Public Policy Center

College of Social Sciences
Saunders Hall 723
2424 Maile Way
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-4237
Fax: (808) 956-0950
E-mail: dcsakai@hawaii.edu
Web: www.publicpolicycenter.hawaii.edu

Faculty

*Graduate Faculty

S. Chandler, PhD (Director)—policy analysis, poverty, child welfare
S. Miyashiro, PhD (Associate Director)—community development, sustainability, energy policy
M. Kumaran, PhD—non profit management, urban affairs
D. Nixon, PhD—policy analysis, sustainability, aging

Cooperating Graduate Faculty

he Public Policy Center has over 65 affiliate faculty representing all of the departments within the College of Social Sciences. See our website for the listing of their names, fields of interest, teaching and research areas.

Degree and Certificate Offered: Graduate Certificate in Public Policy

The Academic Program

The College of Social Sciences launched a new Public Policy Center in July 2006. The mission of the center is to enhance the quality of community life throughout Hawai‘i, the U.S. and the Asian Pacific region. The center educates professionals for careers in public life, conducts non-partisan policy research, and promotes civic engagement on issues of local, national, and international significance. The vision for the center includes excellence in public policy education, research, and professional, community-based practice. Its students and faculty will be known for their expertise in public policy, leadership in civic affairs and responsible involvement in the community

The Graduate Certificate in Public Policy

The 16-credit certificate will allow graduate students to enhance their policy and analytic skills and focus on a substantive policy issue. Each student’s program may be designed and individually tailored to build upon his or her educational background and professional interests. The certificate is flexible while establishing a core of required courses from which students may build their substantive specialization. In addition, students will be required to complete a community or field based internship in policy studies, complete an integrative seminar, and produce a policy white paper before graduation.

Core Requirements (9 credits)

All students will be required to take POLS 670 Introduction to Public Policy and a course combining economics and public policy. In addition, one research methods course is required.

Electives (3 credits)

One elective course may be selected in the student’s area of interest. Students are advised to select an elective course that focuses on an area of specialization. Existing areas of specializations are: Environmental Studies, Ocean Policy, Sustainability, Energy, Aging, Conflict Resolution, Disability and Diversity Studies, Ethnic Studies, Indigenous Rights, Multiculturalism, Hawaiian Studies, Law, Crime, Delinquency, Trade Policy, Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Public Administration, Health Policy, Population Studies, Urban and Regional Planning, and Women’s Studies. Other topics may be developed if approved by a faculty advisor.

Internship Requirement: PPC 601 (2 credits)

Students will be required to complete a 4 week (160 hour) internship in a policy research setting doing work related to their academic training and career interests.

The Final Integration Seminar: PPC 602 (2 credits)

In the final integration seminar, students will apply the methods, approaches, and perspectives studied throughout their curriculum and in their internship and produce a public policy issue paper. The paper must demonstrate individual competence in professional writing, including the ability to analyze a discrete public policy problem; the ability to collect, analyze, and integrate information from a variety of sources and perspectives; and the ability to link the analysis with potential action. This paper will be completed for an external client on an issue mutually agreed upon by the student, the client, and the course instructor.

For more information

To receive an application package, send a written request to the CSS Public Policy Center, Saunders 723, University of Hawai‘i, 2424 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI 96822 or visit our website at www.publicpolicycenter.hawaii.edu. There you can find the application materials and download them directly. You may also call the Director, Susan Chandler, at (808) 956-4237 or email her at chandler@hawaii.edu.

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Please note: This Catalog was prepared to provide information and does not constitute a contract. The University reserves the right to change or delete, supplement or otherwise amend at any time and without prior notice the information, requirements and policies contained in this Catalog.