Overview
Hawai'i Pacific University is the largest private postsecondary institution in the state of Hawai'i. The University is coeducational, with a faculty of more than 300 members, a student-faculty ratio of 20:1, and an average class size of 24. A wide range of counseling and student support services are available. There are more than seventy student organizations, including the Graduate Student Organization.

University enrollment currently stands at nearly 9,000, including more than 1,200 graduate students. All fifty states and more than 100 countries are represented.

The Location and Community
The University has two campuses 8 miles apart that are connected by a shuttle system. The downtown Honolulu campus is situated within the center of the business and financial capital of the Pacific. The windward Hawai'i Loa campus is located in a suburban, residential setting on 135 acres of green countryside.

Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts in communication program (M.A./COM) provides students with an interdisciplinary approach integrating skills, theory, and knowledge. Students completing this Hawai'i Pacific University (HPU) program are prepared for careers ranging across the spectrum of business, marketing, advertising, mass media, public relations, entertainment, broadcast or print journalism, the Internet, or education. Technology is emphasized in each course so that graduates are prepared for rapid change in communication industries.

The M.A./COM requires a minimum of 42 semester hours of graduate work composed of 18 semester hours of core courses; 15 semester hours of electives; 6 semester hours of writing a professional paper, project, or thesis; and 3 semester hours in a capstone integrative seminar. Assignments and internships use a pragmatic approach to develop marketable skills. Students apply what they learn in the classroom to actual problems faced by organizations and businesses.

Facilities & Resources
To support graduate studies, University libraries, with a collection exceeding 150,000 volumes, add an average of 2,000 volumes annually. Periodical titles number more than 1,500, and 205,000 pieces of microfiche and 5,300 rolls of microfilm are maintained.

Libraries are electronically linked to the catalogs and databases of Hawai'i's major publicly-supported library systems, other specialized libraries on Oahu, and remote-site libraries. HPU students are provided with e-mail as well as Internet and online access to state-of-the-art research databases. Laboratory facilities provide computers and software for writing and graphic design.

Expenses and Aid
For the 2005-06 academic year, graduate tuition is $490 per credit hour, and books cost approximately $1500 for the entire program.

Financial Aid:
The University participates in all federal financial aid programs designated for graduate students. These programs provide aid in the form of subsidized (need-based) and unsubsidized (non-need-based) Federal Stafford Student Loans. Through these loans, funds may be available to cover the student's entire cost of education. To apply for aid, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after January 1. Mailing of student award letters usually begins in April. The University also offers several institutional scholarships and assistantships.

Housing/Living Expenses:
The University has both residence halls and an apartment referral service. Including tuition, books, housing, food, health insurance, and miscellaneous expenses, the cost of living for a typical single student for two semesters (nine months) is approximately $23,300.

How to Apply
Hawai'i Pacific University seeks students with academic promise, outstanding career potential and high motivation. Applicants should complete and forward a graduate admissions application form, have official transcripts sent from all colleges or universities, submit two original and current letters of recommendation, and submit two essays. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, and applicants are notified between one and two weeks after all documents have been submitted. Applicants to Hawai'i Pacific University's graduate program are encouraged to submit applications online at the Web site listed in this In-Depth Description.

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