Click here to return to the Undergraduate Education Contents Page

Academic Programs

Undergraduate Certificate Programs

The University offers a number of undergraduate certificate programs, some of which are interdisciplinary. Generally, certificates are awarded to students who take at least 12–15 credit hours of specified courses. 

Undergraduate certificate programs are offered in the following areas:

• Aging
• Environmental Studies
• Ethnic Studies
• European Languages
• Hawaiian and Indo-Pacific Languages
• Interpretation
• Marine Option
• Peace Studies 
• Russian Area Studies
• Translation
• Women's Studies

Bachelor's Degree

Objectives
The baccalaureate degree program provides the student with a coherent undergraduate education that includes a comprehensive set of integrated learning opportunities. There are three basic components to undergraduate education: (a) the University-wide General Education Core requirements, which are usually completed during the first two years of the University experience; (b) individual college or school requirements; and (c) an academic specialization comprising a major, as well as a minor or electives that complement and enrich the other requirements.

Requirements
General Education Core and Graduation Requirements. The General Education Core and graduation requirements are based on the conviction that an educated person has access to a shared body of knowledge; a comprehension of the major divisions of learning; and an understanding of the commonality in our ways of thinking, of experiencing self, and of acquiring new knowledge and skills. The common body of knowledge focuses broadly on heritage; values; political, economic, and social life; and a relationship with nature. Its study requires critical reading and listening, careful judgment, and clear exposition. The common thread in general education is the interconnectedness of human knowledge. See the "Manoa General Education Core and Graduation Requirements" section for more information.

College or School Requirements. Colleges or schools may specify which General Education Core courses should be taken to meet their requirements. They may also have additional requirements. Students should refer to specific college or school sections for more information. 

Major or Academic Specialization Requirements. Each program leading to the bachelor's degree is built around a field of concentration—the major, which consists of a specific number of credit hours and required courses in a particular field or discipline, together with related courses in other subjects that are associated with and contribute to that discipline.

Students must satisfy the degree requirements for the selected major and, if applicable, the minor or concentration selected. Detailed information can be found in the appropriate major or academic specialization sections.

Minor Requirements. Limited concentrations of courses in an area other than the major (i.e., a minor) are offered in some programs. A minor is defined as relating to an approved baccalaureate degree, with courses completed in or coordinated by a single academic department. A minor course of study consists of a minimum of 15 credit hours of non-introductory course work (200-level courses that have a college-level course prerequisite and upper division courses) that is completed with a grade of C or better.

Minors are currently offered in American studies, art, Asian studies, botany, chemistry, computer science, dance, economics, English, geography, geology and geophysics (four concentrations), Hawaiian, history, mathematics, microbiology, music, philosophy, physics, political science, religion, sociology, speech, theatre, and zoology.

NEXT: Graduation Requirements and Policies >>
Click here to return to the Undergraduate Education Contents Page