College of Natural and Computational Sciences

Global Leadership and Sustainable Development Master's Degree

Hawai'i Pacific University (HPU) offers a Master of Arts in Global Leadership and Sustainable Development (MAGLSD) for students who want to increase the efficiency and sustainability of agriculture, industry, energy exploration and production, and other human systems. The MAGLSD is an interdisciplinary degree that integrates the study of the arts and sciences to prepare the next generation of government, industry, non-profit, and advocacy professionals.

The MAGLSD program introduces students to the major issues facing humankind, from climate change and the depletion of resources to possible solutions. The Master of Arts in Global Leadership and Sustainable Development program addresses some of the foremost issues facing humanity today including resource depletion and full environmental sinks into which waste is placed, climate change and a myriad of stressors resulting from humanity's growing ecological footprint.

Program Requirements

The MAGLSD program consists of core studies in the basic sciences, business, organizational leadership, and geopolitical issues. The program requires that students take courses in these core areas, as well as a number of electives, and complete the degree with a final paper.

More information is available on HPU graduate studies and application.

Joint Degrees

HPU offers two joint degrees in global leadership and sustainable development.

The joint degree in MBAMAGLSD (Master of Business Administration and M.A. in Global Leadership and Sustainable Development) prepares students to bring ecologically informed sensibilities to business administration with courses ranging from environmental science to global economics.

The joint degree in MSIS/MAGLSD (Master of Science in Information Systems and M.A. in Global Leadership and Sustainable Development) is for students wishing to apply a comprehensive grasp of information technology (IT) to issues of global leadership and sustainable development.

Certificate Program

The Certificate in Global Leadership and Sustainable Development prepares students for leadership positions in organizations and institutions that transform globalization dynamics into sustainable economic, social, and environmental development practices and programs. Moreover, graduates can work with international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, and other groups with a global agenda.

The curriculum includes courses on sustainability, the environmental history of the industrialized world, and the nature of political power and social systems.

Faculty from Multiple Disciplines

The MAGLSD program utilizes professors from departments throughout the university -- environmental sciences, computer science and information systems, humanities and religious studies, and other departments -- resulting in a diversity of courses and research that gives the MAGLSD program its breadth and depth.

Global Experience and Leading-Edge Research

Program faculty is comprised of scholars that have lectured and taught around the world, and dedicated researchers whose studies add to the multidisciplinary body of knowledge in the MAGLSD program.

Professor Dr. Susan Carstenn, an Environmental Science teacher and researcher, is studying the use of controlled fires to accelerate recovery of the Florida Everglades. Dr. Carstenn and her collaborators are writing a book on the study.

Professor Dr. John Gutrich is an ecological and environmental economist whose research efforts include the valuation of non-market ecosystem goods and services, restoration wetland ecology and mitigation, the economics of invasive species, ecological risks of genetically engineered marine organisms, and efficient economic solutions to the environmental regulation of rivers. He recently completed an evaluation with a multi-disciplinary team of scientists on the potential ecological and economic impacts of the spread of the red imported fire ant in Hawai'i.

Internships and Work Experience

Internships offer a way for students to gain valuable on-the-job experience in the real world, teaching them to comply with government and industry regulations, manage natural resources with greater efficiency, and design regulatory policies.

The Sustainability Internship Program is designed to connect MAGLSD students with a diverse range of environmentally aware businesses, government agencies, and other organizations to learn how they comply with regulations, efficiently manage natural resources, construct regulatory policies, and develop treaties. Organizations and government agencies include the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce, the Oceanic Institute, Hagadone Printing Company, and other local businesses in sustainability efforts -- where they learn to apply their classroom knowledge in a hands-on approach to the organization's role and goals.

Sustainability Partnership Hawai'i is an exciting internship service that connects students' business skills and passion for sustainability with environmentally conscious nonprofits and businesses.

Students can also turn internships into careers, as did recent graduate Myah Ely, who started as an intern and now has a full-time position with Hagadone Printing. She is responsible for managing the firm's environmental initiatives, including recycling, reducing waste, saving resources, and implementing the sustainability program.

A Diverse Student Body

Hawai'i Pacific University is Hawai`i's leading private university with a student body of more than 8,200 students from all 50 states and more than 100 different countries. HPU is ranked as one of the most diverse master's level institutions in the world by Open Doors and the Institute for International Education.

Small Classes, Personal Attention

Hawai'i Pacific University is recognized as a "Best Buy" by Barron's business magazine and ranked "Best in the West" by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. HPU is noted for its small class sizes, individual student attention, and diverse faculty and student population.

HPU has over 600 faculty members from around the world and a low student-faculty ratio of 15:1. Even with over 8,200 students, the average class size is less than 25 students, which naturally results in personal attention and one-on-one guidance. HPU students also receive individualized support from academic counselors, free online and on campus tutoring, and a variety of helpful departments such as Residence Life, First Year Programs, and Commuter Services. These helpful departments assist students with everything from providing a free shuttle to local hotspots, to getting involved with events on campus, to finding off-campus housing.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

All federal financial aid programs are available at the university, and students that qualify on the basis of need can receive assistance through grant, loan, and work-study programs.

HPU also offers competitive academic scholarship awards including the Alumni Scholarship Program and special funds.

Multiple, Specialized Campus Locations

Hawai'i Pacific's main downtown campus is ideally located in downtown Honolulu, among the major business and financial centers of the Pacific Rim. Eight miles from the main campus in Kaneohe, the residential Hawai'i Loa campus houses Marine Biology, Environmental Sciences, Oceanography, and Nursing programs. HPU is also affiliated with the Oceanic Institute, an applied aquaculture research facility located at Makapu'u Point on the windward coast of Oahu. A convenient HPU shuttle service allows students and staff to travel easily among the various locations.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Master of Arts (MA)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 12
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees 3
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? Yes
• Evening/weekend programs available? Yes
• Distance learning programs available? No
• Terminal master's degree available? Not reported

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Required
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied46
• Accepted41
• Acceptance Rate89%
• Enrolled25
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $50
• Application Fee - International $50
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Yes
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline February 15th Not Reported Yes
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline October 15th Not Reported Yes
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's DegreesNot Reported
• Doctoral's DegreesNot Reported
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL recommended, 550 paper based, TOEFL iBT, TWE recommended, 5 TWE paper based

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *$13,590
• Out-of-state tuition *$13,590
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year feesNot Reported
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitFAFSA
• Application deadlines for financial awardsMarch 1
• Types of financial support availableTuition Waivers, Career or Field-Related Internships, Federal Work-Study, Scholarship and/or loans, Graduate Assistantships

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students70
• Female Percentage66%
• Male Percentage34%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students70
• Part-time Percentage31%
• Full-time Percentage69%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino13%
• Black / African American3%
• White / Caucasian50%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native0%
• Asian13%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races7%
• Unknown14%

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty3
• Full-time Percentage100%
• Part-time Percentage0%
• Female Percentage0%
• Male Percentage100%