Students in the Social Science Pathway must complete one course in each the following areas 

• Business/Decision-Making

• Community Resources Management

• Quantitative Analysis

See the UH Mānoa catalog for a complete list of courses that can fulfill these requirements

Suggested courses that would be beneficial to take but are not required:

• MATH 241  - Calculus I

  • While all students are required to take a basic or applied calculus course (NREM 203, MATH 203, 215), consider taking MATH 241  and 242, if you score high enough on the math placement exam. These will help students interested in graduate school and research as a career.

• NREM 351 - Enterprise Management

  • This can be taken to fulfill the Business/Decision Making requirement. Students will learn how to manage a business, especially those that are focused on sustainable initiatives and agrobusiness. This will give you a foundation in the creation and management of a business in Hawaiʻi.

• NREM 358 - Basic Environmental Cost/Benefit Analysis

  • This can be taken to fulfill the Quantitative Analysis requirement. Students will learn the basics to cost/benefit analysis, resource valuation,  environmental impact analysis, and  case study research. 

• NREM 420 - Community and Natural Resource Management

  • This can be taken to fulfill the Community Resources Management requirement. Students will learn how communities interact with natural resources, as well as how societies function and develop. 

• NREM 429 - Spreadsheet Modeling

  • This can be taken to fulfill the Quantitative Analysis requirement. It teaches students how to visualize and model large datasets using spreadsheet software. All students can benefit from this course.

Specialization Electives linked here

Students must take 21 upper division (300+) credits in their specialization, including 9 in a natural resource area, with approval of their advisor. 

NREM courses that count as Social Science specialization electives

• NREM 306 - Environmental Ethics

• NREM 341 - Managerial Accounting

• NREM 458 - Natural Resource Issues & Ethics

• NREM 467 - Natural Resources Conservation Planning

• NREM 490 - Hoʻokāhua: ʻĀina Based Leadership Education (ABLE)

If you take a non-NREM course to meet the Business/Decision-Making, Community Resources Management, or Quantitative Analysis area requirement, you can use the associated NREM course as a specialization elective. 

Special topics courses are listed as NREM 491 - Topics in Natural Resources and Environmental Management. Because these topics vary, some may be able to count as specialization electives. Check with your NREM advisor.

Graduate-level NREM courses (600-level) are open to well-prepared undergraduate students. Talk to your NREM advisor and the course instructor if you are interested. See the UHM catalog for a complete list of course descriptions.

For a full list of common specialization electives, download this document.

See the Academic Planning page for help planning when to take courses.

Once you have chosen a pathway and specialization, you will be assigned an NREM faculty member in that area as your academic advisor.  Your NREM advisor 

• approves your choice of specialization electives, 

• helps you identify and approves internship opportunities, and 

• discusses ways you can use your NREM degree, e.g. jobs, graduate education, and other opportunities. 

The main faculty advisors for the natural science pathway are listed below. You can learn more about them at our NREM People webpage. 

Social Science Pathway Advisors

• Dr. Rachel Dacks, rdacks@hawaii.edu Biocultural Conservation

• Dr. Mahealani Kaneshiro, mykanesh@hawaii.edu  Coastal/Marine Conservation and Management

• Dr. Poonam Keral,  pkeral@hawaii.edu Political Economy, Gender and Environment

• Dr. Kirsten Oleson, koleson@hawaii.edu Social-Ecological Systems Analysis

• Dr. Mehana Vaughan, mehana@hawaii.edu Community and Cultural  Management

• Dr. Xiurou Wu, xiurouwu@hawaii.edu Marine Policy and Management

Social Science Pathway Undergraduate Lead

Riley Herron, ugleadss@hawaii.edu

Students in the social science pathway pursue internships around environmental education, community organizing and outreach, advocacy and development of natural resource policy, social and economic analyses of natural resource policies and management, conservation planning by producers and cultural and community stewardship groups, and natural resource recreation preferences and activities. Some students work directly with government agencies or legislators; others work with private planners, developers or environmental analysts to understand how projects may affect natural resources and public or environmental health. 

For more information, visit the Internships page.