Connecting Learning, Life and Aloha
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Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Exploratory Health Sciences at UH Hilo

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Exploratory Health Science Meta Major

Exploratory Health Sciences at UH Hilo is for students interested in pursuing a career in health and wellness. Through the Exploratory Health Sciences Meta Major, you have the opportunity to try out many of your interests and develop new skills before fully immersing yourself in a major.

The Exploratory Health Sciences meta major is designed specifically for students who are interested in pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. However, this meta major may be appropriate for students wanting the opportunity to also narrow down their options for a major to pursue and inquire into the many health science programs that UH Hilo has to offer! Students who are not planning for a nursing degree should contact Lyssa Sakamoto for advising.

Below is a list of those programs, along with respective course maps and contact information for advising. If you are a prospective BSN student, transfer student, or a student that is unsure about a specific health science program at this time, please first contact Lyssa Sakamoto at exhs@hawaii.edu who is the Exploratory Health Sciences meta major advisor.

Agriculture - Animal Health and Management

The Animal Science Pre-Veterinary Medicine curriculum was developed for students interested in pursuing post-graduate studies in Veterinary Medicine or Animal Science. This curriculum meets the entrance course requirements of many Veterinary Colleges and graduate Animal Science programs.,Because Animal Science Pre-Veterinary Medicine students are required to take many of the same courses as Biology students, it is possible for students to receive a B.S. in Agriculture and a B.S. in Biology.

Contact Information

Lissa S. Tsutsumi

Assistant Professor, Applied Agricultural Sciences; Advisor, Animal Health and Management and Equine Science

lissa3@hawaii.edu

College of Agriculture Building, room 106

Anthropology: Medical Anthropology Track

Medical anthropology is a very exciting subfield of anthropology that examines the evolution of humans and pathogens, the effects of globalization and international development on health disparities, and the health legacies of colonialism. Medical anthropologists gain knowledge and develop skills that lend themselves to a variety of careers, including health services directors, health and social policy analysts, health care consultants, data analysts, social workers and health librarians. It is also an ideal undergraduate degree for pursuing graduate work in nursing or public health.

Contact Information

Lynn A. Morrison

Professor, Anthropology

(808) 932-7263

lmorriso@hawaii.edu

(808) 932-7098

Kanakaʻole Hall, room 263

Business Administration: Health Care Management Concentration

The College of Business and Economics offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree with a concentration in Healthcare Management that is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). AACSB Accreditation is globally recognized and is the most rigorous accreditation that a university can earn for its business degree programs. AACSB-accredited school graduates are in high demand and often continue on to top graduate business programs. Students who complete the BBA with the Healthcare Management concentration will possess sought-after skills including budgeting, personnel management, market research, strategic planning, and public speaking. Graduates will be qualified for managerial and analyst positions in healthcare providers such as hospitals and rehabilitation centers, healthcare suppliers such as pharmaceutical firms and technology companies, insurance companies, and policy organizations.

Contact Information

Heng “Helen” Tien

CoBE Academic and Career Advisor; Instructor, Management & Marketing, Health Care Management Coordinator

(808) 932-7247

htien@hawaii.edu

College of Business and Economics Building, room 117

Biology, BS: Cell, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Track

Pre-Medicine/Pre-Dentistry

The Pre-Medicine / Pre-Dentistry curriculum prepares students for admittance into medical and dental schools. Completion of the pre-medicine / pre-dentistry curriculum does not guarantee admission into medical or dental schools but it ensures that you take the courses that are required or recommended for admission to many medical or dental schools nationally. Because requirements vary across medical schools, you should check the requirements of the particular medical school that you are interested in applying to. The pre-medicine / pre-dentistry curriculum overlaps with the requirements for the B.S. Biology degrees at UH Hilo.

Contact Information

Jonathan “Jon” Awaya, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology and Student Support Coordinator, CNHS

(808) 932-7180

awayaj@hawaii.edu

(808) 932-7295

Sciences and Technology Building, room 112

Stan T. Nakanishi, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biology

(808) 932-7193

stn@hawaii.edu

(808) 932-7295

Sciences and Technology Building, room 113

Chemistry, BS: Biosciences Track

Pre-Pharmacy Certificate

The Pre-Pharmacy Certificate, offered by the Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences, in conjunction with the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Pre-Pharmacy Program is a minimum two-year comprehensive preparatory program of study toward admittance in to the professional curriculum leading to a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (Pharm.D.) The Pre-Pharmacy Certificate provides students with the necessary prerequisite course requirements for application to the UH Hilo Pharm.D. Program.

Contact Information

Mazen L. Hamad, Ph.D.

Chair and Professor of Chemistry

(808) 932-7198

mazen@hawaii.edu

(808) 932-7295

Sciences and Technology Building, room 318

Kinesiology and Exercise Science, BA

The KES program provides students with a diverse range of high quality instruction and opportunities within the areas of health, physical education, recreation, and the exercise sciences. The degree offers 4 specialized tracks:

Contact Information

Misty Y. Pacheco, Ph.D.

Professor of Kinesiology & Exercise Science

(808) 932-7114

mistyp@hawaii.edu

(808) 932-7295

Kanakaʻole Hall, room 270B

Nursing Programs

Prospective Nursing BSN Students

The exploratory health sciences curriculum prepares students for application into the BSN degree program in the School of Nursing at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Completion of the exploratory health sciences curriculum does not guarantee admission into the BSN program.

Contact Information

Lyssa Sakamoto

Exploratory Health Sciences Advisor (EXHS)

(808) 932-7790

lyssas@hawaii.edu

University Classroom Building, room 258

Nursing BSN

The Baccalaureate Nursing Program supports the mission of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo in providing a learning environment that is responsive to the needs of a diverse student population and that stresses rigorous high quality education in a caring, personalized atmosphere. This educational experience encourages student-faculty interactions and offers hands-on learning and leadership opportunities. The Nursing Program emphasizes life long learning and teaches students to deliver culturally congruent nursing care in a rural environment.

Contact Information

Jeanette Ayers-Kawakami, DNP, MSN, RN

Director & Associate Professor, School of Nursing

(808) 932-7067

ayersjea@hawaii.edu

(808) 932-7066

University Classroom Building, room 235

Nursing RN to BSN

The Baccalaureate Nursing Program supports the mission of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo in providing a learning environment that is responsive to the needs of a diverse student population and that stresses rigorous high quality education in a caring, personalized atmosphere. This educational experience encourages student-faculty interactions and offers hands-on learning and leadership opportunities. The Nursing Program emphasizes life long learning and teaches students to deliver culturally congruent nursing care in a rural environment.

Contact Information

Patricia Hensley, DNP, BSN, RN

Associate Professor, Nursing, BSN Coordinator

(808) 932-7054

hensleyp@hawaii.edu

University Classroom Building, room 231

Pre-Pharmacy for Pharm.D. Application

Pre-Pharmacy is a preparatory program of study toward admittance into the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy. Completion of the Pre-Pharmacy Course Curriculum or equivalent is required for admission into the professional curriculum leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.). These requirements may be completed in two to three years of intensive study, after which successful applicants to the Pharm.D. program continue their studies for an additional four years, for a minimum of six to seven years of college. The coursework is structurally aligned with the curriculum requirements towards a BA or BS degree in Biology or Chemistry at UH Hilo. Completion of the Pre-Pharmacy curriculum does not guarantee admission into the Pharm.D. Program at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy.

Contact Information

Pre-Pharmacy Advisor
Email: pharmacy@hawaii.edu