Population Studies

at the university of hawai'i

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE

The Population Studies Program, University of Hawai'i at Manoa (UH) and the Population and Health Studies Program, East-West Center (EWC) offer the interdisciplinary graduate certificate program in population studies. The graduate program addresses the relationships between population processes – fertility, mortality, migration, population growth, and aging – and social, political, environmental, and economic change in the contemporary world. The subject matter is addressed from a multi-disciplinary perspective with an emphasis on policy-oriented study and research. Given the location of the East-West Center and University of Hawaii at Manoa and the expertise of its faculty, the graduate program emphasizes policies and issues of contemporary importance in the Asia-Pacific region.

The program's curriculum draws on the strengths of its interdisciplinary faculty who are drawn from sociology, economics, public health, geography, anthropology, political science, urban & regional planning, and speech.

Upon completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:

Demonstrate mastery of the core theoretical concepts and issues in the field of population studies,
Demonstrate mastery of the methodology and techniques employed in the field of population studies,
Communicate both orally and in writing at a high level of proficiency,
Conduct research or produce other creative work related to the field of population studies, and
Function as a professional in a population-related discipline.

Requirements

The interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Population Studies consists of 16 credits of course work, earning a grade of more than B- in any course, and a capstone project. A new curriculum was adopted recently to reflect the needs and condition of the program.

Specific requirements in the new curriculum are:

A core of three courses, Introduction to Human Population (PPST 650, 3 credits), Methods of Demographic Analysis (PPST 691, 3 credits), and Faculty Seminar Series (PPST 649, 1 credit), 7 credits
Three courses numbered 600 or above selected from any of the thematic clusters in population (demographic methods; health and development, population and the environment; population and economics; aging; social mobility and spatial dynamics; marriage, family, and fertility). On petition, the program director may accept 600-level courses or above that are not listed within any of the five thematic clusters but have significant population content. On petition, the program director may also accept up to 3 credits of 400-level course. Courses taken for credit may be applied to both a graduate degree and the interdisciplinary certificate, 9 credits
A capstone project. Either a research paper of publishable quality on a population topic, a grant proposal with the student as principal author, or other capstone project with the prior written approval of the director of the program. At the end of their project, students must present their results in a seminar. It is the responsibility of the student to identify an appropriate faculty member. Students may choose to enroll for Directed Reading and Research (PPST 699) when undertaking their capstone project. Up to 3 credits of PPST 699 can be applied to the 9-credit requirement. The Program Director appoints the faculty advisor in consultation with the student and the proposed faculty advisor. The capstone project will be evaluated by a three-member assessment committee consisting of the faculty advisor and two additional faculty members appointed by the Program Director.

Admissions

There are two types of admission:

1. For those who are currently UH Manoa Graduate Students (Master or Doctorate level): You only need to make a petition to Population Studies Director stating your intention to pursue a Graduate Certificate in Population Studies. The Program will notify the Graduate Division. Send your petition to:

Prof. Yeanju Lee

Director, Population Studies Program

Saunders Hall 247
2424 Maile Way
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96822

2. For those who want to pursue the certificate independently (without concurrently being enrolled in any graduate degree program in UH): You need to follow application process for a new student through the Graduate Division. Since this is a graduate program, the minimum requirement for admission to the program is a Bachelor Degree. Please click here for more information.

Questions about your Interest?

If you have a specific interest and would like to discuss the program, you may want to talk to one of our faculty members:

Anthropology: Prof. Nina Etkin (Office: Saunders 314, Ph. 956-7726)

Asian Studies/History: Dr. Peter Xenos (Office: Burns 2021, Ph. 944-7410).

Economics: Prof. Andrew Mason (Office: Saunders 515c/ Burns 2016, Ph. 944-7455)

Geography: Prof. Murray Chapman (Office: Saunders 410, Ph. 956-7093)

Political Science: Prof. Carolyn Stephenson (Office: Saunders 632A, Ph. 956-8195)

Public Administration: Prof. Muthusami Kumaran (Office: Saunders 405, Ph. 956-9571)

Public Health: Prof. Jason Maddock (Office: Biomed D-209E, Ph. 956-5779)

Sociology: Prof. Yean-Ju Lee (Office: Saunders 216, Ph. 956-7116)

Urban & Regional Planning: Prof. Michael Douglass (Office: Saunders 107C, Ph. 956-6866)