College of Business and Economics

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For information, please contact:
Office of the Dean 
Kanakaʻole Hall 270
Tel:  (808) 974-7400 ; Fax: (808) 974-7685
Web:  business.uhh.hawaii.edu or economics.uhh.hawaii.edu

UH Hilo Admissions Office
Student Services Building Room 115 
Tel: (808) 974-7414 or 1-800-897-4456 ; Fax: (808) 933-0861
 Email: uhhadm@hawaii.edu
Web:  hilo.hawaii.edu/studentaffairs/admissions/

General Information

The College of Business and Economics (COBE) prepares students for leadership in organizations serving Hawaiʻi and the Asia/Pacific region. The primary emphasis of the COBE business program is small business and entrepreneurship education. The College offers an undergraduate degree in general management and in accounting. The general management degree provides for elective coursework opportunities in the areas of marketing, finance, information systems, and tourism. Students receive a strong managerial foundation in the functions and objectives of the business enterprise, supported by a strong foundation in the liberal arts. The primary emphasis of the COBE economics program is general economics education. The undergraduate degree in economics offers opportunities to specialize in Asia and the Pacific.

Mission

The Mission of the College of Business and Economics at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is to assist individuals in acquiring the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to be productive and responsible citizens in the global economy. The College serves students and communities primarily from the Island and State of Hawaiʻi, as well as students from the U.S. mainland and the Asia/Pacific region.

We are committed to:

Providing a personalized, high-quality baccalaureate business and economics education
Inspiring the development of ethical values and leadership skills within a context of cultural diversity
Offering opportunities for hands-on learning
Having a focus on smaller organizations
Offering academic programs responsive to community needs
Supporting faculty excellence in teaching, research and service, with primary emphasis in teaching

Curricula

The College of Business and Economics offers the following programs of study:

Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), general management major, accounting major
Bachelor of Arts in Economics (B.A. Econ)
Business Administration Minor
Economics Minor
Certificate in Business Administration
Certificate in E-Commerce (see Computer Science)
Certificate in International Studies, Tourism Concentration Option

Instructional Modes

The College employs a variety of instructional methods and provides opportunities for the application of new instructional technologies. Efforts are made to limit the size of lecture classes to allow for maximum student-instructor discourse. Group project work is a feature of selected core and elective classes to provide teamwork experiences in problem solving and/or community service settings. Independent study provides an opportunity for students to pursue knowledge in a particular area of interest under the supervision of an instructor, often related to research of mutual interest. Internships provide an opportunity for students to apply knowledge and techniques from the classroom and to pursue individualized learning goals in an operating business environment. A unique feature of COBE includes its partnership with the Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center Network, which provides students with access to special internship opportunities and learning experiences.

Accreditation

Business programs in the College of Business and Economics are accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Contact information: 777 South Harbor Island Blvd., Suite 750, Tampa, FL 33602-5730; Tel: (813) 769-6500; Fax: (813) 769-6559; www.aacsb.edu.