Environmental Science Jobs in Hawaii

Welcome to Hawai'i Pacific University's Environmental Studies program! We hope that you will join us and become part of our unique program, working towards a B.A. degree in environmental studies or a B.S. degree in environmental science.

Why should you major in environmental studies at HPU rather than somewhere else?

• We have a unique location for studying the environment, providing us with great field opportunities - tropical ecosystems, coral reefs, volcanoes, and unique watersheds. Field trips and projects in classes and labs make use of this. On-campus projects at the University's Hawai'i Loa campus include design and development of nature trails and wetland areas.
• Our island setting provides a microcosm of national/global environmental issues related to limited resources and growing population, with rural/agricultural, suburban, urban, and military regions; and cultures from the Pacific Islands, Asia, Europe and the United States.
• Our students in this major come from all over the world - many from the mainland United States, but we also have students from France, Malaysia, India, the Caribbean, Brazil, Ecuador, Sweden, Norway, and Japan, among others. This provides a culturally rich experience for students both in and out of the classroom.
• Some of our special program features include student interaction with the community through practicum and research experiences and through hands-on, project-based learning; on-going faculty mentoring of students; and regularly scheduled information meetings and programs about the curriculum and career opportunities.
• Our majors provide many choices for students depending on their interests, background, and abilities. The B.A. major is designed for students more interested in policy and management aspects of environmental studies and the B.S. major for those more interested in technical aspects of the environment. Both majors emphasize an interdisciplinary approach to critical analysis and problem solving in the environmental field. Students from both majors work together in many of the same upper division courses, fostering respect for diverse perspectives and abilities, and building skills for working effectively within interdisciplinary teams.
• You can join the student club Kanaka 'Aina (Students for Environmental Awareness). It has great outings and projects that help our environment and community.

We are always working on improving our majors to help ensure that whether you want to find a job or pursue graduate studies after HPU, that you will be as well prepared as possible.

The Environmental Science Major

The environmental science major prepares students for advanced studies or careers in the private and public sectors as environmental scientists. Students selecting this major take a rigorous series of lower-division courses in chemistry, physics, biology, earth system science, and mathematics as a foundation for advanced courses in environmental science. Students select upper-division courses from one of three options within the major - the biology concentration, chemistry concentration, or the general concentration. This provides breadth of perspective for examining environmental issues, as well as significant depth in a traditional scientific discipline.

Upper-division coursework in communication, environmental law and policy, regulatory compliance, and environmental ethics provide additional understanding, skills, and perspective for approaching environmental issues.

Program Objectives

1. Environmental Science Knowledge Base: A thorough understanding of the factual base, processes and relationship that constitute a working foundation in the environmental sciences.

2. The Human Dimension: An understanding of the social, economic, political and legal framework in which environmental issues are enmeshed.