About the course

Global environmental problems like human-induced climate change challenge local strategies to manage natural resources, protect sensitive species’ habitats, and ensure the long-term health of ecosystems. With over fifty percent of the world’s population now living in urban areas and consuming most of the earth’s resources, the way we plan, design and regulate our cities exacerbates local conditions. At the same time, urban areas are also important locations for solutions. Environmental planners adopt solutions-oriented approaches to address environmental problems, such as supporting local food production, building disaster risk reduction, deploying clean sources of energy, conserving biodiversity and natural habitats, managing urban waste, adapting to sea-level rise and preserving freshwater resources. Planning as a discipline has a long tradition in problem solving across different scales from neighborhoods to entire regions with extensive community involvement.

　　Hawaiʻi is an ideal location to tackle issues of environmental sustainability. The archipelago faces special challenges associated with its island setting, fragile ecosystems, limited space and natural resources. Hawaiʻi and its people are fortunate to have a wide range of renewable energies and a rich history in land use management, rooted in historical and cultural practice. Hawaiʻi is also uniquely positioned within the Asia-­Pacific region serving as a bridge between the East and the West to build collaborative networks for innovative environmental solutions.

　　The Environmental Planning track in the Global Environmental Science program will engage undergraduate students to grasp, engage with, and develop solutions to regional environmental problems by focusing their academic studies on environmental planning and policy-­making. In this track, students will gain foundational knowledge necessary to understand the planning profession while concurrently learning tools, planning approaches and policies that aim to preserve the environment. They will also learn about collaborative and community-­based interventions. Graduates will be uniquely positioned for careers as environmental planners, specialists, and consultants employed by government agencies or private firms required to review planning permits, develop master plans, prepare environmental impact studies, or develop mitigation strategies to minimize development impacts. Students will also be well prepared to continue graduate studies in urban and regional planning. Scholarships - View all scholarships Internships

　　

Start dates and prices

Course fees are indicative and should be used as a guide. Speak to a counsellor to get an accurate price.

　　Duration: 8 Semester(s)Fees: Not available

Intake	Location
Spring (January), 2024	Honolulu
Fall (August), 2024	Honolulu
Spring (January), 2025	Honolulu
Fall (August), 2025	Honolulu
Spring (January), 2026	Honolulu

　　

How to apply

Entry requirements for University of Hawaii - Manoa

To be considered for admission, you must have completed or are in the process of completing secondary school with a cumulative or overall grade point average (GPA) equivalent of B or higher. Focus will also be on the grades/marks you have received for Mathematics and Science courses. TOEFL (iBT)- 100, TOEFL (PBT) - 600, IELTS (Academic Section) - 7.0.

　　

English language requirements

　　7.0

　　Overall IELTS band score

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　　Practice and prepare

　　TOEFL Internet based overall score: 100.0

　　

Application deadline:

This date isn’t available – speak to an IDP counsellor to get detailed information.

　　

Further information

Career outcomesIf you aren’t eligible for the above entry requirements, you might want to explore pathway options at University of Hawaii - Manoa. If you want to find out more, please speak to our counsellors.

　　Pathway options to study at this institution

　　

Reviews and rankings

World ranking

　　201st / 1250

　　THE World ranking

　　

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