Certificates
Applied Forensic Anthropology (AFAN)
Forensic anthropologists work primarily as “bone detectives”—applying standard scientific techniques developed in physical anthropology to identify human remains and to assist in the detection of crime. They often work with other forensic scientists and homicide investigators to identify a decedent, discover evidence of foul play, and/or the time of death. They determine the age, sex, ancestry, stature, and unique features of a decedent from skeletal, badly decomposed, or otherwise unidentifiable human remains. Forensic anthropologists are often in charge of the recovery of human remains, responsible for the site recording (photography, mapmaking, etc.), and serve as expert court witnesses. This work is important for both legal and humanitarian reasons.
The certificate in Applied Forensic Anthropology (AFAN) will give students a solid foundation in forensic anthropology and a good introduction to the wider field of forensic science. This certificate may be earned alone or in conjunction with a Bachelor’s degree. Degrees that are especially relevant are a Bachelor of Arts in the Social Sciences with a concentration in Anthropology or a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration with a concentration in Justice Administration. When combined with relevant degrees, the certificate in AFAN will make students more competitive for a variety of job opportunities and advanced education in forensic anthropology, the wider field of forensic science, and other related fields.
his 2 + 2 program is a collaboration between Leeward Community College and the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu. A total of 29-30 credits are required. Students are welcomed and encouraged to enroll concurrently in classes at both campuses. For information on admissions, please contact the Student Services Office at 454-4700.
Suzanne Falgout, Professor of Anthropology, is the faculty contact for this program and can be contacted at falgout@hawaii.edu or (808) 454-4725 for information and advising.
University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu Course work:
18 upper-division credits from UHWO are required, including a practicum at a relevant agency:
ANTH 380 Field Archaeology (x-lst HPST)
ANTH 415 Human Ecological Adaptation
ANTH 459 Forensic Investigations
ANTH 460 Advanced Techniques in Forensic Anthropology (3) (prereq:ANTH 297/L)
PUBA 309 Criminal Law and Procedures
SSCI 490 Practicum (3) or PUBA 490
Leeward Community College Coursework:
11-12 lower-division credits are required:
ANTH 215/L Physical Anthropology + Lab
ANTH 297/L Human Skeletal Biology + Lab
BIOL 100 Human Biology (3) OR
BIOL 101 Biology for Non-Majors OR
BIOL 171/ L Introduction to Biology + Lab
(BIOL 171 + L strongly preferred)
Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (DPEM)
Completion of the 18-credit cluster of courses below will lead to a certificate in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (DPEM). These courses have been chosen because they meet the national standards established by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Higher Education project. The goal is to provide DPEM practitioners with a broad range of administrative skills and knowledge that are ideally suited to meet the critical needs of DPEM administrators. This certificate can be earned as a self-standing credential and may also be used as part of the Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration (BAPA) for those concentrating in General Public Administration.
Students with a concentration in Justice Administration may use only PUBA 411 Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness and PUBA 461 Social Dimensions of Disaster Response towards their concentration requirements. The additional 12 credits for the certificate may be used as electives.
Courses required for the certificate are:
PUBA 411 Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness
PUBA 460 Environmental Policy Planning and Administration
PUBA 461 Social Dimensions of Disaster Response
PUBA 462 Disaster Recovery and Business Continuation
PUBA 463 Disaster Recovery and Hazard Mitigation
PUBA 464 Terrorism and Emergency Management
Dr. Ross Prizzia and Dr. Gary Helfand are the faculty contacts for this certificate. Dr. Prizzia may be contacted at rprizzia@hawaii.edu or at (808) 454-4712 and Dr. Helfand may be contacted at helfand@hawaii.edu or at (808) 454-4710.
Certificate in Substance Abuse and Addictions Studies (SAAS)
The Certificate in Substance Abuse and Addictions Studies (SAAS) is primarily an online, internet-based program designed to help students meet the State education requirements for certification as substance abuse counselors and to provide continuing education opportunities for professionals in the addictions field. All courses except for PSY 373 Counseling Skills are offered as internet courses. PSY 373 is an in-person class, offered at the Pearl City campus and through the University Centers at Kaua‘i, Maui, and West Hawai‘i (Kealakekua) on the island of Hawai‘i. Although not required for certification, students are strongly encouraged to concurrently complete the Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences with a concentration in Psychology.
Students will receive a strong theoretical foundation in substance use disorders and exposure to the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as the basis for effective treatment of substance-related problems. Completion of the certificate satisfies current state education requirements for substance abuse counselors (note: the State education requirements may also be satisfied with other social science coursework). State certification further requires fieldwork hours and a written and oral examination. For more information on the State certification call (808) 692-7518 or visit their website at: www.hawaii.gov/health/permits/trades/trades/adcert.html.
Students who apply to the SAAS program must meet the same admission requirements established for classified students (see Academic Regulations). Those planning to complete the certificate should have taken an expository writing course, and an introductory Psychology course. In addition, a course in Abnormal Psychology should be completed within the last five years with a grade of “C” or better. This requirement may be satisfied by taking either PSY 371 Abnormal Psychology or PSY 474 Culture and Mental Illness at UH West O‘ahu.
For students completing the certificate in Substance Abuse and Addiction Studies, 19 credits are required, including:
PSY 373 Counseling SkillsUp to two required courses may be waived if appropriate lower division courses (e.g., HSERV courses taken at Leeward Community College) were completed. Other upper division courses recommended by the student’s advisor must be taken to fulfill the total of 19 credits required for the certificate. A minimum of 12 credits must be completed with UH West O‘ahu.
PSY 374 Ethics in Counseling and Psychotherapy (1)
PSY 403 Causation and Prevention of Substance Abuse and Addiction
PSY 404 Social Correlates of Substance Abuse and Addiction or PSY 408 Group Interventions in Substance Abuse and Addiction
PSY 405 Biological Correlates of Substance Abuse and Addiction
PSY 406 Assessment and Treatment of Substance Abuse and Addiction
PSY 407B Psychology Practicum: Interventions Related to Substance Use
Mr. Kanoa Meriwether is the faculty contact for this program. For more information, Mr. Meriwether may be contacted at (808) 454-4792 or kanoa@hawaii.edu.
Certificate in Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies (ENV)
This certificate is a collaboration between the University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges and UH–West O‘ahu. It provides a vehicle for increasing student understanding of theoretical and practical aspects of environmental issues, either as a stand-alone certificate, or as an adjunct to any bachelor’s degree. The lower-division science and math courses are offered by the Community Colleges, the upper-division specialized environment-related courses are offered in a variety of formats and schedules by UH West O‘ahu.
Lower-Division Requirements: Mathematics through Intermediate Algebra (either high school or college), three environmentally-related science courses, at least one with a lab. Introductory Chemistry and Microeconomics are highly recommended.
Upper-Division Requirements: SSCI 310 Applied Statistics I or equivalent, Hum 310 Writing Skills or equivalent, and 12 credits chosen from a list of approved courses including, but not limited to:
ANTH 415 Human Ecological AdaptationFenny Cox is the faculty contact for this program and may be contacted at fcox@hawaii.edu or (808) 454-4700 for information and advising.
HPST 330 Science and Technology in Pre-Contact Hawai‘i
ECON 358 Environmental Economics
PHIL 482 Environmental Ethics
POLS 326 Environmental Politics
POLS 371 Global Futures
PUBA 460 Environmental Policy Planning and Administration (x-lst BUSA)
SSCI 326 Hawaiian and Pacific Environments (x-lst HPST)
Certificate in Heath Care Administration (HCAD)
The certificate program in Health Care Administration provides students and health care practitioners with a broad range of administrative skills and knowledge needed in the dynamic and growing health care field. Ongoing changes in the system have resulted in an array of opportunities for health care administrators to make significant contributions to improving health care for all. The certificate can be earned as a self-standing credential and may also be used as part of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration (BAPA) for those concentrating in General Public Administration. Specifically, courses in this certificate can be used to fulfill concentration and upper-division elective requirements in the BAPA.
Completion of the 18-credit cluster of courses listed below will lead to the certificate in Health Care Administration. These courses have been selected because they are ideally suited to meet the critical needs of health care administrators.
Courses required for the certificate are:
PUBA 301 Health Care AdministrationKristina Guo is the faculty contact for this program. Dr. Guo can be contacted at kguo@hawaii.edu or at (808) 454-4732.
PUBA 302 Health Policy, Politics, and Law
PUBA 303 Financial Concepts in Health Care Management
PUBA 307 Community Health Analysis
PUBA 446 Contemporary Issues in Health Care
PUBA 480 Organizational Behavior or
PUBA 351 Human Resources Management
NOTE: Students from Honolulu Community College who transfer to UH West O‘ahu with the Associate in Science degree in Occupational and Environmental Safety Management (OESM) under the terms of the UH West O‘ahu and Honolulu Community College Articulation Agreement will be waived from PUBA 446 Contemporary Issues in Health Care should the student choose to earn the Certificate in Health Care Administration. Students who fall under this agreement should consult a Faculty Advisor or a Student Services Advisor prior to beginning their program.