written state examination
• To maintain certification, SLPs must pay an annual certification fee and meet ASHA re-certification requirements

All speech-language pathologists must be licensed to practice.

Professional Certification and Licensure

Graduates with a master’s degree in CSD are eligible to apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech- Language-Hearing-Association (ASHA) after successful completion of a post-graduate clinical fellowship supervised by an ASHA-certified SLP at an approved setting, and a passing score on the Praxis exam in SLP.

• Clinical Fellowship Experience 

Professional licensing requirements for SLPs vary by state.

• State Licensure Requirements
• SLP in Hawaii Information

Contact Information

Communication Sciences and Disorders Department
University of Hawai`i at Mānoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine
677 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 625
Honolulu, HI 96813

Phone: 808-692-1581
Fax: 808-566-6292
Email: uhmcsd@hawaii.edu

For more information, click here and read through the website thoroughly prior to e-mailing or calling the department. The website includes information on the prerequisites for SLP programs.