Graduate Division
Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the
Graduate Division
Bachman 204
2444 Dole Street
Honolulu, HI 96822
Graduate Division
Spalding 360
2540 Maile Way
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-7541
Fax: (808) 956-4261
Graduate Division Records Office
Spalding 352
2540 Maile Way
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8500
Graduate Division Admissions Office
Spalding 354
2540 Maile Way
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8544
Web: www.hawaii.edu/graduate/
Graduate education and research are inseparable in a comprehensive
university. The administration of these two areas is coordinated by the
senior vice president for research and dean of the Graduate Division.
The senior vice president for research and dean of the Graduate
Division is responsible for the supervision, development, and
improvement of graduate work. The dean is assisted by an assistant to
the vice president for research and dean of the Graduate Division, an
associate dean for programs and personnel, and an assistant dean for
student academic services.
Graduate Council
Members of the Graduate Council are appointed by the senior vice
president for research and dean of the Graduate Division upon
recommendation by the associate dean of the Graduate Division. The
council advises the dean on graduate courses, programs, and
administrative matters.
Senate of the Graduate Division
The Senate of the Graduate Division is composed of the chairs of each
graduate field of study. It functions as an advisory board to the dean of the Graduate Division on major policy matters and serves
as a forum for discussion on matters pertaining to graduate study.
Chairs of the Graduate Fields of Study
The chairs of the graduate fields of study are appointed by the dean
of the Graduate Division. The chairs in turn recommend faculty advisers
or committees for graduate students working toward advanced degrees. If
the dean of the Graduate Division concurs, he/she appoints the persons
recommended by the chairs.
The chairs of the graduate fields of study serve as the liaison with
the dean of the Graduate Division in matters of policy, rule changes,
program effectiveness, and general graduate student affairs. They advise
the dean on admission of graduate students, advise graduate students on
their degree programs, review graduate student petitions, keep records
on their graduate students, and certify that degree candidates have
completed all requirements.
Graduate Student Organization
See the “Student Life” section for information on this
organization.
WICHE Programs
See the “Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid” section for
information on these programs.
Academic Policies
The following regulations and procedures governing admission to the
Graduate Division of the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa are subject
to change without prior notice. Prospective students should consult with
the Graduate Division for updated policies.
Although the University attempts to accommodate the course requests
of students, course offerings may be limited by financial, space, and
staffing considerations or may otherwise be unavailable. Nothing in this
Catalog may be construed to promise or guarantee registration in
any course or course of study (whether required or elective) nor may
anything be construed to promise or guarantee the completion of an
academic program within a specified length of time.
Student Responsibility
It is the responsibility of students to know and
observe all regulations and procedures relating to the program they are
pursuing, as well as those of the University and Graduate Division. In
no case will a regulation be waived or an exception granted because
students plead ignorance of or contend that they were not informed of
the regulations or procedures. Questions on regulations and their
interpretation pertaining to studies at the graduate level should be
addressed to the Office of the Dean of the Graduate Division.
Students planning to graduate should familiarize
themselves with the dates relating to application for graduation and
other pertinent deadlines (see the “Calendar”). It is necessary to
apply for graduation by the specified deadline in order to graduate in a
particular term, whether or not the student plans to attend the
commencement ceremonies.
Students must satisfy the degree requirements of the Catalog
in force during the term for which they have been admitted to and
begin course work in a degree program; or they may, with the consent of
their advisers, meet graduation requirements by complying with the
provisions of a later Catalog. Students readmitted to a degree
program must meet degree requirements of the Catalog in force at
the time of the later admission (or of a subsequent Catalog, as
provided above). Aside from degree requirements, all students are
subject to the regulations and policies stated in the Catalog currently
in force. Exceptions to the regulations contained in the Catalog require
the written approval of the Office of the Dean of the Graduate Division,
unless otherwise stated in the Catalog.
Students admitted to the Graduate Division are assumed
to be mature adults and are expected to behave accordingly. All written
work should observe high editorial standards, and high standards of
academic honesty are expected. Though advisory services are provided to
assist the student, the student alone is responsible for following the
procedures and completing the steps required in the degree program.
Requirements of the Graduate Division, both procedural and substantive,
may be waived only by written request of the student and/or committee
concerned and must have the written approval of the dean of the Graduate
Division. Petition forms are available in department offices and the
Graduate Division Records Office.
Academic Integrity
The University has adopted policies and procedures for
dealing with research misconduct among its students, faculty, and staff.
The guidelines, which are available in department offices and in the
Office of the Dean of the Graduate Division, pertain to the intentional
commission of any of the following acts: falsification of research
results, improper assignment of authorship, plagiarism, unprofessional
manipulation of experiments or of research procedures, and
misappropriation of research funds.
If a graduate student fails to maintain the standards
of academic or professional integrity expected in his or her discipline
or program, the student’s admission to the program may be terminated.
(See the “Appendix” for further discussion of policy pertaining to
academic honesty.)
Research with Human or Animal Subjects
Students intending to conduct research using human or
animal subjects should be aware of federal, state, and University
regulations and review processes to ensure compliance with protective
standards. These regulations cover research funded by non-University
sources, sponsored by the University, or conducted by or under the
direction of any employee or agent of the University in connection with
his/her institutional responsibilities or using any UH property or
facility. These regulations also cover research involving the use of the
University’s non-public information to identify or contact research
subjects.
Students and University employees should refer to the
“Appendix” for more information on federal research guidelines and
check with their respective academic offices for guidance. General
information regarding standards is available from the Office of Research
Services at Sakamaki D-200, 2530 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI 96822 (808)
956-7470.
Admission
Applicants for advanced degree programs must hold a
bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or its
equivalent from a recognized foreign institution of higher learning. The
standards of the degree in question must be equivalent in both the
distribution of academic subject matter and in scholarship achievement
requirements to those maintained at the University of Hawai‘i at Ma¯noa.
Generally, an applicant must have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0
(4.0-equals-A scale) or the equivalent in the last four semesters or
approximately 60 semester credits (or the equivalent in quarter credits)
of his or her undergraduate record and in all post-baccalaureate work.
Completed applications are screened by the Graduate
Division Admissions Office. Applications of students who meet the
minimum requirements of the Graduate Division are forwarded to the
respective field of study, where the standards applied may be more
stringent than those set by the Graduate Division. There the
applications are subjected to a more comprehensive and intensive review
by the graduate faculty. Where admission is intensely competitive,
admission decisions are reached through a comparison of the relative
merits of all applicants applying in the field or in an area of
concentration, if applicable, for that particular semester. The graduate
field then makes a recommendation to the Graduate Division either to
admit or deny the applicant. The final decision to make a formal offer
of admission rests with the dean of the Graduate Division, who takes
into full consideration the recommendation of the field of study.
Students may be denied admission for any number of
reasons. Some of the more common bases of denial are undistinguished
academic records and poor test scores, inadequate preparation and
background for advanced academic or professional study, unclear or
unfocused objectives for graduate study, or inability of the program to
accommodate all qualified applicants due to limited space or lack of
faculty to guide the students in specified areas of interest. It is
suggested that applicants consult the chair of the selected field
concerning their interests and availability of faculty members in their
intended areas of study.
The Graduate Division notifies each applicant of its
decision. Official notification of acceptance or rejection is generally
mailed between February and June for fall admission, depending on when
the completed application is received and when a decision is reached.
Most of the notifications are mailed in April and May. For spring,
notification is generally in November and December. In fields with
intense competition, selections are often made early. Incomplete
applications are not considered for admission. Applicants should not
make definite arrangements to attend the University until they receive
formal notice of acceptance from the Graduate Division.
All applicants are required to specify on the
application form all current and previous enrollment in any
postsecondary institution. Any applicant who fails to inform the
University of such enrollment or who submits or has submitted any
required information or document that is fraudulent or that has been
altered without proper authorization may be denied admission to the
University. If the omissions and/or alterations are discovered after the
student is enrolled, enrollment may be canceled and the student may be
referred to the University’s Student Conduct Committee for possible
disciplinary action.
Application Procedures and Deadlines
Application forms and specific graduate program
information should be obtained directly from the appropriate field of
study (refer to graduate fields listed in the “Degrees and
Certificates” section). Letters should be addressed to the graduate
chair of the appropriate field of study.
For further information on general graduate
admissions, write to the Graduate Division Admissions Office. Medicine
and law are not part of the Graduate Division. Applicants should apply
directly to the John A. Burns School of Medicine (see the “School of
Medicine” section) or to the William S. Richardson School of Law (see
the “School of Law” section).
Application Requirements
Students applying for admission to graduate programs
must submit the following:
To the Graduate Division†
1. Application form and appropriate fee;
2. One official transcript from each postsecondary institution attended,
sent directly from the institution to the Graduate Division;
3. Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score report,
if required (for foreign applicants, as well as some immigrant and U.S.
applicants); and
4. Verification of financial status (for foreign applicants).
† Applicants seeking admission to the School of Public Health or the
School of Social Work should submit all documents to the respective
school.
If more than 25 percent of a student’s undergraduate
and/or graduate course work at a U.S. institution has been graded under
a nontraditional grading system (i.e., pass/fail, credit/no credit, S/U,
etc.), then:
1. Transcripts must be accompanied by official course performance
reports, i.e., faculty evaluations (one copy each of transcripts and
performance reports);
2. Transcripts from nontraditional grading systems must include course
descriptions and grade conversion information; and
3. The applicant must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General
Test and have the results forwarded to the
Graduate Division. (Applicants to the College of
Business Administration and the Schools of Accountancy and Travel
Industry Management should take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
in place of the GRE.)
To the Field of Study
1. Letters of recommendation if required by field of study;
2. One official transcript from each postsecondary institution attended,
sent directly to the field of study by the institution;
3. Standardized test scores (excluding TOEFL) such as GRE, GMAT, Miller
Analogies Test (MAT) if required by the field of study;
4. Special application forms if required by the field of study; and
5. Samples of work (slides, manuscripts, portfolio, or tapes), resumes,
and writing samples if required by the field of study.
For details, refer to the graduate program brochure of
the field of study and application instructions. Materials submitted in
support of an application are not released for other purposes and cannot
be returned to the applicant. Failure to fill out the application
completely according to instructions may result in delays and file
closure.
Application Deadlines
Please refer to the Graduate Division Admissions
application booklet or graduate program brochure of the field of study
for specific application deadlines. Each graduate program may have
different deadlines.
Admissions-and in many cases offers of financial
support, such as assistantships, scholarships, fellowships and tuition
waivers-are awarded early to highly qualified applicants. Applications
are processed by the Graduate Division as early as October 1 for the
fall semester and May 1 for the spring semester. It is recommended that
a completed graduate admissions application be submitted as early as
possible.
Applicants who are still in their undergraduate
programs should apply after the first quarter or semester of their
senior year. They should heed early deadlines for various examinations
required for admission, making arrangements to take required tests such
as TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT several months prior to the application
deadline.
Spring Deadlines
There is no spring admission to anthropology,
astronomy, biomedical sciences (biostatistics/epidemiology),
communication, communication and information sciences, computer science,
education (PhD degree), educational psychology (PhD degree), English,
English as a second language, geography, international management,
nursing, political science, psychology, public health (DrPH degree),
religion, social work, social welfare, teaching, and zoology.
International Applicants
International applicants must submit official academic
records in the original language accompanied by certified English
translations. These translations must bear either the embossed seal or
inked stamp of the issuing institution or governmental agency or the
original signature of the translator, and they must be complete and
exact word-for-word translations of the original documents.
Students studying in Commonwealth countries or under a system of
education that follows the British pattern of examination and grading,
where the classification for the degree (e.g., First Class, Second
Class) is based on the final year examination, should apply after the
degree has been awarded. This applies to students from the United
Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri
Lanka, and some African countries. An official certificate showing the
award of the degree with the division and class standing must be
submitted with the application.
With the exception of holders of a four- or five-year
BEng, BArch, BAgr, BTech, or MBBS degree, applicants who have attended
or are attending higher education institutions in India, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar must present a completed master’s
degree (a U.S. bachelor’s degree equivalent) at the time the
application is filed.
English Language Institute
International and immigrant students admitted to the
University whose native language is not English are referred to the
English Language Institute to determine if they must take the ELI
placement examinations. If a student does not fulfill this obligation,
ELI will place a hold on the student’s registration. Please refer to
the “English as a Second Language” section within the Colleges of
Arts and Sciences for additional information.
Standardized Examinations
As a service to in-state students, standardized test
application forms are available at the Counseling and Student
Development Center, (808) 956-3454. Out-of-state students and applicants
from foreign countries should write to the address designated for each
examination (see pertinent section below).
Individuals with visual, physical, hearing, or
learning disabilities who are required to take either the GRE or GMAT
should contact the Educational Testing Service for information regarding
special arrangements to take these examinations.
Graduate Record Examination
The GRE and subtests may be required by some fields of
study and recommended by others. The GRE testing program will have a
significant change in 1999 that may affect the graduate admissions
requirements for some fields of study. For the requirements of the
individual fields of study, consult the relevant field of study
descriptions in this Catalog and the instruction sheet of the
graduate application form. The GRE General Test (Package 1) is also
required by the Graduate Division for students who have completed 25
percent or more of their undergraduate work under a nontraditional
grading system. Test information is available through the Counseling and
Student Development Center, (808) 956-7927. Applicants may request test
registration forms directly from Graduate Record Examinations,
Educational Testing Service (ETS), Box 6004, Princeton, NJ 08541-6004.
Submit completed registration forms and test fees to ETS at least one
month before the examination date.
Graduate Management Admission Test
The GMAT is required by the college or school for
admission to the master’s program in business administration,
accounting, or travel industry management. It is also required by the
Graduate Division of students who have completed 25 percent or more of
their undergraduate work under a nontraditional grading system.
Applicants may request test registration forms directly from GMAT,
Educational Testing Service, Box 6103, Princeton, NJ 08541-6103. Submit
completed forms and test fees to ETS at least five weeks before the
examination date.
Since applications are not reviewed unless GMAT scores
are received on time, the test must be taken no later than the preceding
June for admission in the spring and no later than the preceding January
for admission in the fall.
Miller Analogies Test
In addition to the GRE, the MAT is required for
admission to the EdD degree program. Applicants should contact a college
or university in their area or the Psychological Corporation, Controlled
Testing Center, 555 Academic Court, San Antonio, TX 78204-9052 for
information and specific test dates.
Test of English as a Foreign Language
All applicants whose native language is not English
must submit an official TOEFL score report from a test taken within the
past two years. The TOEFL is waived for applicants who have earned a
bachelor’s or advanced degree within the past five years from an
accredited or recognized institution in the United States, Australia,
Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom. The program of study must have
entailed no less than two years of full-time course work.
Final admission requires submission of the official
TOEFL results. Applicants should, therefore, obtain the TOEFL
Bulletin of Information early to check on the availability of the
test and should take the test in time to meet graduate admissions
application deadlines. TOEFL scores more than two years old are not
acceptable and are not reported by the Educational Testing Service.
The TOEFL is administered at centers throughout the
world. Students who wish to take the TOEFL outside the United States
should obtain the TOEFL Bulletin of Information for Candidates,
International Edition. This bulletin is generally available at U.S.
embassies and consulates and at binational educational commissions and
consulates abroad. Applicants may also order a bulletin directly from
the representative who serves the area or country in which they plan to
take the test.
Additional Requirements and Information
Renewal of Application
Newly accepted students who do not register in the
program during the semester for which they are admitted or who withdraw
from all courses within the designated withdrawal period (see the
“Calendar” for designated withdrawal dates) are considered no-shows
and their admission status is rendered invalid. If applying for
readmission within a two-year period, the student must submit a renewal
application plus copies of official transcripts for any additional
course work completed since the last application; the deadline for
renewal applications is the same as for all other applications. After
two years, the student must follow the same procedure as first-time
applicants. A new application fee is also required if more than one
semester has passed since the last fee was remitted.
Change in Field of Study
Graduate students who wish to change their field of
study must submit a change in field application to the Graduate Division
Admissions Office by the respective fall and spring deadlines.
Letters of recommendation and GRE, MAT, or GMAT test
scores (if required by the field of study) must be received by the field
of study by the application deadline.
A change in field is not permitted during the
student’s current semester of enrollment. The prospective field will
review the student’s application for a change along with new
applications for the semester in question. The new field may or may not
recommend acceptance.
Students who apply for a change in field are
considered to be withdrawing from their current field. A student may
return to the current field only by petition to, and approval of, the
graduate field and the Graduate Division.
Readmission
Classified graduate students who wish to re-enroll
after a lapse in enrollment of one or more semesters must apply for
readmission. Such students must submit the following documents to the
Graduate Division Records Office by the established deadlines:
1. Readmission petition;
2. Biographical information form;
3. Residence form;
4. Supplementary information form for non-U.S. citizens (if applicable);
5. Statement of intent to register;
6. Health form;
7. Transcripts reflecting any studies since last admission to the
University of Hawai‘i Graduate Division; and
8. Any other material requested by the field of study (e.g., current
test scores).
Students who are readmitted will be subject to the
degree requirements in effect at the time of readmission.
Document Retention
Applications and supporting documents in the following
categories are retained by the Graduate Division for limited periods as
indicated.
Incomplete applications--one semester.
Applications with no action taken by graduate field of
study; denials (those denied admission); no-shows (those not enrolled in
the semester of admission); and test scores (TOEFL scores, master file
of GRE scores)--two years.
Academic records of graduated students--five years.
Academic records of inactive students--seven years.
Classification of Students
Students (baccalaureate graduates of the University or
of other institutions of approved standing) who have been admitted to an
advanced degree, certificate program, or special non-degree program by
the Graduate Division are designated as classified (regular,
conditional, or special non-degree) graduate students.
Students who have not been admitted to an advanced
degree or special non-degree program by the Graduate Division and who
wish to take classes may register as post-baccalaureate unclassified (PBU)
students.
Regular Graduate Student
An applicant will be eligible for admission as a
“regular” classified graduate student if he/she has the following:
1. A GPA of 3.0 or better in the last four semesters or approximately 60
semester credits (or the equivalent in quarter credits) of work as an
undergraduate;
2. A master’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or better; or
3. A GPA of 3.0 or better in at least 12 credit hours of relevant upper
division and/or graduate-level post-baccalaureate work.
Students who meet the minimum GPA requirements in
category 1 above but whose GPA for 12 credit hours of upper division
and/or graduate-level post-baccalaureate work is below
3.0 are not generally admissible. International students with a GPA of
less than a B average in their undergraduate work and/or less than a B
average in 12 credit hours of post-baccalaureate work are generally not
admissible.
Conditional Graduate Student
An applicant not meeting the regular graduate student
requirements may be eligible for admission as a “conditional”
graduate student if he/she has a GPA of 2.7 to 2.9 in the last four
semesters or approximately 60 semester credits (or the equivalent in
quarter credits) of work as an undergraduate. To change from conditional
to regular status, the student must complete 12 credit hours with a B
average in courses numbered 300 and above that are relevant to the
degree. International students are generally not admitted as conditional
graduate students.
Special Non-degree Graduate Students
Special non-degree graduate students are admitted by
the Graduate Division as classified graduate students for a specified
program of study, research, or training without degree objectives for a
limited period of time (usually one year) under the sponsorship of an
educational institution or government agency. International
self-sponsored students and students who would not otherwise qualify for
admission as classified graduate students may not utilize this category
for admission to the University.
Post-Baccalaureate Unclassified Students
Post-Baccalaureate unclassified (PBU) students have
not been admitted to an advanced degree program and are therefore not
part of the Graduate Division. Those who wish to take Manoa campus
courses as PBU students may apply for admission to the Office of
Admissions and Records, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Student
Services 001, 2600 Campus Road, Honolulu, HI 96822. An application and
official verification of a bachelor’s degree or advanced degree earned
at an accredited college or university are required. Consult the Schedule
of Classes for deadlines. PBU students who plan to apply for
classified graduate status in the future should consult with the
graduate chair of the field of study in which they are interested. |