Planning Certificate

Program Coordinator: Christopher Knudson, Ph.D.
Email: knudsonc@hawaii.edu

Certificate Description:

The Planning Certificate focuses on land use planning and the relationship of geographic concepts to urban, regional, and environmental planning, with examples drawn principally from Hawaiʻi. Coursework will introduce students to comprehensive planning in Hawaiʻi with an emphasis on the environmental, infrastructure, social, economic and other issues underlying good land use plans. Additional coursework on the theory and methods of environmental impact assessment (EIA) focuses on the physical environmental, cultural, social and legal foundations of the federal and state EIA process as well as how to minimize negative impacts from economic development. While this is an optional program designed to complement the major in Geography, non-geography majors may pursue the planning certificate with the approval of the department chair. Students accepted into the certificate program are required to obtain at least a “C” grade in each course.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this certificate, students will be able to:

• Understand the relationship of geographic concepts to urban, regional, and environmental planning.
• Understand the environmental, infrastructure, social, economic and other issues underlying good land use plans.
• Understand the theory and methods of environmental impact assessment.

Curriculum (18 credits):

1. Required Courses. (12)
   • GEOG 340 Intro to Land Use Planning (3)
   • GEOG 440 Community Planning (3)
   • GEOG 441 Environmentl Impact Assessment (3)
   • GEOG 496 Planning Internship (3)
2. Additional Electives. (6)
   • Two electives approved by the planning advisor at the 300- or 400-level.

Notes:

1. A grade of C or better is required in each course for the Certificate.
2. The internship normally will be completed in the student’s senior year.
3. Up to two courses in the certificate program also may be counted as Geography major electives.
4. For further details on the planning certificate program, contact any member of the Geography faculty.